Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Barbara Cushman Waxler (born Barbara Cushman Molinsky) |
| Birth decade | circa 1930s |
| Death | June 3, 2013 |
| Education | B.A. in Economics, Connecticut College for Women; Phi Beta Kappa; LL.B., Columbia University Law School |
| Primary professions | Attorney; community volunteer |
| Marital status | Married to Dr. Edward Bernard Waxler, June 1965 – his death 1977 |
| Children | Andrew Reed Waxler; Caroline Waxler Levitt |
| Notable relatives | Sister: Joan Rivers; Parents: Meyer C. Molinsky and Beatrice Molinsky |
| Residences | Waycross; Ardmore; Main Line area of Pennsylvania |
Early Life and Formation
When Barbara Cushman Waxler came home in the middle of the 20th century, education was prized like a rare book on the top shelf. She was born probably in the 1930s to Meyer C. and Beatrice Molinsky, and grew up in a home where political engagement and education were frequent themes. She became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a sign of academic achievement, while attending Connecticut College for Women, where she studied economics with a steady eye. Afterwards, she moved across the river to New York and earned an LL.B. from Columbia University Law School, entering a field that still had more obstacles for women than for males.
These early decisions paved the way for a life that followed purposeful paths, including family, law, academics, and dedicated volunteer work. Here, dates and classrooms are important since they reveal a pattern. She developed her academic credentials in the 1950s and 1960s, was married in 1965, and worked as a lawyer and mother in the ensuing decades.
Career, Legal Practice, and Public Life
Barbara’s legal career threaded through two states and several legal communities. She was a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and later practiced in Pennsylvania, including Montgomery and Delaware counties. Her legal work was steady rather than sensational; she carved out professional space in the daily practice of law, in offices where the work often meant counseling, drafting, and standing for clients in courts and meetings.
Beyond the day job she invested time in community service. Volunteerism marked much of her later life, especially after major family changes. She balanced professional citizenship with private obligations, and she handled each with the measured cadence of someone who knew that lasting impact is often small and repeated rather than sudden and loud.
Marriage and Family Life
In June 1965, Barbara wed Dr. Edward Bernard Waxler. By profession, Edward was a cardiologist. Before his tragic death in 1977 at the age of 37, the family lived together in Waycross, among other places, after the marriage. Her husband’s death was a turning point in her life, necessitating a new way of living, moving, and raising her kids on her own terms.
She reared Andrew Reed Waxler and Caroline Waxler Levitt, two children, helping them through school and into adulthood. Although her parenting style was discreet, family members said it was solid, focused, and quietly proud. She is remembered in family photos and obituaries as the focal point of family get-togethers.
Family Members and Detailed Introductions
| Family member | Relationship | Full introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Edward Bernard Waxler | Spouse | Married June 1965; cardiologist by profession; died 1977 at age 37; his life and death shaped Barbara’s subsequent moves and responsibilities. |
| Andrew Reed Waxler | Son | Referred to with a professional title indicating doctoral achievement; married to Laurie; father of Eric, Abigail, and Emily; carries forward the Waxler family line and familial responsibilities. |
| Caroline Waxler Levitt | Daughter | Married to Michael Levitt; active in family life and community; grew up during the family’s years in Waycross and later Ardmore. |
| Eric Waxler | Grandson | One of Barbara’s grandchildren, part of the younger generation recorded in family notices. |
| Abigail Waxler | Grandchild | Granddaughter named among survivors; part of the immediate family circle. |
| Emily Waxler | Granddaughter | Granddaughter named among survivors; part of the immediate family circle. |
| Meyer C. Molinsky | Father | Dr. Meyer C. Molinsky; predeceased Barbara; his name anchors the maternal family lineage. |
| Beatrice Molinsky | Mother | Beatrice Molinsky; predeceased Barbara; central to childhood and family memory. |
| Joan Rivers (born Joan Molinsky) | Sister | Internationally known comedian and television personality; listed as Barbara’s sister in family notices and remembrances; provided a public echo to Barbara’s private life. |
Each person in that table is more than a name. Edward’s profession and early death redirected a household. Andrew’s doctoral title and family indicate a second generation that upheld educational and familial values. Caroline’s married name points to the alliances of community and extended kin. Meyer and Beatrice root Barbara in a prior generation that prized learning. Joan Rivers acts as a spotlight, a public face that by association brought more notice to family milestones when they occurred.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| circa 1930s | Birth of Barbara Cushman Molinsky in the Molinsky family. |
| 1950s | Studies at Connecticut College for Women; B.A. in Economics; elected Phi Beta Kappa. |
| 1960s | Enters Columbia University Law School and earns an LL.B. |
| June 1965 | Marries Dr. Edward Bernard Waxler. |
| 1977 | Death of spouse Edward Bernard Waxler at age 37; Barbara relocates and refocuses family life. |
| Post 1977 | Practices law in New York and Pennsylvania; volunteers in Main Line and Ardmore communities. |
| June 3, 2013 | Barbara Cushman Waxler dies surrounded by family; obituary and memorials note a life of professional achievement and devoted family ties. |
The timeline reads like a steady river; the current changes but the course remains recognizable. Each date is an eddy that altered downstream flow.
Public Visibility and Financial Notes
Barbara was not a public celebrity in her own right. Her profile appears in obituaries, legal directories, and family notices rather than on magazine covers. There is no record of public financial disclosures or headline philanthropic endowments. Her public footprint is measured in degrees of service, educational milestones, and the care she offered within her local communities.
Personality and Public Memory
People who recall Barbara describe a person whose presence was both firm and gentle, a bookshelf of principles rather than a banner of spectacle. She preferred the work of law and community to the glare of publicity. Family members remember her in domestic scenes: arranging a holiday table, attending a school event, or offering counsel with the patience of someone who had learned endurance through experience.
FAQ
When was Barbara Cushman Waxler born?
Barbara was born circa the 1930s, the precise year is not documented in public family notices.
What education did she complete?
She earned a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College for Women and an LL.B. from Columbia University Law School.
Who was her husband and what happened to him?
Her husband was Dr. Edward Bernard Waxler, a cardiologist who died in 1977 at age 37.
Who are her children and grandchildren?
Her children are Andrew Reed Waxler and Caroline Waxler Levitt; her grandchildren include Eric, Abigail, and Emily Waxler.
Was she related to Joan Rivers?
Yes, Joan Rivers was Barbara Cushman Waxler’s sister.
When did Barbara Cushman Waxler die?
She died on June 3, 2013.
What was her occupation?
She practiced law in New York and Pennsylvania and engaged actively in community volunteer work.
Is there public information about her financial status?
No public records or news reports document detailed personal financial disclosures or significant public endowments.
