On Saturday, June 8, Barbara Felicia Schifter of Maryland. Barbara’s Hebrew name was Bejla bat Yerachmiel v’Lilach Ruth after her father’s mother, Bejla Esther Blas.
Barbara’s professional career fit perfectly with her giving character. She started her career as a teacher — first of deaf children at the Maryland School for the Deaf (for which she learned sign language) and then of emotionally disturbed and learning disabled children in elementary and middle schools in Howard County.
Barbara switched from teaching to clinical social work and set up her private practice in Mt. Airy. For the last 18 years she had a busy private practice.
She was born in Washington, D.C., at George Washington University Hospital and grew up in Bethesda, graduating from Walt Whitman High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from American University in 1975 and her master’s degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1976. She continued her education at University of Maryland School of Social Work and received her MSW in 1983.
Barbara was a consummate athlete and outdoors person. In recent years, her passions included: tennis, gardening, boating, fishing, jet skiing, hiking and general fitness. She played competitive tennis with the United States Tennis Association in Columbia.
In 2010 she and her husband joined Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac to attend services and lectures together with her parents, Richard and Lilo Schifter.
Barbara was devoted to her extended family and will be greatly missed by her husband of 32 years, David Lovewell of Mt. Airy, her sons, Joshua Lovewell of El Segundo, Calif., and Adam Lovewell of West Babylon, N.Y., her stepson Eric Lovewell (Shannon) of Mt. Airy and stepdaughter Amy Lovewell of Palm Harbor, Fla. She is survived by her parents Richard and Lilo Schifter of Bethesda, siblings Judith Alter (Israel) of Bethesda, Deborah Schifter of Northampton, Mass., Rick Schifter (Jennifer) of New York City and Karen Schifter (Chuck Fromm) of Kensington. Her eight nieces and nephews, Rachel Schifter Thebault, Tal Alter, Danni Schifter, Laura Schifter, Cassie Schifter, Jake Alter, Ariel Fromm and Myka Fromm and three step-grandchildren Lauryn, Corrie and Zach, will miss her as well.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barbara Schifter Memorial Fund at Congregation B’nai Tzedek, 10621 South Glen Road, Potomac, MD 20854.
