Longtime Community Leader Barbara L. Himmelrich Dies at 91

October 31, 2022 JMORE Staff

Besides The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Barbara L. Himmelrich was a lay leader with the House of Ruth, the United Way of Central Maryland and the American Red Cross. (Photo courtesy of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore)

A community lay leader, activist and philanthropist for seven decades, Barbara L. Himmelrich passed away on Oct. 31. The North Baltimore resident was 91.

Among her many leadership roles in the community, Himmelrich served as chair of the board of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore from 1997 to 1999, chair of its annual campaign in 1993 and president of Associated Women in 1975.

In a statement, Yehuda Neuberger, The Associated’s current chair of the board, and Marc B. Terrill, the organization’s president, praised Himmelrich’s long record of commitment to the community.

“Barbara had a larger-than-life presence for many lay and professional leaders,” the statement read. “Throughout her life, she was deeply connected to the work of our community, caring about our organization beyond measure. Her presence was constantly felt as she was well-known for her daily calls to Marc and for her passion for The Associated and its relationship with the greater Baltimore community. With her outgoing personality, knowledge of the community and 60+ years of leadership roles, Barbara was incomparable among The Associated family.”

The statement noted that Himmelrich’s husband of 68 years, Samuel K. Himmelrich Sr., who died in October of 2020, also served as The Associated’s chair of the board.

“They are the first married couple to have both served in this role. With a decades long involvement as a leader, a mentor and a friend, Barbara’s passing will be felt by many, and she will forever carry the crown of a good name.”

Barbara L. Himmelrich and Samuel K. Himmelrich Sr. were the first married couple to serve as board chairs of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. (File photo)

A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Barbara Ann Levin Himmelrich lost her mother in Boston’s Coconut Grove fire — the deadliest nightclub blaze in American history — in November of 1942 when she was 11.

“My life has been pretty much defined by that fire,” she told her granddaughter, Anna, in an oral history conducted last year for StoryCorpsArchive, an independent nonprofit project.

At the age of 15, Himmelrich traveled to Baltimore to visit summer camp friend Judy Kolker and met her future husband at a dance at Park School. They began dating a few years later when she attended Goucher College and soon became engaged.

They married in 1952 at Boston’s Copley Plaza Hotel and lived in Hampton, Virginia, before settling down in Baltimore, Sam Himmelrich’s hometown. He was the developer and founder of Himmelrich Associates Inc., a local real estate firm.

While raising their four children and afterward, Barbara Himmelrich served on the boards of myriad community organizations, including the United Way of Central Maryland, Park School, the American Red Cross, the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Sinai Hospital, the House of Ruth and the Maryland Institute College of Art.

“Barbara always believed that she was blessed by the kind help of others, and wanted to serve her community in the same way — and serve she did,” her family wrote in a memorial tribute.

At The Associated, she held multiple lay leadership roles over the years, including overseeing the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations when the annual international gathering was held in Baltimore in 1992.

After raising her family, Himmelrich returned to Goucher College and earned her bachelor’s degree in English. She went on to receive a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

“Barbara’s number one passion … was her family, first and foremost her husband, Sam,” her family wrote. “Barbara and Sam shared a full and joyful life. From Baltimore to Maine to Israel and Russia, from California to Florida, they loved, they traveled, they learned, and they made friends wherever they landed. They smuggled books into and out of Russia to Jewish refuseniks, led missions of American Jews to drum up support for refugees from Africa and Asia in Israel, and agreed, at ages 80 and 81, to raise funds and help support the founding of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.”

She is survived by her four children: Sue Himmelrich (Michael Soloff), Sam Himmelrich Jr. (Pam), Alfred Himmelrich (Dana), William Himmelrich (Shelly); 10 grandchildren, Hilary Soloff, Molly Soloff, Anna Himmelrich (Matt Kozlov), Jacob Himmelrich (Sarah), Carrie Himmelrich Salem (Emeel Salem), Ella Himmelrich, Hannah Himmelrich, Sam Himmelrich, Max Himmelrich, Charlie Himmelrich, and four great grandchildren, Julia Kozlov, Henry Kozlov, Edith Himmelrich, and Ansel Himmelrich.

Funeral services are private. Contributions in Himmelrich’s memory may be sent to The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore,101 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

The family will receive guests at Stone Mill Bakery, 10751 Falls Rd., Suite 123, Timonium, Maryland on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6-9 p.m.

“Our hearts are breaking today,” The Associated leadership wrote in its statement. “Our thoughts are with the Himmelrich family during this difficult time. May her memory be for a blessing.”