Barbara Adele Samuels

Barbara Samuels was a devoted mother and wife, a lifelong advocate for social action and Democratic politics, and worked as a speech pathologist until the age of 94.

She was born in Los Angeles in 1927 to Florence and Jim Greenhoot. She started college at UCLA but had to step away to take care of the family business. She married the love of her life, Ed Samuels in 1950. They were married for over 57 years. Together they had three wonderful children Jo, Billy, and Vicky. In the hardest moment of their lives, Billy was taken from the world far too soon. While this forever impacted their lives, they persevered together and being a mother and then grandmother was one of Barbara’s greatest joys.

Barbara was an active leader in Bnai Brith Women and Anti-Defamation League (ADL), speaking out in the community and leading Dolls for Democracy presentations.

Barbara Samuels was a force to be reckoned with - she never let age slow her down. In her 40s with two teenage daughters, she went back to school and completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. She went on to become a nationally recognized speech pathologist, opening her own private practice, the Center for Communication Disorders. She thrived in this role. She was generous with her time and expertise, always willing to go the extra mile to treat those that needed help regardless of their ability to pay.

Barbara served as president of the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1986–1987 and 1993–1995 and president of the California Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Private Practice. In her spare time, she volunteered with the Democratic party, phone banking and even took a bus to Nevada when she was in her 80s to register voters. She attended rallies and protests to fight for the causes she believed in from protecting the planet to the Women’s March.

In her 90’s she mastered the use of technology to see her patients virtually, which she continued to do through the Covid years and until she was 94. Two months before her 97th birthday – she flew across the country from her home in Los Angeles to Reston, VA where she radiated happiness as she walked down the aisle at her granddaughter's wedding this past Saturday on March 23, 2024.

Barbara returned home Monday night and passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was preceded in death by Ed who passed away in 2007 and Billy who passed away in 1955. She is survived by her two daughters Jo (Rich) Lewis, Vicky (Steve) Aaronson, grandchildren Jennifer (Nick Colangelo) Aaronson and Gregory Aaronson. She will be laid to rest Friday, March 29 at 1pm at Eden Memorial Park, 11500 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.