Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Very sad news


Barbara Carle, beloved wife of the children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle, died Monday, September 7, 2015 at her home in North Carolina after a brief illness. She was 76.
Barbara Carle, known as “Bobbie” to her friends, was an educator and a lifelong champion of the arts. With Eric Carle, she co-founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. The mission of the Museum, which exhibits children’s book illustration, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books from here and abroad.
Barbara Carle was born Barbara Ann Morrison in Statesville, North Carolina, on November 22, 1938. She was the daughter of the late Dr. James Rudy Morrison and Agnes Nolan Morrison. She graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C. with a B.A., then headed to Manhattan to share an apartment with her older sister Pat. In New York, Barbara worked as a Montessori teacher in an outpatient clinic, teaching children of mothers who had been hospitalized for emotional distress. She was also an adoption caseworker at New York Foundling Hospital, helping to find homes for hard-to-place children. She was working at the bookshop at The Cloisters, a museum and garden branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, when a friend introduced her to Eric Carle, a young illustrator and writer of books for children, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
In 1973, Eric and Barbara married and moved to Western Massachusetts. There, Barbara earned her M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts in special education. Soon after, she co-founded Side by Side, an innovative preschool that integrated special needs children into regular classrooms. For many years, Eric and Bobbie made their home in Northampton, where his studio was, and spent summers in nearby Hawley. They enjoyed many friendships in both communities.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Carles traveled several times to Japan and were inspired by the beautiful picture book museums there. They were also struck that there were no picture book museums in the United States. Together, they dedicated themselves to founding The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. It opened on Barbara’s birthday in 2002. In an interview about the founding of the Museum, Eric Carle said, “When I began to do well, Bobbie was the one who said, ‘We have to give back.’” To date, The Carle has served more than 600,000 guests and sends exhibitions of picture book art to museums around the world.
“Bobbie was such a genuine person—a kind, strong, and warm-hearted woman of tremendous grace and generosity,” said the Museum’s current board chair, Christopher B. Milne. “Throughout her life, art and books and the welfare of children were her sustaining passions. She believed that picture books could enrich children’s lives, that they could transform us. She and Eric were determined to create a museum where generations of families could gather together and feel nurtured. From day one, Bobbie was a force behind The Carle. She was the Museum’s first board chair, and her leadership set the stage for all of us. We will miss her so much.”
Eric and Barbara Carle retired in 2004, spending their time in the mountains of North Carolina and the Florida Keys. Barbara will be remembered by her many friends for her joy for life, her warmth, charm, and compassion, and her remarkable generosity.
Barbara leaves behind her devoted husband Eric, her sister Rita M. Wiseman, her brother-in-law Richard McDonald, her stepson Rolf Carle and his wife Teresa Toro, and her stepdaughter Cirsten Carle. She also leaves behind her nephew Keith Wiseman, Jr., and nieces, Kate Wiseman and partner Robbie Dunn, and Lynne Wiseman and partner Nicole Blankenbeckler. Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Patricia Morrison McDonald and her brothers Thomas Nolan Morrison and James Rudy Morrison, Jr.
There will be a private funeral service. Online condolences may be shared with the Carle family at rememberingbarbaracarle.carlemuseum.org. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Barbara’s memory can be directed to a favorite charity.


35 comments:

  1. What a beautiful woman! I am so sorry for your loss.

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  2. Very sad to hear this. She looks like someone worth knowing, and it sounds like you two made life good for each other.

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  3. So very sad. I am sorry for your loss.

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  4. May her memory be a blessing and a comfort to those who loved her.

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  5. I am very sorry for your loss. From this post it sounds like the two of you shared a wonderful life enriching the lives of the rest of us. My grandchildren love your books. Your art certainly grabs their attention. Peace.

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  6. So very sad... What a remarkable, beautiful woman Bobbie was! Sending you lots of love, dear Eric!

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  7. So sorry for your loss. Prayers to all.

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  8. Your museum is a wonderful place to send the day, thank you for creating it together. May you rest in peace, Mrs. Carle.

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    1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was my grandson's favorite book. I have read it numerous times to him and my 3 others. Thank you for sharing your talents. Your family is in my prayers.

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  10. So sorry to hear this. Praying for you and your family!

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  11. She was lovely and sounds like she was simply amazing in so many ways. Prayers for all who loved and knew her to find comfort in the wonderful memories of who she was and will always be.💜

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  12. Very very sad!! Condolences from Winnipeg.

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  13. She had such a positive life and was so giving to the world. Thank you, Mr. Carle, for sharing her story and your art.

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  14. So sorry for your loss. Condolences from Argentina.

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  15. Condolences from Oregon.. So sorry for your loss!

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  16. I am heartbroken for you. Sending love and gratitude to you and your family.

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  17. Sincere condolences on your loss.

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  18. I send my sincere condolences to you, Mr. Carle, upon hearing of this tremendous loss to you. Keeping you in my prayers.

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  19. Dear Mr Carle, condolences to your family.

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  20. Sincere condolences to your loss. I love Carle's wonderfull picture books and they gave a rainbow time to my children .Thanks to Carle' family and rest in peace Mrs.Carle.

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  21. So sorry for your loss, may she R.I.P

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  22. So sorry for your loss.Condolences from Hong Kong.

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  23. I'm sure she was the loveliest of ladies, since she was married to such a fine man. So sorry she is gone - may your memories bring you some small comfort.

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  24. My family is sending prayers for comfort and peace to all who knew you and your wife.
    We are so thankful for your marriage and your caring partnership in sharing a wonderful legacy to all of us. Thank you, thank you, for your love shown to others!My 27 year old son cherishes your personal response when he chose you as his penpal in elementary grades. Your books and inspiration are being passed on to the next generation; I pray that others will do the same!

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  26. Very Sorry for your loss! May she rest in peace.

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  27. What a beautifully written memorial on your blog for your dear Bobbie. She is a wonderful and noble woman who did so much for this world and for children. You are a remarkable couple and I am grateful for your influences. May you be blessed with strength and comforted at this time.

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  28. We are so sorry to hear about your wife. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

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  29. I'm sorry to hear about your wife's passing. She sounds like a wonderful person.

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  30. Lieber Eric,
    mein herzliches Beileid und auch ganz liebe Grüße von Nera.
    Ich denke an Dich ...
    Ramon

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  31. So sorry for your loss, Mr.Carle.

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  32. What wonderful and beautiful woman! So sorry for your loss. Prayers are with you during the upcoming holidays.

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