Elaine (nee Jubanyik) Barton

Elaine Barton (nee Jubanyik ) passed away on April 29, 2020 at the age of 77.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Elaine was born in Camden to Raymond and Ruth Jubanyik and grew up in Merchantville, NJ, graduating from Merchantville High School in 1960. She received her Bachelor's degree from American University in 1964. She lived in Moorestown and Medford.

Mother of Jennifer Barton and Jeffrey Barton. Devoted grandmother, known as "Big E," of Cali, Luke and Juliet Barton and Grace and James Zagoria.

Sister of the late Richard Jubanyik. Beloved Aunt to Karen Jubanyik, Michael Jubanyik and David Jubanyik.

She was to married Richard A. Barton from 1966-1995.

Elaine worked as a journalist for the Courier Post in the 1960's, 70's and 80's, and went on to work for the Central Record in Medford where she retired in 2008.

Elaine was a tenacious, and often fearless, investigative reporter who enjoyed her assignments, particularly ones that involved (in her words) "the Mob, murder or mayhem". She also interviewed entertainers and celebrities including Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Luciano Pavarotti, Olympian Eric Heiden and Bono. In 1979, at the height of the Iranian Hostage crisis, Elaine was the first American journalist to interview (by telephone) the terrorist captors in Tehran, and her subsequent reporting gained national attention at the time.

For the Central Record, she reported on local crimes, municipal and cultural activities, colorful local residents and special events. In 2002, Elaine was part of the Central Record team that received a New Jersey Press Association Award.

Family was an important priority and Elaine loved hosting holiday meals and gathering family together for celebrations. Kind, thoughtful and known for her quick sense of humor, Elaine had many friends throughout her life and enjoyed laughing, visiting and talking with them by phone.

Elaine loved walking on the beach in Avalon, NJ and spent many summers there surveilling the waters for submarines. A lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers, she was also a master knitter, huge Neil Diamond fan and enjoyed gardening and flower arranging.

A public celebration of Elaine Barton's life will be scheduled in the future.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Moorestown Community House, 16 East Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057 or via their website

http://thecommunityhouse.com/

Condolence may be left at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Courier Post from May 2 to May 3, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Elaine Barton

Sponsored by Lewis Funeral Home - Moorestown.

12 Entries

Big E and grandniece, Sam, ca. 1995

Sam Moffett

May 7, 2020

Even as she was known to us (her grandnieces) as "Big E", she chose a second moniker, equally fitting: "The Spoiler." Her house was always prepped with animal crackers-- the kind that came in their own individual red boxes on a string. She used to tell us that the one with the most monkeys was the most mischievous (and, shocker, she often won this contest). I also remember when we would play Aristocrats, and put on our snobbiest airs as we walked around the house in her clothes and costume jewelry, pretending to drink tea (it was soda).

But my fondest memories of E are not those I cultivated in her home as a spoiled child; rather, they are those that I created with her as another adult, often across email. I came to appreciate her incredible wit and fearless humor, which knew no such petty boundaries as "good taste" or inoffensiveness. I marveled at her ability to be one of the boldest, but also the most loving adults I knew. Her voice, her mind, and her spirit will be (indeed, already are) missed.

Big E with Sam, ca. 1995

Sam Moffett

May 7, 2020

Janet

May 5, 2020

I had the pleasure of working with her at the Central Record. Miss her dry humor

Rosemary Parrillo

May 5, 2020

When I think of Elaine, I see her bounding into the Courier-Post newsroom, always with a mischievous smile and story to pitch. She brought great passion to everything she did and the world will be less-than without her.

Bonnie (Carley) Haddon

May 5, 2020

I met Elaine on my first day at the Courier Post. I walked into the city room wearing a dress identical to the one she was wearing. We became friends and shared many adventures. I remember her excitement when during the Adamucci trial she got the scoop on a late Friday afternoon when the lead reporter skipped out for a hunting trip. Another time she was frustrated by being sidelined during the Johnson-Kosygin summit conference in Glassboro because she was pregnant. She was a born investigator and grew up wanting to be Brenda Starr (like her mother).

Karen Jubanyik

May 4, 2020

Big E spread her love wide and far. Everyone who ever met her found a friend who would truly listen. She was riotously funny - one of the few people who could reliably get a belly laugh out of me. She was enviably intellectually curious and there was never a problem that she could not help a friend or family member solve. Most of all, she was dedicated to her family - as a mother, aunt, grandmother, sister and daughter. She made sure her own mother, Ruth, was cared for in every way until her last breath and Big E's own family paid it forward to her.

Michael Jubanyik

May 3, 2020

Big E! Was very special to me... my senior year in high school my mother moved to Florida and I wanted to stay up here and finish school... Big E. Gladly took me in! She was a great Aunt and we would spend many hours talking about world events.... in the last few years even though we differed politically she was always a good sport about my teasing....Big E. was always someone I could talk to.... Ill miss that... Ill miss her!

Joe Panella

May 3, 2020

Elaine, my friend and colleague at both the Courier-Post and The Central Record, was a dogged reporter and a facile writer, but Elaine's sparkling wit and her boundless sense of humor shone brightest for me and my wife, Carol. Carol and Elaine shared dozens of books over the years, all of them about murder and mayhem. Elaine called them 'kill books." Tears for her now but wonderful memories of the laughter we shared.

May 3, 2020

Thank you EJ for all of the laughs and smiles. You have always had a special place in our hearts.
Memories are a little unbelievable, but they are there, never to be forgotten.
Jody & Bob Davidson, Merchantville class of 1960!

Kelly Williams

May 3, 2020

I have so many fond memories of Aunt Elaine. Visiting NJ growing up as a kid was always more fun with Aunt Elaine there. May she rest in peace. Sending lots of love and comfort to the family.

The family

May 3, 2020

Our hearts are with you from far away!

May 2, 2020

Barton crew. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of,
"Big E." She was an interesting, creative and Loving person. May her memory be for a blessing!!!!

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