Charles Fineberg
Barbara Bass Fineberg was born on June 19, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, to Libby (Galst) Bass and Morris Bass. She spent most of her life in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1991. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2006, she relocated to San Francisco, California, to be closer to her son.
Barbara was passionate about both her career and the life she built outside of work. She worked in radiation oncology at Washington University for many years before continuing her career at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. One of her proudest professional contributions was her work on the Study on Surgical Services for the United States (SOSSUS), a project she remained deeply honored to have been part of throughout her life.
Barbara is survived by her three children, Charles Fineberg (Julia Weber) of San Francisco, CA; Andrew Fineberg of Long Beach, CA; and Laura Fineberg (Scott Pauls) of Lebanon, NH. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Penelope O’Sullivan of Stratham, NH, and New Orleans, LA, as well as her two cherished grandchildren, Zachary Fineberg and Abigail Pauls.
Barbara cared deeply about the world she was leaving behind for them. She also had many special cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, in-laws, and extended family members who enriched her life.
Barbara was preceded in death by Wilma Fineberg, her son Andrew’s wife, who passed away on November 6, 2024, from ALS. She also deeply mourned the loss of her brother-in-law, Richard Fineberg, who died on September 27, 2024.
Having lived a long life, Barbara experienced the profound loss of many dear friends and family members, all of whom she carried with her in memory.
Known for her outgoing spirit, Barbara could often be found laughing and fully enjoying herself.
Though aging brought challenges, she always found ways to connect with others and engage with life. She was an artist at heart and spent many years working in the arts. Her love for music and performance was evident in the way she raised her children, regularly taking them to the St.
Louis Symphony and the ballet. Her children fondly remember the lively parties she hosted—filled with food, drink, music, and loud chatter—as they watched from the stairway long after they were supposed to be asleep.
A lifelong Democrat and passionate activist, Barbara dedicated herself to political and social causes. In St. Louis, she worked on numerous local campaigns, bringing her children along to campaign headquarters in University City, where they helped fold and stuff envelopes, deliver signs, and canvass neighborhoods. She was also a dedicated advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and a committed feminist. Her children and their friends considered themselves lucky to have had spirited conversations about politics and equality in her home—discussions that were not always commonplace in their generation.
Barbara loved movies and books, and incorporated that love into her lifelong volunteer work, hosting a movie program at Delmar Harvard School in University City, MO, to benefit the PTA in the 1960's, through movie nights at the local senior center for many years. She also held many other volunteer roles such as helping out at Meals on Wheels and Arts organizations.
Barbara was deeply grateful to Laguna Honda for their compassionate and intelligent end-of-life care, Hospice for their guidance and support through this difficult and emotionally charged time, and Maria Theresa Ubas and Marissa Marcelo for their selfless and transformative assistance.
Barbara will be remembered for her warmth, intelligence, activism, and love of the arts. Her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched will carry her memory forward with love and gratitude.
Barbara was passionate about both her career and the life she built outside of work. She worked in radiation oncology at Washington University for many years before continuing her career at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. One of her proudest professional contributions was her work on the Study on Surgical Services for the United States (SOSSUS), a project she remained deeply honored to have been part of throughout her life.
Barbara is survived by her three children, Charles Fineberg (Julia Weber) of San Francisco, CA; Andrew Fineberg of Long Beach, CA; and Laura Fineberg (Scott Pauls) of Lebanon, NH. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Penelope O’Sullivan of Stratham, NH, and New Orleans, LA, as well as her two cherished grandchildren, Zachary Fineberg and Abigail Pauls.
Barbara cared deeply about the world she was leaving behind for them. She also had many special cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, in-laws, and extended family members who enriched her life.
Barbara was preceded in death by Wilma Fineberg, her son Andrew’s wife, who passed away on November 6, 2024, from ALS. She also deeply mourned the loss of her brother-in-law, Richard Fineberg, who died on September 27, 2024.
Having lived a long life, Barbara experienced the profound loss of many dear friends and family members, all of whom she carried with her in memory.
Known for her outgoing spirit, Barbara could often be found laughing and fully enjoying herself.
Though aging brought challenges, she always found ways to connect with others and engage with life. She was an artist at heart and spent many years working in the arts. Her love for music and performance was evident in the way she raised her children, regularly taking them to the St.
Louis Symphony and the ballet. Her children fondly remember the lively parties she hosted—filled with food, drink, music, and loud chatter—as they watched from the stairway long after they were supposed to be asleep.
A lifelong Democrat and passionate activist, Barbara dedicated herself to political and social causes. In St. Louis, she worked on numerous local campaigns, bringing her children along to campaign headquarters in University City, where they helped fold and stuff envelopes, deliver signs, and canvass neighborhoods. She was also a dedicated advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and a committed feminist. Her children and their friends considered themselves lucky to have had spirited conversations about politics and equality in her home—discussions that were not always commonplace in their generation.
Barbara loved movies and books, and incorporated that love into her lifelong volunteer work, hosting a movie program at Delmar Harvard School in University City, MO, to benefit the PTA in the 1960's, through movie nights at the local senior center for many years. She also held many other volunteer roles such as helping out at Meals on Wheels and Arts organizations.
Barbara was deeply grateful to Laguna Honda for their compassionate and intelligent end-of-life care, Hospice for their guidance and support through this difficult and emotionally charged time, and Maria Theresa Ubas and Marissa Marcelo for their selfless and transformative assistance.
Barbara will be remembered for her warmth, intelligence, activism, and love of the arts. Her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched will carry her memory forward with love and gratitude.
