Judith Haynes Baernstein

Judy Baernstein was born Judith Priscilla Haynes in Biddeford, Maine, the second daughter of Newell Perley Haynes and Lillian Haley Haynes, on September 15, 1943. After World War II, the family returned to Ellsworth, Maine, where Judy attended Ellsworth High School. She and her older sister Barbara helped out with the farming, trucking, and hauling their parents did. Hanging out at the family cabin on Pattens Pond was a joy that carried through her whole life.

After a false start at college and a stint as a bank teller in Boston, she married Albert Baernstein II in 1962. Al began a career as a mathematician, and Judy supported his work as he got his PhD, then got a first faculty job at Syracuse University, and finally landed at Washington University in St. Louis where they moved in 1972. Judy served as unofficial social chair for the WU math department, hosting graduate students and new faculty, their spouses and babies, for dinners and weekend trips. Especially for those from outside the country, Judy was on task: she found them apartments, furniture, dates - all manner of things they didn’t even know they needed. The spare bedroom was always open.

In St. Louis, Judy and Al raised two daughters, Prudence and Amy. After a time raising children, Judy ran a gardening service and then worked in office administration at various university departments. She had a passion for community projects, including serving as trustee of her neighborhood association in University Heights, and as leader of the local garden club. She volunteered at a mental health crisis line, tutored in nearby elementary schools, hosted young opera singers for the Union Avenue Opera, and helped out countless others.

After Al’s death in 2014, she moved to Seattle where she served as a professional grandma and yenta within her retirement community, University House. In her 10 years in Seattle she built a whole new community of folks with whom she shared meals, lectures, road trips, mutual aid, and laughter.

She is survived by two daughters, Prudence Renee (Wietse de Boer) of Oxford, Ohio, and Amy Baernstein (Melanie Tratnik) of Seattle; and four grandchildren: Cleo and Nora Baernstein and Sylvia and Arthur de Boer.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025 in Ellsworth, ME. Contact Renee ([email protected]) if you would like to attend.