Barbara Levenstein

Barbara was born February 21 1943 to Sarah and Eugene Levenstein in Bronx New York , she graduated High School in the Bronx …. Attended Hunter College and worked as a Chemist at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River NY ( this was the 1970s). At Lederle , Barbara ( or Barbie what most of us knew her as and as Barbie would like to remind us she was the first Barbie before Mattel invented Barbie) Met a coworker and became part of the family and went waterskiing and camping and running with them for many months until Barb moved to Santa Barbara and the coworkers daughter followed a year later.

The sports continued in SB and Barbie participated and finished well in the Hawaii triathlon and Ultra Marathon when if you showed up you qualified to race. In 1980s she married Paul Cole and they enjoyed many years together cycling through California until Paul died in 2002.

Barbie worked as a volunteer for Hospice and enjoyed that very much. Barbie traveled the world with her close friend Ruth and continued to enjoy daily long walks with multiple friends and her stationery bike riding in her later years until she was recently admitted to Cottage Hospital.

Barbie was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2000’s and fortunately was able to enjoy her life until the end.

Unfortunately the cancer did spread and ultimately she passed away at Cottage Hospital January 11,2024 from brain cancer. Her sister Marla and good friend Sue would like to thank the Cottage Hospital SICU and Oncology unit for their very patient , skilled and thoughtful care of Barb along with the entire Cottage emergency staff where Barbie was given best care with kindness from all when she received her grim diagnosis.

Thank you to Dr. Kass who cared for Barbie with her cancer for many years. Barbie had the utmost respect for you.

Barbie will be missed by her sister Marla and her many friends she made along the way.

Rest in peace Barbie!