Ms. Barbara Mayer

Barbara (Carson) Mayer passed away Friday, September 7 from cancer after hospice in Northwestern University Hospital. She was 80.

Barbara, Bobbie to her friends, was born January 15, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Blanche (Schaefer) and Maurice. She was preceded in death by her brother, Michael. Barbara is survived by her husband Peter Afif, her son, Gordon Mayer (Kate Graham); and grandchildren, Max and Georgia.

Barbara attended Philadelphia's Girls High, from which she graduated in 1955, and received her B.A. from Barnard College in 1959. After moving to South Salem in 1973, Barbara covered northern Westchester for the Reporter Dispatch. She became a features reporter, receiving recognition for stories from the advent of the food processor to the growing popularity of Outward Bound adventure camping. Later Barbara reported for the Stamford Advocate and other outlets, including covering home furnishings for the Associated Press. It was an influential role since news outlets unable to staff the beat used her stories about home trends nationwide.

Reporting on craft art at a county fair in Rhinebeck inspired Barbara's interest in the Arts and Crafts movement. This led to her book, Contemporary American Craft Art: A Collector's Guide. (Gibbs M. Smith, Inc., 1988) Her second book, In the Arts & Crafts Style, (Chronicle Books, 1993) offered a different take on the subject of craft creators and collectors.

This research led Barbara to enroll at Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts and Design in New York City. Her master's thesis was published as Reynolda: A History of An American Country House. (John F. Blair, 1997) She went on to become historical consultant to Benjamin Moore Paint Company from 2000 until her retirement in 2017.

Barbara was a past president of the Lewisboro Library board of trustees. She was noted as well for her unique home, a geodesic dome built in 1971 from plans she and her then-husband purchased from Buckminster Fuller. She lived in the dome alone for many years after divorcing. That changed after Peter Afif built on the lot next door. Friendship between the neighbors blossomed into a romance that led to the couple's marriage in 2013. The couple gardened together -- Barbara became a master gardener and was a member of the Pound Ridge Garden Club -- and served in the community together.

They helped run the raffle at the annual carnival of the South Salem Fire Department, where Peter has been a volunteer member. They also helped organize neighbors to preserve Lake Kitchawan. The couple moved to Chicago to be near family in 2018.

Friends and neighbors are invited to gather and remember Barbara from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 20 in the community room at the South Salem Fire Department, 1190 NY-35, South Salem, NY 10590. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University or the Lewisboro Library.