Barbara "Bobbie" C. Paskow

Born in Newark in 1933, Barbara "Bobbie" (Bach) Paskow was raised by Melvin and Tessie Bach in Maplewood, NJ. She attended the University of Vermont and graduated with not just a degree, but a lifelong love of education and teaching.

She met Joe Paskow, her future husband, the summer after graduation, and by July 1954, they were married. In 1955, her daughter Jill was born, followed by her son Dan a few years later. Being a wonderful Mom was just one of her many gifts.

After moving to Livingston in 1960, Bobbie continued her education, graduating with a degree in childhood education. After a few years in the classroom, she began tutoring children with learning disabilities. This was a great passion of hers, melding her love of both teaching and children, mixed with her patience and enthusiasm.

Always fascinated with musical theatre and theatrical performance, she began acting in, and later directing, shows for the Community Players in Livingston. She travelled often to NYC to countless Broadway shows, and was thrilled to act as an 'extra' in the film "The French Connection".

Children were her heart and soul, and she was often known as "The Singing Lady" for multiple summers at Spring Garden Day Camp, where she played the piano and directed shows. She was also a class mom for many years, leading songs on the bus and attending many campouts.

As her children grew, Bobbie continued to spend time with her many friends, playing scrabble, cards and Mahjong, throwing small Gourmet dinner parties, and enjoying trips to the Jersey Shore.

She began more hobbies like photography and playing tennis and the piano. Bobbie also worked as a travel agent and a NYC magazine editor for Maternity Matters, the first-ever maternity magazine.

In 1982, her daughter Jill married John Frezados, and he became another son to her. The same happened with Dan and his wife, Lecia - she became another daughter.

When her first grandchild, Melinda, was born in 1991, Bobbie was quite simply, ecstatic. Her relationship with her granddaughter turned into a 29 year friendship, sharing her passion for clothing, shoes, jewelry, performance, Broadway shows, and gourmet food always gave them something special to share with each other. Even while in physical rehab, Bobbie made sure to welcome Mel's fiance Greg Nocera as her new grandson with a "Congratulations!" video. She was so thrilled to hear of all the exciting achievements of her grandchildren.

Her grandson Zachary and granddaughter Alyssa were very special to her, and she loved traveling to see them all over the world, playing games and proudly watching them grow up into exceptional people.

While they had always vacationed, Bobbie and Joe began travelling in earnest, both in the US and all over the world. Visiting Dan, Lecia and their children Zachary and Alyssa was always a highlight, be it for ribs in Austin, TX, karaoke in Singapore, or riding elephants in Thailand. They collected turquoise in Arizona, sailed through Europe, explored Italy and Spain, cruised to Alaska and enjoyed Russia and Israel, amongst many other memorable trips.

In 2004, after celebrating a wonderful 50th wedding anniversary in Mexico with the whole family, Bobbie developed a rare form of encephalitis, and adventures were sidelined as she fought her hardest to recover. Her strength, resilience and perseverance became her strongest allies in this fight. She not only survived - she continued to fight a year's long battle to recover her vibrant personality and her life.

Despite multiple health issues, Bobbie's amazing vibrancy and sense of humor began to resurface. When her Joe passed away suddenly in 2011, she left Livingston, her home of fifty years, to move into Sunrise of West Essex in Fairfield. Here, she not only gained many new friends and hobbies, but was famous for her amazing memory and knowledge of trivia during contests. Her love of people and her enjoyment of life sustained her after the blow of losing her son, Dan, to lung cancer soon after moving. In 2020, Bobbie suffered through Covid-19, and once again, fought hard to live. Though she was hospitalized multiple times following Covid, each time her strength, determination, and love of life helped her push through and recover. She is also survived by her younger sister, Karen Wolfe, who she dearly loved, and many nieces and nephews.

Bobbie will be remembered by all she met. She had a larger-than-life personality, and was a generous friend, enthusiastic teacher, a wonderful wife and mother, and a loving and proud grandmother. As strong as they come, she was also funny as hell. She will be greatly missed.