Barbara Carmel

Barbara “Bobbie” (Skura) Carmel, age 91, of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away on March 27, 2021. Born October 13, 1929 in NYC, raised in White Plains, NY (parents Ivan and Rachel Skura, deceased) and longtime resident of Scarsdale and Armonk, NY. Bobbie is survived by her husband of 69 years, Monte Carmel; sons, Douglas (Meryl) and George (Marie-Noël Bastien, fiancée) Carmel; daughter, Leslie (Gerry) Geist; grandchildren, Peter Geist (Marco Franzitta), Pamela Geist (Matt Kisil), Tyler Geist (Alexandra La-Rotta), Benjamin (Melissa) Carmel, Sam (Jackie) Carmel, Lucas Carmel and Margaret Jacobs, mother; and great grandchildren, Connor Carmel and Alexander Carmel.

Soon after graduating Syracuse University, Bobbie found her lifelong, storybook love in Monte, and together they made the family - nourishing, caring for and keeping everyone close – their highest priority. From bringing the Beatles’ movies to the delight of every child in a 1960’s K-8 school, to manning school and camp trade show booths with Monte, to supporting the moratorium to end the Vietnam War, to shipping Playboy magazines to her teenager away at summer camp, Bobbie was an engaged citizen and independent spirit. She lit up rooms and made fast friends everywhere with her bright blue eyes, huge warm smile, sharp mind, and keen interest in others. A dance student with Martha Graham, an avid reader, lover of the outdoors, Bobbie took up fishing as a lifelong hobby when first pregnant, tennis, golf, freelance writing, and world travel to her pursuits. She did various charity work and volunteer public relations for Westchester Community College. Bobbie’s famous dinner parties and multi-generational family gatherings, which reflected her love of people and good food, are family legends. Always elegant, never showy; down to earth with eyes on the horizon; a fierce advocate of just causes with a gentle nature; she leaves a gaping hole though many are filled with her spirit; a life truly, fully lived – Bobbie/Mom/Aunt/Grandma/Great-Grandma.

For anyone wishing to donate in Bobbie’s honor, her favorite charities were The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund.