Friday, January 12, 2018

Margie King Barab (1932–2018)

Our dear friend Margie King Barab has died at the age of eighty-five. For years, Elaine and I visited Margie and her husband Seymour Barab every summer in New York. And after Seymour died, we visited Margie. Margie was a singer, a teacher, and a writer. She appeared on television in the early days of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as Miss Margie Nebraska and later taught music to children in a Montessori school. One of my last memories of visiting Margie: it was around Thanksgiving, and we were walking with her to her ATM before we had to head off to the subway. It was cold and wet and windy. And somehow the three of us were singing “Tea for Two.”

After Alexander King, Margie’s first husband, died, Margie received a letter from Marianne Moore (November 16, 1966) that included this line: “What was, never ceases in the soul, does it?” I used to share that line (with Margie’s permission) when I taught Moore’s poetry. And I’m sharing it now.


[Our friends Seymour Barab and Margie King Barab, New York, May 2012. Photograph by Michael Leddy.]

comments: 6

Fresca said...

Oh, my, and there we have the circle of life---from welcoming bouncy baby Talia to the loss of a dear old friend.
I am sorry for that loss, which seems a keen one.

What a lovely line from Moore---I may just have to use that. Seems I'm writing more and more condolence cards these days....

Love and fellow feeling to you and Elaine, Fresca

Michael Leddy said...

Thanks, Fresca. I didn’t think things were going to circle-of-life on me today.

I feel honored to be able to share the line from Marianne Moore.

Berit said...

I remember your stories about this neat couple! I always thought it must just be wonderful to have such friends of the heart and mind! You and Elaine have my condolences for this sad loss.

Michael Leddy said...

Thanks, Berit. We are so fortunate to have known Margie and Seymour.

Stefan said...

This sad news prompted me to search your summer vacation posts, where I found the wonderful photo you posted in 2012. Your comment there reminds me a little of the final lines of Yeats' "The Municipal Gallery Revisited." Thank you for writing about Margie and Seymour. Tracy and I are sorry for Elaine's and your loss.

Michael Leddy said...

Thanks, Stefan and Tracy. New York will be a lot less special for us without Margie there.