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1948 - 2017
BARBARA SUSAN
STEWART-THOMAS
Born: June 16, 1948; in Detroit, MI
Died: August 1, 2017; in Chicago, IL
Barbara Susan Stewart-Thomas passed away peacefully at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, following a nine month battle with cancer.
Barbara was born to Meyer and Jennie (Goodman) Stewart in Detroit, on June 16, 1948. After attending high school in Detroit, she graduated with a BA in Art History from Michigan State University in 1974, and married Jim Thomas in East Lansing, Michigan on August 15, 1975. They moved to DeKalb, Illinois in 1979, and she obtained an MFA in Photography in the Northern Illinois University Art Department. She was an instructor of photography at NIU from 1990 until her retirement in 2006. She also taught at Kishwaukee Community College from 1991 to 2001, and was the Art Director from 1998 to 2001.
Her interests in photography included street scenes in Chicago, documenting neighborhood changes, and in recent years she focused on Detroit's urban revival. Her publications include "Family Secrets," a photo-documentary of her family using mundane artifacts that captured the essence of their life, and a volume of "then and now" photographs and stories of student activists at Michigan State University in the 1960s. She was the recipient of numerous grants, residencies, and awards, and her work was exhibited both in Illinois and nationally. In her final years, she was working on an extended photo-documentary history of her family. She was an avid reader, and remained passionate about politics up to her final morning.
Barbara is survived by her devoted husband, Jim Thomas of DeKalb, Illinois; her brother, Dr. Jerome Stewart of Phoenix, Arizona; her nephew, David Stewart of Phoenix, Arizona; and three cousins, Mitzi (Goodman) Jacobs of West Bloomfield, Michigan; Mark Jacobs of Farmington, Michigan; and Mitchell Jacobs of West Bloomfield Michigan, all of whom she intensely cherished throughout her life.
Barbara wished to be cremated, and memorial services in DeKalb, Chicago, and Detroit are pending.
Barbara's combined commitment both to students and to social justice led to her creation of a scholarship fund at Michigan State University to financially assist students who shared similar interests.
Donations may be made to: Thomas Graduate Fellowship Fund Allocation code: AB605Michigan State University Advancement, 535 Chestnut Road (room 300), East Lansing, MI 48824
For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Anderson Funeral Home - DeKalb.
Baaaabaaaaraa!! Six years ago already? Oh Baaaabbaarra!!
Jeanne Martinelli Engelkemeir
Friend
August 2, 2023
Miss you Barb. Your memory is a blessing. ❤
Lynn Caradonna
Friend
August 1, 2023
Five years already. . . so much to say to you! To share! xoxo Those were the days. . . xoxo Jeanne
Jeanne Martinelli Engelkemeir
Friend
August 1, 2022
Not one day goes by that I don´t think of you. Makes me chuckle about our beautiful childhood and what we shared. Your memory will forever be a blessing dear Barbara.
Lynn Rose Caradonna
August 1, 2022
Miss you more. Everyday Barb. Your memory is a blessing forever.
Lynn Rosen Caradonna
Friend
August 1, 2021
Four years ago already, Baaabaaraa! You are missed and you are cherished. Art and ARC are not the same without you. Bises, Jeanne xoxo
Jeanne Martinelli Engelkemeir
Friend
August 1, 2021
Jim, I was so saddened to read of Barbara passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and family.
Fred Peltz
August 28, 2017
My deepest sympathy to Jim....Jerry....Mitzi and the rest of Barbs family. May her memory be for a blessing. Love, Lynn
Lynn Rosen Caradonna
August 10, 2017
Barbara was instrumental in motivating my interest in sharing memories of my home town, Detroit, online, via the group she organized on FaceBook. Her intellect, curiosity and passion for the city generated a true sense of community with hundreds of former 21-35 Detroit area natives. She leaves hundreds of online 'friends'.
Richard Aptekar
August 9, 2017
Barbara played a leading role in creating a community of approximately 1,200 people who grew up in Northwest Detroit in the 50's and 60's. She maintained a structure which allowed these people to share information, ideas and experiences. The members of this group benefited in many ways including rekindling old friendships and making new friendships. Barbara earned the respect of many with her creativity, intelligence, kindness plus a long list of other attributes that were required to successfully administer this community. She made many friends and will be remembered with a smile.
Brian Yagoda
August 9, 2017
Dear dear dear Baaabaaaraaa. . . I still can't believe you are gone. That you are not here. That I can't click on Facebook and see your latest post. I have so many loving memories, from our co-curating the "Inappropriate Men Show" at ARC Gallery, and other shows we worked on, to when you used to stay with me downtown when I still lived down there and before you got your condo, and most of all from our wedding. Greg and I are forever grateful to you and Jim for the special role you played in that ceremony for us. xoxoxo I LOVE YOU Baabaaaraaa! (Remember how you always used to say that sounded like how your Grandma would call you, "Baabaaaraaa!") All my love, may you be at peace above.xoxo
Jeanne Martinelli Engelkemeir
August 9, 2017
I am sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort be with you during your time of mourning. Isaiah 61:1,2 ; Matthew 5:4
August 8, 2017
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