Barbara LaPotin

Barbara Joan LaPotin, age 87 years, of Las Cruces, New Mexico and former longtime resident of Brookline, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022.

Barbara was born on November 5, 1934 to Nathan and Rose (Metz) LaPotin. She spent her life caring for children. Barbara’s love of teaching began at age 13 as a summer camp counselor. After graduating from Columbia University, she went on to earn a Masters in Education while working at the Fieldston School in Riverdale, New York. Barbara received a CAGS degree in Guidance from Northeastern University. She taught at the University of Chicago’s Lab School and the Whitesboro Schools in New York before landing in Brookline where she lived and taught for over 30 years.

Barbara loved fiercely and trusted freely. When she loved you, it was for life. She and Treva Krantz were a dynamic duo who were always up for an adventure and seemed to know everyone. No matter where they went, even trips across the world, inevitably someone would approach them that they had taught or helped in some way. They were always willing to give of themselves no matter the time or task. Besides helping others, Barbara loved travel, was an avid reader, and every once in a while enjoyed a single malt scotch. Her life advice, emoji filled messages and unique birthday song will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her brother, Armand and his wife Carolyn, her nieces, Gabrielle Giordano and Nicole Manni and their husbands, John and Mike, her grandnieces and grandnephews, Nicholas, Adam, Jack, Isabelle, Avery and Remy. She is also survived by her friend, Molly Murphy, the Krantz family, who she considered her own and her sister-in-law, Tina Morris. She was predeceased by her best friend, Treva Krantz.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11:00am at Levine Chapel, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline MA with livestreaming available using the following link: www.tinyurl.com/BarbaraLapotin

Burial will be at Walnut Hills Cemetery, 96 Grove Street, Chestnut Hill, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MSPCA, https://www.mspca.org/donate-now/tribute-honor-and-memorial-giving/.org or Guiding Eyes for the Blind, www.guidingeyes.org