Obituary of Barbara Lessans Schaftel

Barbara Lessans Schaftel, born in Baltimore, MD on June 24, 1935, to Harold and Sally Lessans. Barbara was married to Stuart Schaftel for 67 years before he passed in 2021. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, private airplane pilot, avid fisher woman, tennis player, golfer, cyclist and cherished friend to many. Her love of adventure was second to none. Barbara hiked to the camp just before Basecamp in Nepal, to Machu Picchu in Peru and parachuted from a plane at 16,500 ft above sea level at the age of 69 to name only a few of her accomplishments. She always sought out opportunities to try something new, taking up acting at the age of 88. Barbara had the gift of lighting up a room her entire life. After raising her five children, Barbara was a very successful real estate agent, the first woman president of the Baltimore Realtors Association and an adult literacy and dyslexia tutor. Those lucky enough to spend time with Barbara, even for a while, came away better for it, kinder, more thoughtful and forever changed. Barbara is survived by her five children and their spouses, 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren with three more on the way, two of four surviving siblings and countless friends and admirers. Donations in memory of Barbara may be made to The Dyslexia Foundation.