Barnetta's Life
Barnetta Davis Lange, 1916-2012 My Mom passed peacefully at Forbes Hospice on March 30 after suffering a stroke on March 18. Her last days and hours were spent peacefully without pain surrounded by family listening to Bach. She was 95 and had 93 great years. Even during the last two years, when she was plagued with back pain, she still functioned at a high level. In the last several years, she edited two of my books, gave piano recitals to many retirement and nursing homes, and traveled with me, Cindy and Erica to Cleveland, Washington D.C. and New York City. She lived independently in a lovely apartment on Fifth Avenue near Amberson, never needing an assisted living community. Though her walking was somewhat compromised, she was able to get around.
Mom had strong ties to Pittsburgh and the Jewish community. She lived in Pittsburgh and was part of the Jewish community all her life. Her grandmother, Annie Davis, was a philanthropist. In those days, when it was extremely difficult for Jewish doctors to find employment, Annie and a number of others decided that Pittsburgh needed a Jewish hospital, and at least partly due to her efforts, Montefiore Hospital was founded. Annie Davis also help found B’nai Israel, the temple formerly located on North Negley Avenue in Highland Park. The congregation moved, but the building still stands, and if you walk into the main sanctuary, you can still see the plaque that reads “Barnett Davis Hall.” Barnetta lived a full life, pursuing her interests in music and journalism. She was a staff writer for The Jewish Chronicle (then The Jewish Criterion) for many years. Later, she returned to higher education, achieved her PhD, and then became a full-time professor of journalism at Point Park College where she taught for many years. She received the honorary title of professor emeritus.
As I mentioned, our roots in Pittsburgh are deep, and Cindy, Erica and I now have the good fortune to live in my parents’ old house—we are strong on continuity! I remember Mom telling the story of when she and my father were looking for a house. As soon as she saw the living room, she immediately pictured the space filled with two parlor grand pianos placed back to back and imagined the room filled with music. They bought the house, and soon two Steinway parlor grands were in place. They remained there for 45 years until she moved. One piano went to her apartment; the other remains in my and Cindy’s house, though played too infrequently. Having two parlor grands in a private “studio” is a special thing for a musician and she attracted some of Pittsburgh’s finest pianists to play with her. Her longest partnership was with Homer Wickline who for many years came over once a week. Homer actually played the harpsichord and organ professionally. They would play for two hours, and then, in the civilized manner of the time, have a martini. She had other piano partners including her mother, Florence Hirschman Davis, and Bertha Hoffrichter. More recently, she played four hands (two pianists, one piano) with a fine young musician from CMU, Jeremy O’Dell.
For years, she would sit on her sofa and listen to the weekly opera on the radio. She would first go to the library and get the libretto (the words to the opera) so she could read along as she listened. She followed well in French and Italian, as she was fluent and semi-fluent in each, respectively. Her German was rusty because she hadn’t spoken it much after she lived in Austria from age eight to ten. The family went there so her father could study ophthalmology at one of the finest ophthalmology schools in the world. After retiring, she enjoyed performing for the Tuesday Music Club and at many of the retirement homes in Pittsburgh. As recently as six months ago she performed for about 100 people at one of these communities. My mother was an extraordinary woman. I am blessed to be her son and to have spent as much time with her as I did.
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She married my Dad in 1943 and stayed married until his death in 1983. She had three sons, Jeff, Jon, and me (Jim). Jeff is a retired successful business owner who has two children, Rachael and Jared. Jon is a professor of communication living in Ashland Oregon. I have one daughter, Erica. Mom was close to all of us and my wife, Cindy, and Jeff’s former wife, Darlene. 
Though her love of the written word and journalism was an integral part of her life, her longest and greatest love--other than her family--was music. Playing piano and attending the Pittsburgh Symphony sustained her throughout her life..
Playing music was only half of her passion, listening was equally important. It was not that long ago that we were talking about composers, and the subject of one of her favorites, Rachmaninoff, came up. One of her cherished memories was seeing him perform at the Syria Mosque 75 years ago! And, something that I have cherished has been our standing date for Pittsburgh Symphony performances. I will miss my symphony partner.