Eleanor Close Barzin

Aunt Eleanor was a woman of grace, intelligence, and deep compassion. On one of my many stays with her at Vaux-sur-Seine, she took a group of us to lunch in Paris. When she encountered a homeless woman crying on a sidewalk in Paris, she withdrew a large French franc note from her purse and handed it to the woman. Before walking away, Aunt Eleanor spoke softly to the woman and asked her to find food and shelter for herself. The sincerity in her voice still echoes in my mind. I cannot pass a...

Dear E.
So many great stories... don't know where to begin... I guess my favorite was one Sunday at Vaux during a drought and Versaille had limited the fountains to one hour. Eleanor says over breakfast: "What do you say we try to see all 39 fountains in one hour - think we can?" So off we went and she had her map in hand and was dragging me through the massive hedgerows to create shortcuts - sure enough we did see them all with minutes to spare and collapsed in a cafe to celebrate our...

My favorite memory was when she brought me along to go pyramid hunting in the jungles of Guatamala and we stopped to have a snack of pate' by a river where the local indians were washing their clothes. She let me hold her umbrella for her to provide some shade as she made the snacks.

Dear Eleanor,

I too wish I had known you. You sound like you would have been a very good grandaunt. You may not have heard about me, but I've heard plenty about you. My father, Stanley H, Rumbough has told me much.

Rest In Peace,
Allegra H. Rumbough

Dear Eleanor,

I wish I could have known you. My grandmother, Nedenia Hutton (Dina Merrill) told me many wonderful stories of growing up with you. Rest in peace!

With my deepest sympathies to all the family, I know I shall miss my godmother greatly. I hold onto fond memories of our summer trip behind the 'iron curtain' and into Turkey. Most of all I think of the many times vivid stories and merry laughter filled our lives when David Close (my father) and Eleanor Barzin were together. I miss you both so very much.

Rest in Peace Madame Barzin.

The memory of your younger days on Long Island at the first Hillwood are preserved in our memory.