AMHERST, MA: Barbara Bach died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 94 on December 3, 2024. She was born in Washington, DC on February 27, 1930 to Clarence Elgin Werback and Margaret Virginia Matthias Werback. She lived in the DC area for almost 65 years. She moved to New England to be near her daughter and grandchildren and lived in the area for over 25 years.

She is predeceased by her brothers, William and Elgin Werback, her beloved niece, Kelly Pooler, and her son, Mark Moran. She has two surviving sisters in the DC area, Rosalie Reidy and Margaret Pezeshki. Her daughter and son in law, Timi and Jeff McGary, live in McLean, VA, and her daughter and son in law, Tammy and Philip Parks live in Amherst, MA, with whom she lived for the last 15 years of her life. She has many family members still living in the DC area, including her nephews, William Bortz and Jonah Pezeshki, and her grandniece, Krista Werback. and four grandsons living in New England, Noah Sax, and Zachary, Matthew, and William Parks.

She was a friend of Bill’s and acted as sponsor to many people. She was a proud Democrat and Unitarian. During her long career, she worked at the African American Institute in DC in the 1950’s and was a civil rights champion throughout her life. She also worked for several years as a drug and alcohol counselor helping youth get treatment rather than jail time, and worked in the prison system with hardened criminals, finding a way to connect and support their rehabilitation. Later, she was a real estate agent in Florida and a children’s theater office manager in Maryland. She played tennis semi-professionally and acted as a tournament official.

Barbara was a social butterfly and had many friends from all walks of life. She was vivacious and fun and was always the one planning trips to the beach, visits to friends across the US, bridge club parties, and more. She loved art, design, architecture, gardens and craft shops. She lived in Exeter England for a few years and loved traveling around Europe. She was a snappy dresser and was known for taking creative risks, like asymmetrical haircuts and beetle green nail polish. Later in life, she loved to go to lunch with family and friends and was always on the hunt for good pistachio ice cream.

While she will be deeply missed, she would want us to celebrate her life and the contribution she was to everyone she met. She was an angel on this earth making time to support whomever she encountered.

Funeral services will held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

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