Charlotte Glazer Baer

Charlotte Glazer Baer passed away in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2026, after a long illness. Born on February 18, 1944, Charlotte was the daughter of a dentist who was also a poet and violinist and a mother who was a mathematician, computer programmer and teacher. Throughout her life, Charlotte was a humanist, reading 5 or 6 books a week and, at various life stages, attending dozens of plays a year, while utilizing her professional and volunteer careers to further the education and lives of those with whom she came into contact. She grew up in Atlanta, learning early to politely express her views, often to those with contrary opinions. At the age of 16, she went off to Brandeis University, where she earned her B.A. degree and then, after marrying Michael, whom she began dating in high school, to the University of Oregon, where she earned her Master’s in English and then taught high school in Junction City, Oregon.

In 1968, she and Michael moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where she spent the next 22 years raising their Kentucky-born children, Daniel Noach and Naomi Aviva, and, while devoting much of her time to being an enthusiastic and caring mother and wife, she continued her career, first teaching English composition and Modern Drama at the University of Kentucky for several years, and going on to work as an editor in the School of Business; then as Deputy Director of the Kentucky Humanities Council, funding and overseeing public humanities programs through the state; and eventually as an editor of Agricultural Extension publications, translating research into practical uses serving the general public and the client farmers. She was also involved in the Lexington Jewish Community as an active member of Hadassah and as a founding member of the Lexington Havurah, later serving as its president.

After moving to Boston when their youngest, Naomi, went off to college, Charlotte extended her career by overseeing programs for the homeless at Literacy Volunteers, training volunteers who provided literacy education throughout the city; and then at the Massachusetts Department of Education, where she oversaw programs and grants in Adult Basic Education. She continued her work in adult education after moving to the District of Columbia in 1998, consulting with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. She also expanded her own education, earning a certificate as a Master Gardener and going on to volunteer for more than 25 years as a garden docent at Hillwood Museum and simultaneously for a decade and a half at Dumbarton Oaks in their gardens and museum. She also continued to expand her passion for education as a Board member and two-term Board Chair at Briya Public Charter School, a multigenerational school working with both parents and children of immigrant families, providing education and acculturation to American society. She maintained her lifelong love of theater by serving on the Board of Footlights, a group promoting theater and supporting production companies in and around DC. In addition, she led the Book Group at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation for many years.

Finally becoming a grandmother at the age of 75, she got to add to her many other passions the joys of grandparenthood for the last several years of her life. Charlotte is survived by her husband, Michael Baer; her children Daniel (Shubha Balabaer) and Naomi; grandchildren Aulu and Dalya; as well as her brother Samuel Glazer (Elise Siegel), sister Sarah Glazer (Al Furst), brother-in-law Jack Baer (Susan), and a niece Juliet Glazer (Max Weinreich) and nephew Eric Baer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Briya Public Charter School (2333 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 ) or a charity of your choice.