Barbara Hanst

1939 - 2022

Barbara Mann Hanst was born June 11, 1939 in Cumberland, MD and died in Boulder, CO March 18, 2022. She was 82. She died of complications from Covid, but was free from pain and peaceful with her daughter at her side. Barbara's son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren were all able to spend time with her in her final days.

After graduating from Allegany High School in Cumberland, Barbara attended Gettysburg College for one year but transferred to and graduated from Duke University in 1961. Several years later she got a M.Ed. in Religious Education from the University of Pittsburgh in a cooperative program with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. After marrying George Henry Hanst of Oakland, MD in 1967, she furthered her education by acquiring a MA in Theology from The Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. During her career, she served Lutheran congregations in Cleveland, OH; and Catonsville, Towson, and Stevensville, MD – filling various professional roles as a Deacon of the ELCA. After the death of her husband in 1995, she returned to Duke for a year-long program of Clinical Pastoral Education, then moved back to Baltimore to become the first Director of Pastoral Care for Roland Park Place, a Continuing Care Retirement Community.

After retirement, Barbara moved west to Boulder, CO to be near her grandchildren, Zuzu and Oliver Hanst, children of Jonathan Hanst and Kirsten Bailey of Lafayette, CO. Barbara's daughter, Jennifer Hanst, lives on Maui, a place Barbara loved to visit. She also leaves a sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Frank Sandker of Fort Myers, FL, plus numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Barbara traveled widely during her lifetime, but was particularly grateful for time spent in Nicaragua, where she helped establish a Sister Parish relationship between the Lutheran Church there and Ascension Lutheran in Towson; and a trip to Nablus, Palestine, where she tutored in English through a non-profit called Project Hope.

In retirement, Barbara became a passionate social justice activist and a community volunteer. She particularly relished the friendships she developed volunteering with Intercambio, Bridge House, and the UCC Boulder Human Rights for Palestinians, a group she started at First Congregational. Barbara loved to walk and swim, to spend time with friends and family, and to cook and entertain.

A public memorial service will be held April 24th at 2pm at First Congregational Church in Boulder; it will be live streamed as well. The family is also planning a Celebration of Life in Towson, MD sometime during the first half of July. Further details and the live streaming link for both services will be shared on Barbara's Caring Bridge page, www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbarahanst/journal.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Barbara's favorite charities, in her honor: US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Friends of Sabeel North America, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU.