Barbara Prebis

Barbara Jean “Bobbi” Prebis was born on July 9, 1938, in Buffalo, New York, the 10th child of parents Andrew and Nellie Prebis. Bobbi was the last living of the ten when she died on February 4, 2026. Bobbi’s large family gave her many connections with nieces and nephews. She continued this path in her close friendships with the children of her many friends.

Bobbi was one of the few women who worked on the floor of Bethlehem Steel Corp in Buffalo. She also drove a taxi and worked for the Erie County Public Library distributing books to prisoners in the county jail and then as a book binder. Bobbi was a leading voice for the Buffalo Mattachine Society from the 1950s through the 1990s. She was a respected elder in the emerging Lesbian movement in Buffalo and attended several Christopher Street demonstrations in New York City as well as in Buffalo from the early 1970s.

Bobbi met Elizabeth Kennedy (Liz) in 1975 at a women’s dance in Buffalo. They were the love of each other’s lives. Bobbi maintained her working class perspective throughout her life. She shared it, and her contacts throughout the Buffalo lesbian community, in her close collaboration with Liz for Liz’s classic study of Lesbian life in Buffalo in the 50s and 60s, Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold.

In 1998 they relocated to Tucson for Liz’s work, where they continued their collaboration and commitment to building a strong lesbian community that bridged the University-community gap. In Tucson after her retirement, Bobbi served as a docent at the Reid Park Zoo. She and Liz were active members of the Poet’s Circle neighborhood organization before moving to The Forum. Bobbi was also a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills.

Bobbi loved her dogs. She and Liz shared the love and care for the family members Binh, Sachi, and Charlie. Bobbi is survived by their current dog, Marvin.

Bobbi and Liz were planning a 50th anniversary celebration for February 21, 2026, when Bobbi’s heart failed. The anniversary celebration was changed to a celebration of Bobbi’s life and their love as a couple and was attended by over 75 friends and relatives from across the country.

Bobbi is survived by her wife, Liz Kennedy, Liz's sister Ruth Kasle Graham and husband Robert Graham, Liz's brother David Lapovsky and wife Lucie, by many nieces and nephews from her and Liz’s families, and by friends around the world.

Contributions in Bobbi’s memory may be made to the Southern Arizona Humane Society or to NPR-89.1 AZPM.