Barbara J. Bakst

Barbara Mackey Bakst, who worked as a reporter and columnist for a variety of newspapers, and later became a public relations executive, professional photographer and community leader, died February 5th at her home. She was 95.

Mrs. Bakst began her journalism career while a student at St. Lawrence University where she was Editor-in-Chief of the University's News Bureau, assistant editor of the newspaper, and a correspondent for the Watertown Times. After graduating in October 1944, she worked for the American Broadcasting Company as assistant editor of "Headline Edition," a 7 p.m. radio news program featuring interviews with people and reporting on the news of the day.

Unable to get a position as a news writer at a variety of network outlets she persuaded the editor of the Camden Courier-Post Newspapers in New Jersey to hire her in 1948. The only woman reporter at the paper, she covered the Republican and Democratic Conventions in Philadelphia and wrote daily front -page stories. While at the Courier, she was also a correspondent for The New York Times covering the southern half of New Jersey.

In 1950, she boarded a freighter in New York City to begin a nine-month trip throughout Europe and Turkey to explore post-war conditions and write travel articles for the N.Y. Times and the N.Y. Herald Tribune. Returning to the United States, she was hired by Paul Friedlander, travel editor of The New York Times, to be Assistant Travel Editor of the Times. One day before she was scheduled to report for work, Friedlander called her and said his boss, Lester Markel, Sunday Editor of the Times, told him he could not hire a woman. Apologetic, Friedlander recommended her for an opening in public relations at the Shell Oil Company where she became Director of Publicity for Shell's Women's Program. But her heart was always in news reporting, and nine months later she left Shell to become a writer of the daily newscasts for the English language division of the Voice of America, which at that time was based in New York City. In addition, she handled many other assignments including a weekly review of the world news, "Newsreel, USA," and special news documentaries.

After the VOA moved its headquarters to Washington, D. C., she took at position as Director of Public Relations at the Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association in New York City. Later, she joined the Institute of Life Insurance as a writer.

Mrs. Bakst was born in New York City. Her father, Robert H. Mackey, was a special agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. In November 1952, she married Jerome H. Bakst, who was an editor at the Voice of America, and later Director of National Research at the Anti-Defamation League. After living in New York City for several years the couple bought a house in Verona, N.J. While being an active Mom to her son and daughter she also found time to write a column called "Mackey's Markings," for Suburban World covering events in Essex county communities. When both children were in school full time, Mrs. Bakst, an amateur photographer for many years, studied at the Institute of Photography in New York City and established a photography business working on a wide range of freelance assignments from public relations events to portraits and photo essays. In addition, she taught photography at the Montclair Adult School. In January 1983, she and Jay Hague established a thirteen-year partnership, Bakst and Hague, and photographed weddings in a unique documentary format.

Mrs. Bakst had a long record of active involvement in Verona town activities. In 1966 she ran for the Board of Education and later served as a consultant to the Verona Board of Education. She was an active supporter of the controversial Verona Busing Program in 1968, which brought 40 children from the Hawthorne Avenue School in Newark to attend classes in Verona elementary schools for one year. When that program was not renewed, she became co director of the Verona Summer Program that brought one hundred children from the Hawthorne Avenue School to Verona Park for three years to improve relations between the city of Newark and the suburb of Verona. She also founded a tutoring program in which Verona High School students worked with Hawthorne Avenue School children in Newark. She was also a member of the Verona Park Conservancy for many years and served that organization as a trustee from 2001 until her death.

In December 1979, Mrs. Bakst accepted a position at William Paterson University where she became Director of Public Information. She represented the University to the media as well as writing and editing publications and directing many public relations initiatives including the transition of the College to a University.

Mrs. Bakst retired in May 2000 at the age of seventy-six to care for her husband who was suffering from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and Parkinson's disease. Mr. Bakst died in 2002. She is survived by her two children, Lawrence E. Bakst, and Ellen E. Bakst, her daughter in law Cristina Testa, and one grandchild, Dylan Andrea Bakst. Although an active professional for most of her life, Mrs. Bakst often stated that her most important and rewarding job was that of a mother.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Verona Park Conservancy or the Verona Rescue Squad.