BARBARA J. BEIN

I met Barbara at the Biltmore Hotel many years ago when she was teaching Mahjong to seniors. She encouraged me to learn bridge so I followed her to Coral Gables Youth Center. I admired her zest for life and refusal to give in to adversity. She was a very brave lady.
Margaret Harrison from South Miami.

She was my softball coach in the early '60's. She was a magnificent athlete and person -- and I remember her parents were devoted to her. God bless.

Wow, I was so moved when I read my BF's Miami Herald and saw Miss Barbara's face smiling from the obit page. Talk about a trip down memory lane. First, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Barbara's friends and family. I also was a CGYC kid (along with my brother, aka Punky/Ralph): we enjoyed taking art classes (Mrs. Monahan), judo (Mr. Forshay), piano (Mrs. Rowley), soccer, rollerskating, etc. from 1969 to about 1974. Miss Barbara was a force to be reckoned with. We loved her tough love...

I was another one of those kids who grew up at the Youth Center. Barbara taught me how to play volleyball and softball. She taught me good sportsmanship. To this day I thank her for teaching me that if I put salt into the cold wash water, the colors wont bleed on the softball shirt, and that I can cool myself off by letting the stream from a water fountain run over the inside of my wrist. When I became a teen, she taught me great tips (I needed them!) at the pool table. Many years later I...

Miss Barbara will always be one of the most important persons in my life. I first met her at the Youth Center in the 1960's. And when my dad passed away when I was 10 years old, she took me under her wing and guided me and befriended me. She gave me confidence and a keen understanding of what it meant to help others. She, during those difficult years, was like a second mother to me. And like me, there are thousands of kids whose life were touched and molded for the better thanks to Miss...

My deepest sympathy to the Bein family. Ms Barbara was an instrumental and stabilizing force in my life as a child. My memories of her are endless and so cherished. I began attending the CGYC as a 7 year old in a new country with no friends and limited family. Ms Barbara nutured, protected and disciplined me while creating a safe loving environment. She was always available to everyone and always inclusive. Such a joy to have spent such formative years with her. I will never forget.

My memories of Barbara go back to the early 1960s when we became neighbors and friends. Living across the street from the Beins, we shared many meals, holidays, and special events. From the very beginning, we were close friends. I have always admired Barbara's strength and love of life, and will always remember her beautiful, smiling face. She touched many lives - in her personal life and in her work life, with generations of Coral Gables young people. Never, ever did Barbara every...

To Artie Bein, wife and Barb's niece and nephew: In remembrance of a very fine person who always had a smile for everyone and the good times we shared. With much love, Jimmie Ruth Songer