Barbara Ann Shindell

Barbara Ann Shindell was born on March 11, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father, Sidney, and mother, Gloria, instilled in Barbara both intellectual curiosity and an openness to the world. As a young girl, the family moved to Paris, and then Geneva, where she became fluent in French. In France, Barbara spent time with a French chef and started to hone her skills in the kitchen. In her adult years, Barbara became a talented home cook with a sophisticated palate. She was the eldest of four children, and lovingly helped raise her siblings – Roger, Larry and especially Judy. Barbara was a kind, loving, and devoted mother, daughter, sibling, and friend who lived life with true generosity of spirit. She was a lifelong caregiver and touched the lives of many individuals, compassionately caring for others both personally and professionally.

After completing high school in Pittsburgh, Barbara attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, enrolling in a five-year program to earn her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. During this time, she met and married her first husband, Mark Kaufman. She began working as a school social worker, where she discovered a deep and lasting passion for helping others. Guided by her adventurous spirit, she and Mark set out on a backpacking trip throughout Asia, trekking through India and Nepal – an experience that broadened her perspective and connection to humanity. Upon returning to the United States, they settled in Boston, where Barbara was part of a therapy collective and established a private therapy practice. Mark and Barbara parted ways, and through the collective she later met her second husband, Jeremiah Abrams.

Barbara and Jeremiah soon moved to the Bay Area and started a family, welcoming a daughter, Rachael, and then a son, Phillip. They settled in the small coastal town of Inverness, surrounded by wilderness, the national seashore, cows, and hippies. In California, Barbara became a highly respected and dedicated psychotherapist.

Barbara had a profound sense of justice and her compassion extended well beyond her private practice. She was one of the founding members of the Marin Abused Women’s Services, a nonprofit that provided counseling services, safe housing, support groups, and training programs to victims of domestic abuse. It was the first organization of its kind in the county and included one of the nation’s first rehabilitation programs to help perpetrators unlearn abusive behavior; this legacy lives on today as the Center for Domestic Peace. Barbara always saw the bigger picture. She understood there was a need for abuse prevention in her community, and with compassion and vision, she became involved wholeheartedly, as she would do again and again throughout her life.

Following her divorce from Jeremiah, Barbara relocated to Denver to be closer to her parents and sister Judy. It was at this point that Barbara first began working in high-conflict divorce and, later, collaborative family law, eventually becoming one of the most sought-after custody evaluators in the state of Colorado. Throughout her career, Barbara was known for her exceptional clinical expertise and fierce advocacy for her clients. In 2016 she was awarded the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (MDIC) President’s award for exemplary service in the field of mental health and interdisciplinary family law. Barbara was a pioneer in recognizing the prevalence and profound impact of domestic violence on family systems. She trained and mentored others, belonged to many significant professional organizations, and was a prolific educator in the family law community.

Barbara had a curiosity that drove her life-long love of learning. It was not surprising that she remained active in her book club, a women’s circle, and her religious community until the end. In Denver, she found a home in her synagogue, B'nai Havurah, and was involved in interfaith exploration through organizations such as the Abrahamic Initiative, Seeking Common Ground and Building Bridges for Peace.

In May 2025, following a long illness, Barbara moved to Cleveland to be near her daughter Rachael, son-in-law Alex, and her beloved grandsons. In the short time she lived there, she remained open to the world and engaged in activism, initiating a committee in her living community with goals of organizing accessible local protests and writing letters to politicians. Barbara passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, surrounded by love and family. Barbara is survived by Roger Shindell, Larry Shindell (Ailene), Judith Pearson (Vince), Rachael Abrams (Alex), Phillip Abrams (Kristi), and her grandsons Rockwell, Theodore, and Wallace. Barbara’s last request was to spread her ashes in the Cleveland area, so that she might remain close to the family she cherished so deeply.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Barbara’s name to one of the following organizations.

American Diabetes Association: https://diabetes.org/

Center for Domestic Peace: https://centerfordomesticpeace.org/

The ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/

Fair Housing Advocates: https://www.fairhousingnorcal.org/

An online Memorial Zoom Gathering will take place on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 4pm MT (6pm ET)

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4262967603

Meeting ID: 426 296 7603

An in-person Celebration of Life and reception will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 11am MT at Temple B'nai Havurah in Denver, CO

Location:

6445 East Ohio Avenue

Denver, CO 80224