Barbara Duer Arnstine

1934 - 2024

Barbara Duer Arnstine

December 17, 1934 - April 13, 2024

Sacramento, California - Barbara Arnstine died Saturday April 13th, surrounded by her children after a brief illness, she was 89. Born in Freehold, New Jersey, Barbara Arnstine embarked upon an extensive academic career: she received her Bachelor of Arts at Colby College, her Master of Education at Harvard, and her Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education at the University of Wisconsin. Barbara first taught at the University of Tennessee, the University of Wisconsin, and Boston University. For over twenty-five years, Barbara was a Professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento. Her major focus at CSU, Sacramento, was teacher preparation and the role of philosophy of education in training and sustaining teachers. Barbara helped to create and coordinate a master's program emphasizing Women's Studies and Women in Education at CSU, Sacramento. Throughout her career, she also mentored several students and faculty members who valued her expertise, wisdom and intellect. Since 1994 and continuing until her retirement, she served as editor and moderator of the LegiSchool Town Hall meetings, televised throughout the state by the California Channel and nationally by cable TV.

Barbara and the love of her life, Don, were married in 1964 and spent over half a century together before Don's death in 2020 and they traveled the globe sharing many adventures together during their 56 year of marriage. Barbara and Don purchased their first harness horse, Big Time in 1972 which began her 50-plus years of excitement owning dozens of horses and winning hundreds of races across the country. Besides teaching and her family, Barbara's passions included harness racing, traveling, watching The Sacramento Kings and spending time with her adopted cat Sophie, and reading mysteries. In the last few years before her death, she began to breed horses and she loved watching her young horses grow and train. Last year Barbara traveled to Egypt with friends and family and went to Hawaii to attend one of her Grandson's wedding. Growing up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Barbara had a love of the water that started by swimming in the Atlantic and she went back every year to visit family and friends. She was also part of a swim group in Sacramento with many women she adored along with her Thursday morning chair yoga group.

Barbara's impact on the educational and harness racing communities was profound and will be remembered by all. Barbara is survived by her son Stephen and his wife Susan, daughters Annie and her husband Michael, Ruthie and her husband Mark and Rachel and her husband Kenny plus her six grandchildren who she loved dearly. Barbara, along with her husband Don, will be remembered, in December at a special memorial race at Cal Expo, in Sacramento. In leu of flowers please consider donating to the Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter of which Barbara was an avid supporter.