Obituary of Barbara Lang Stern
Barbara Lang Stern of Pound Ridge, NY, and New York City, passed away peacefully at home on January 11, following a courageous six-year battle against the devastating effects of a stroke. An author and equestrienne, she was 85 years old.
Born in New York City to the late Bernard and Fannie Lang, she graduated from The Dalton School and from Cornell University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and remained active in Cornell’s Alumni Association.
She worked briefly for The Theatre Guild and then became a publicist with The Rowland Company, rising to vice president. Turning her creative talents to writing, she authored four books in addition to a monthly column, “Your Well Being,” which appeared in Vogue for ten years. She was a long-time member of the Authors Guild.
In later years, Pound Ridge became her primary residence so she could better indulge her lifelong love for horses. At an age when many of her contemporaries were retiring, Stern trained in dressage and competed successfully in the Westchester/New England show circuit.
Her vibrancy, wit, and generosity of spirit will be missed by scores of friends and by her surviving family: cherished sister Jane Lang Scheiber (Harry); and nieces and nephews Susan Scheiber Edelman (Scott), Michael Scheiber (Andrea), Abraham Glass (Amy), David Glass, Gail Stern Lovelady (William), Sherri Stern, and their children. Also surviving are step-brother Roger Weiss (Caren) and children Gregory (Rachel), Robin Benerofe, and Wendy Gordon; and sister-in-law Suzanne Weiss and her children, Heather Boose Weiss, Michael Weiss (Samantha), Jonny Weiss, and Nathalie Weiss (Matt Rhone).
Her adored husband of fifty years, Ernest L. Stern, predeceased her (2018), as did step-brother Steven H. Weiss.
The family is grateful to the aides who lovingly attended her following her stroke: Ketnie Vilsaint, Martha Bruneau, Marie Flore Colin Volcimus, Germaine Vilsaint, Mimode Lalanne, and Delcie Clarke.
No services are scheduled because of the pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Cornell University, 130 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, or online at: https://giving.cornell.edu/ways-to-give/; or to End of Life Choices New York, 244 5th Ave, #2010, New York, NY 10001, or online to endoflifechoicesny.org.
