Obituary of Barbara Lehman
Barbara Ann Lehman, née Gugler, passed away on June 4, 2026, at the age of 83, at Regional Hospice in Danbury, Connecticut. She was a longtime resident of South Salem, New York. Born November 3, 1942, in Salina, Kansas, Barbara lived a life defined by intellect, generosity, creativity, and dedication to others.
Barbara received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Master’s degree in chemistry and education from Kansas State University and went on to become a gifted science teacher. For thirty years, she taught in Tarrytown, New York, including at Sleepy Hollow middle school and high school, where she inspired generations of students with her love of learning and her steady encouragement. After she retired in 1997, Barbara continued teaching, helping women at Bedford Hills Correctional Center pursue their degrees and opening doors through education in the same thoughtful and compassionate way that marked her entire life. Teaching was a family tradition. Her father Merle Gugler was an accounting professor at Kansas State, her mother Arlene Gugler (Jaenicke) was a teacher for several years in the Manhattan, Kansas school district, her sister Jill Burk is Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction for Tarleton State University, and her great aunt Minnie Steckel was a teacher and activist who earned her PhD in 1929 and became Dean of Alabama College in 1930.
Barbara also had a deep love of travel and exploration. She journeyed widely in retirement, visiting places such as New Zealand, Egypt, Iceland, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, and many others, embracing the beauty and diversity of the world with enthusiasm and wonder. She also found great joy in music, singing in the Katonah Presbyterian Church choir, Westchester Oratorio Society, and other groups that gave her opportunities to perform not only in New York, but also throughout Europe, including Ireland, England, Spain, and the Czech Republic.
Above all, Barbara cherished her family. She is survived by her children, Christine Lehman (Lauson Green) and Scott Lehman; her grandchildren, Hazel Green, Jackson Green, and Charlotte Green; and her sisters, Dianne Swanson and Jill Burk (Ron), as well as their children and grandchildren. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, generous spirit, adventurous heart, and the lasting impact she made on her family, her students, and all who knew her.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Katonah Presbyterian Church, or, in lieu of donations, her family suggests that you take that trip you have been putting off.
