BARBARA GUSTERN

GUSTERN--Barbara Maier, singer, actor, and beloved voice coach, peacefully passed away March 15th after five days in Bellevue hospital following a violent and unprovoked attack on March 10th. Her students are innumerable. From the daring and likewise unstoppable, to those outside of the world of entertainment and simply seeking a space to heal. A woman of classical aesthetic, yet unafraid of the risque. She sought to create a refuge for artistic people caught in the margins of our world and everyone in between. Barbara embodied strong small-town roots and the ever-rarer Depression era work ethic. Born to Charles and Gladys Maier in Boonville Indiana, a tomboy everyone called Bobbi. From an early age she found her own voice singing in family living rooms wrapped in the loving web of knitting kin. The more she grew, the more you'd find her helping in the family hardware store, or water skiing on the Ohio River. Barbara graduated from DePauw University with a BA in Psychology, and Columbia University with an MA in counseling and clinical psychology. She was well on her way to a PhD when she discovered her passion for singing and vocal technique. After attending classes at The Julliard School, Barbara stepped into the limelight at New York City Opera, Fifth Avenue Opera, Bar Harbor Festival, and Greenwich Symphony, followed by summer stock and many globe-trotting cruise ship tours. While singing in the chorus at a downtown synagogue to pay bills, Barbara met the love of her life, Josef Gustern, a large-than-life basso buffo who went on to a distinguished run in Phantom of the Opera. Barbara and Joe gave life to their only child, Katherine Maier Gustern in 1968, who gave life to her only child, AJ Gustern in 1993. Katherine died unexpectedly in 2003, leaving Barbara, Joe and AJ to rebuild their lives together. Joe passed away in 2017. Some of her recent exploits include Voice Director for the revival of Oklahoma! and directing a cabaret featuring Austin Pendelton and Barbara Bleier. The trio were often getting into trouble on stage at Pangea in the East Village. Mrs. Bleier recently described Barbara as "an 87-year-old teenager". It was that boundless energy, and fearless attitude that conspired to place her alone at night on a New York street, where she was attacked within window view of her Chelsea home. Eight decades of incomparable integrity and love, lost to a random act of senseless violence. In the words of her grandson, "we have lost one of the brightest little flames to ever grace this world." A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Holy Apostle on W. 28th Street in Chelsea on March 26th at 2:00pm.