Barbara Abrash

ABRASH--Barbara Blackman, was born on April 23, 1933 in Paterson, NJ and died on November 30, 2025, peacefully, in her Manhattan home. She was a force in the world, a fierce intellect who lived with intention and precision. Her life had many chapters, and she undertook many roles, always learning and always doing. She was a partner, parent, and friend, a librarian, scholar, restaurateur, teacher, administrator, writer, convener, thinker, provocateur, booster, and film producer, whose primary work focused on the relationship between independent media and social history. She cared deeply about her work with NYU's Center for Media, Culture, and History, The Flaherty, the Ford Foundation, Not in Our Town, Women Make Movies and more. Her films, including Margaret Sanger: A Public Nuisance, and Indians, Outlaws and Angie Debo, continue to inform, inspire and instigate. Everything she did, she did superbly. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Merritt, her children Michael and Victoria, their spouses Shay and Bruce, her grandchildren Emily, Phoebe, and Corbin, her great-grand- child Miguel Angel, and many devoted friends and relations. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ACLU or Planned Parenthood - or just find something to do to promote civility, generosity of spirit, and respect and opportunity for all.