Barbara Lo-Yin Yuan Slawecki

1936 - 2025

Barbara Lo-Yin Yuan Slawecki, a strong woman whose life was marked by courage, determination, charm, and a true global perspective, passed away on February 14, 2025, due to complications from dementia. A retired Foreign Commercial Service Officer, Barbara's journey-which included fleeing Communist China twice and engaging in diplomacy around the world-was truly noteworthy.

Born just outside Shanghai, China, Barbara's life was defined early on by her unyielding spirit. She escaped the rise of Communist rule in 1949, fleeing to Taipei, where she studied at Taiwan University until 1955.

Arriving in the United States, Barbara forged her own path, moving from Michigan to Long Island before settling in Washington, D.C. There, she taught Chinese at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, sharing her rich heritage with eager learners. On December 7, 1957, fate intervened when she stepped into a Georgetown University classroom to assist with a Chinese language session. Leon Slawecki, a student that day, was captivated-"stunned," he still says-by her charming presence. Two years later, on the same historic day Luna 2 became the first man-made object to reach the Moon, they married, launching a loving partnership that spanned eight decades.

Barbara's life unfolded across continents. After working as a librarian for the Air Force Association, she embraced the role of a Foreign Service spouse, relocating her young family of four to Madagascar and Senegal alongside her junior Foreign Service Officer husband. However, Barbara was never one to remain in the background. Through supportive roles in Hong Kong and Belgrade, she honed her skills, eventually stepping into her own spotlight with the Foreign Commercial Service in Beijing, only to leave again amid the tumult of 1989. Her indispensable contributions there propelled her to Sweden, where she served as Commercial Counsellor for Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with Leon now the supportive spouse. Later, at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., she earned multiple commendations, including for her pivotal role in orchestrating the Commerce Secretary's 1994 trade mission to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, Israel, West Bank, and Gaza.

Retiring in 1999, Barbara set out with Leon to explore the world they hadn't yet experienced professionally, venturing throughout the Middle East and South America. Eventually settling in Washington, Virginia, she turned her energy to cultivating what many considered the planet's most breathtaking roses and gladioli-a fitting legacy for a woman who nurtured beauty and strength in equal measure.

Barbara's influence endures through her husband, Leon; her children, Tad (Kirsten Carr) Slawecki and Michelle (Tim) Hanlon; her grandchildren, Ned, Tiernan, Henry, and Keelin; and her siblings Jason (Margaret) Yuan, Cecilia (David) Chang, and Athena (David) Chang. Her life-a tapestry of resilience, love, and service-serves as a beacon to those who aspire to live a life of consequence.

Donations in Barbara's memory to the Washington Volunteer Fire & Rescue Inc (PO Box 238, Washington, VA 22747) or the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad (12 Main Street, Sperryville, VA 22740) are welcomed. A memorial gathering is planned from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Barbara and Leon's home.