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Published February 24, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated February 24, 2025 at 12:02 p.m.
Barbara Wynroth passed away quietly and peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on January 31, 2025.
Born on October 28, 1935, in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York, Barbara grew up as the youngest of five children of William and Alma Wangenstein, both German immigrants. Her childhood memories included caring for the family’s chickens and spending plentiful time in the woods.
As an adult, Barbara lived in many different places, including Manhattan; Washington, D.C.; Minnesota; New Mexico; and western Massachusetts, before settling in Burlington, Vt., for the last chapter of her life. Over her 89-plus years, Barbara’s adventures included international travel, a painting career (including a MacDowell fellowship in 1973), a brief stint in nursing, modeling, protesting the Vietnam War, building her own house in New Mexico in the 1990s and — as a young woman — frequenting the original Birdland Jazz Club.
During her time in Burlington, in addition to being an activist on important local issues, Barbara lived a simple and very independent life. She loved walking, taking in live jazz music and caring for her plants. She had many friends at City Market on South Winooski Avenue and at the Fletcher Free Library, two places she loved to visit and where she was known for dispensing dark chocolates. She balanced the hardships she faced with a keen sense of wonder, a deep sense of justice and concern for her fellow humans. She especially appreciated glimpses of nature in the city, noticing flowers, trees and gardens in the streets of Burlington. A daily reader of the New York Times and longtime subscriber to the New Yorker, Barbara remained up on current events, even through her own health struggles. She was known for both her strong opinions and her twinkling-eyed smile. She found joy in the beauty of the natural world, in animals (raccoons being a favorite) and in learning about the lives of others. She made a difference in the world.
Many thanks to those who cared for Barbara in the community and at the University of Vermont Medical Center. A special thanks to the UVM Hospice Team and staff at the Respite House. Care and compassion go such a long way.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Fletcher Free Library on College Street in Burlington.
Born on October 28, 1935, in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York, Barbara grew up as the youngest of five children of William and Alma Wangenstein, both German immigrants. Her childhood memories included caring for the family’s chickens and spending plentiful time in the woods.
As an adult, Barbara lived in many different places, including Manhattan; Washington, D.C.; Minnesota; New Mexico; and western Massachusetts, before settling in Burlington, Vt., for the last chapter of her life. Over her 89-plus years, Barbara’s adventures included international travel, a painting career (including a MacDowell fellowship in 1973), a brief stint in nursing, modeling, protesting the Vietnam War, building her own house in New Mexico in the 1990s and — as a young woman — frequenting the original Birdland Jazz Club.
During her time in Burlington, in addition to being an activist on important local issues, Barbara lived a simple and very independent life. She loved walking, taking in live jazz music and caring for her plants. She had many friends at City Market on South Winooski Avenue and at the Fletcher Free Library, two places she loved to visit and where she was known for dispensing dark chocolates. She balanced the hardships she faced with a keen sense of wonder, a deep sense of justice and concern for her fellow humans. She especially appreciated glimpses of nature in the city, noticing flowers, trees and gardens in the streets of Burlington. A daily reader of the New York Times and longtime subscriber to the New Yorker, Barbara remained up on current events, even through her own health struggles. She was known for both her strong opinions and her twinkling-eyed smile. She found joy in the beauty of the natural world, in animals (raccoons being a favorite) and in learning about the lives of others. She made a difference in the world.
Many thanks to those who cared for Barbara in the community and at the University of Vermont Medical Center. A special thanks to the UVM Hospice Team and staff at the Respite House. Care and compassion go such a long way.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Fletcher Free Library on College Street in Burlington.
