Marjorie Vaughan Barondes

MARJORIE VAUGHAN BARONDES On Sunday, 18 April, Marjorie Vaughan Barondes passed away at age 90, at The Fairfax at Fort Belvoir. She was born on 16 October 1930, to Gordon and Margaret Vaughan, in Evanston. IL. She grew up in La Porte, IN, where she was a violin student and race-winning Lightning sailor. After graduating from La Porte High School, she attended De Pauw University before transferring to the University of Michigan. Her extracurricular activities at Michigan included First Chair, Second Violins in the University orchestra and active participation in the Sailing Club where she met her husband-to-be, Arthur de Rohan Barondes, a Class of 1948 West Point Air Force lieutenant and Graduate Student in Aeronautical Engineering. In 1952, she graduated from the School of Education with a BA in Education and a Teaching Certificate, and married Arthur. Thus began 69 years as a loving wife, outstanding mother, educator, and longtime volunteer. As a loving wife, Marjorie was the homemaker for the Barondes family. While her husband was on active duty in the Air Force, she was establishing homes in Los Angeles, Alamogordo, Houston, Northern Virginia, and Grand Forks. In 1973, she performed the many duties of the Vice Commander’s wife at Grand Forks AFB. Starting in 1979, when her AF-retired husband was working in Germany, she made a home in Munich, for 11 years. As she would say, “Those were the best years of my life.” She traveled throughout Europe, learned to ski and frequented many ski resorts in the Alps, including Mont Blanc in Chamonix. She liked the challenges of “off piste” skiing and conquering “Black Diamond” runs. She also enjoyed bicycling around Munich, and attending the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. In 1991, Marjorie and Arthur returned to their home near Mount Vernon. Marjorie was family-oriented and a great mother. As an Air Force wife, she had four children: Debra, born in El Paso, in 1954; Vicki, born in Houston, in 1956; Lori, born in Panama City, FL, in 1957; and Mark, born in Montgomery, AL, in 1964. Debbie went to Michigan State University, was an Occupational Therapist, married Stephen Walker, and had two daughters: Alice and Rebecca. Vicki attended Eastern Michigan University, is a Registered Nurse, married Gustavo Pena, and had two children: Bryan and Megan. Lori attended the University of North Dakota and Governors State University, and earned a Master of Health Administration degree. She married Richard Hannon, and had four children: Michael, Kevin, Elizabeth, and Sean. Mark, an Air Force veteran, attended the University of Michigan and received an MBA from Willamette University. There are two greatgrandchildren: Megan’s Collin and Addelynn. Marjorie reinforced family ties by introducing the Barondes extended family to cruising. She sponsored family cruises to ports all over the world and was always “cruise ready.” As an educator, Marjorie had a long teaching career. It started in 1952, at the challenging Nightingale Elementary School in Venice, CA. She continued her education at the University of Alabama in the 1960s. She was invited to join their Ph.D. program in 1964, but declined when her husband was transferred to the Pentagon. Marjorie obtained a Virginia Teachers License and taught in Fairfax County for many years. She was an elementary teacher, substitute teacher, and strings teacher. She also provided private violin lessons. Two of her grandchildren followed her as educators. Alice has a Ph.D. in Analytic Chemistry and is a professor at Wayne State University. Megan has a Master of Science degree in Special Education and teaches in Fairfax County. As a volunteer, Marjorie assisted many organizations. She contributed 2,779 hours to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association assisting “Martha Washington” in period dress and performing other jobs at the estate. She was an avid supporter and empowering troop leader of Brownies and Girl Scouts in Northern Virginia. She played the violin in the Mount Vernon Chamber Orchestra. She served on the Vestry of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church where she had been a devout member of the congregation since 1965. Arrangements are in progress for Marjorie to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, at a date to be determined.