Obituary for Marlene Barron
Dr. Frances Marlene Barron (nee Bass), of New York, NY, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at the age of 83. She is survived by her three children, Leslie Barron, Jeffrey Barron, and Joshua Fetzer; seven grandchildren, Sarah Gershen, Alexander Gershen, Benjamin Gershen, Zachary Barron, Sean Barron, Michael Barron, and Rachel Zimmerman; and great-grandchildren, Hailey and Ruby Zimmerman. She was predeceased by her parents, Lillian Sklar and Alexander Bass, and her sister, Dolly Bass.
Marlene grew up in Baltimore, MD and graduated from Forest Park High School in 1955. She moved to New York City where she began her professional career as an educator after graduating from Barnard College. A life-long learner and teacher, Marlene earned her master’s degree in social psychology from Hunter College and later earned her Ph.D. in emergent literacy from New York University, where she also spent 24 years as a professor in early childhood education and founded the NYU Montessori Project.
In 1964, Marlene discovered her life’s passion—Montessori education. As a young parent, she founded Staten Island Montessori, where she served as its director. Marlene moved to West Side Montessori School in 1979 and served as the head of school until her first attempt at retirement in 2007.
Marlene also served as the President of the American Montessori Society and served on the Board of MACTE, the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. She also published a number of books including the acclaimed “Ready, Set, Learn'' series, four practical guide books that helped parents and children explore early childhood development concepts.
As an avid traveler, Marlene traveled the world promoting early childhood education and Montessori values. She was passionate about travel as a means of self-growth and learning, bringing her children on trips as soon as they could walk. “Grandma Bubbe” made it a point to bring each of her grandchildren on international trips for weeks, even months on end, allowing them to develop an immense appreciation for foreign cultures at young ages.
As an international education consultant, Marlene spent significant time advising schools and administrators in the United Kingdom, Russia, South Korea, Ghana, Kenya, Japan, and China. Marlene was fascinated by the rapid expansion of bilingual education programs in China and spent over a decade living in Beijing and serving as the Director of Etonkids Montessori Teacher Training Academy, where she helped expand Montessori practices and values within Mandarin-speaking communities.
Marlene embraced and celebrated the diversity of people. She coined the term “multi-multi” insisting that her school and community embody a curriculum and environment that was multicultural, multi-economic, multi-racial, multi-sensorial….multi-everything. With anything Marlene created, everyone was welcome and everyone belonged.
Marlene was known for her strong opinions and zealous personality, fiercely questioning those around her in pursuit of progress and mutual understanding. By constantly challenging her friends, colleagues, and family, Marlene fostered deep relationships that spanned a lifetime. A pioneer in her industry after devoting nearly 60 years to her life’s work, Marlene continued to push her friends, colleagues, and family to search for new ways to educate children. Her legacy will continue through the thousands of educators and children she has impacted around the globe.
Services will be held at Sol Levinson's Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 1:00 pm (EST-Eastern Standard Time). Interment will be at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date with both in-person and virtual components. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to The New York State Montessori Alliance.
Marlene grew up in Baltimore, MD and graduated from Forest Park High School in 1955. She moved to New York City where she began her professional career as an educator after graduating from Barnard College. A life-long learner and teacher, Marlene earned her master’s degree in social psychology from Hunter College and later earned her Ph.D. in emergent literacy from New York University, where she also spent 24 years as a professor in early childhood education and founded the NYU Montessori Project.
In 1964, Marlene discovered her life’s passion—Montessori education. As a young parent, she founded Staten Island Montessori, where she served as its director. Marlene moved to West Side Montessori School in 1979 and served as the head of school until her first attempt at retirement in 2007.
Marlene also served as the President of the American Montessori Society and served on the Board of MACTE, the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. She also published a number of books including the acclaimed “Ready, Set, Learn'' series, four practical guide books that helped parents and children explore early childhood development concepts.
As an avid traveler, Marlene traveled the world promoting early childhood education and Montessori values. She was passionate about travel as a means of self-growth and learning, bringing her children on trips as soon as they could walk. “Grandma Bubbe” made it a point to bring each of her grandchildren on international trips for weeks, even months on end, allowing them to develop an immense appreciation for foreign cultures at young ages.
As an international education consultant, Marlene spent significant time advising schools and administrators in the United Kingdom, Russia, South Korea, Ghana, Kenya, Japan, and China. Marlene was fascinated by the rapid expansion of bilingual education programs in China and spent over a decade living in Beijing and serving as the Director of Etonkids Montessori Teacher Training Academy, where she helped expand Montessori practices and values within Mandarin-speaking communities.
Marlene embraced and celebrated the diversity of people. She coined the term “multi-multi” insisting that her school and community embody a curriculum and environment that was multicultural, multi-economic, multi-racial, multi-sensorial….multi-everything. With anything Marlene created, everyone was welcome and everyone belonged.
Marlene was known for her strong opinions and zealous personality, fiercely questioning those around her in pursuit of progress and mutual understanding. By constantly challenging her friends, colleagues, and family, Marlene fostered deep relationships that spanned a lifetime. A pioneer in her industry after devoting nearly 60 years to her life’s work, Marlene continued to push her friends, colleagues, and family to search for new ways to educate children. Her legacy will continue through the thousands of educators and children she has impacted around the globe.
Services will be held at Sol Levinson's Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 1:00 pm (EST-Eastern Standard Time). Interment will be at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date with both in-person and virtual components. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be sent to The New York State Montessori Alliance.