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Barbara Sherman Comrey
1922 - 2010
(submitted by her spouse, Professor Andy Comrey)
Barbara Sherman Comrey (nee Barbara Ann Sherman) passed away
at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Memorial Medical Center on the 20th of January,
2010. She was admitted to the hospital on the 19th of January after
suffering a severe stroke, and died the next day about 10:30 PM. Barbara
is survived by her Husband of 65 years, Andrew L. Comrey, a retired UCLA
Professor of Psychology, a daughter, Corinne Byers of Sacramento, a
sister, Nancy Soltwedel, of Pacific Palisades, two nephews, Philip Beamish
of Los Angeles and Richard Beamish of Santa Monica, and a grandson, Andrew
James Westphal of Sacramento.
Barbara was born in Burbank, California on June 12, 1922. Her
father, Albert Wolfe Sherman, from Port Huron, Michigan, was a high
school English teacher. Her mother, Gwendolyn Olivia Sherman (nee
Gwendolyn Evans), was born at Gorman Station, California. Barbara
graduated from Hollywood High School in 1940 where she was an outstanding
student, recipient of the American Legion Award, and editor of the school
newspaper. She entered UCLA early in 1940 and graduated in 1943 with a
major in American History. She joined the U. S. Navy in 1943, probably
inspired at least to some degree by the example of her uncle, Vice Admiral
Frederick C. Sherman. Early in 1944, soon after being commissioned as an
Ensign, she was assigned to serve at the 11th Naval District Headquarters
in San Diego as a Communications Officer.
Barbara met her husband-to-be, Andrew L. Comrey, also a naval
officer, while they were both stationed in San Diego. They were married in
Los Angeles at the St. Albans church in Westwood on September 2, 1944. The
reception was held at the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority house where Barbara had
been a member when she was an undergraduate at UCLA.
After the war, Barbara and her husband came to Los Angeles
where Barbara earned a teaching credential and began teaching Elementary
School in Burbank while her husband was completing a Ph.D. in Psychology
at USC. Their first child, Cynthia, was born on April 19, 1949. Later
that year, Barbara, Andrew, and baby Cynthia moved to Champaign, Illinois
where Andrew had accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Psychology
at the University of Illinois. As a new mother, Barbara concentrated on
child rearing that year. In 1950 they returned to Los Angeles, where
Andrew had accepted a position at USC as Assistant Professor of Psychology
and Public Administration. The year 1951 proved to be momentous for the
Comreys as their second daughter, Corinne, was born on May 22, and Andrew
was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UCLA. Barbara was
back home as a new faculty wife at her beloved UCLA, where they lived
happily ever after as die-hard Bruin fans (although Andy still
occasionally rooted for USC, despite Barbara's disapproval).
Both Barbara’s daughters were high scholastic achievers, and
actively pursued careers. Cynthia was Valedictorian of her class at
University High, entered Stanford University, where she was elected to Phi
Beta Kappa her junior year. She graduated from Stanford University,
entered and graduated from Stanford Medical School, and also completed her
residency in Psychiatry there. She practiced in the Palo Alto area for
several years prior to her untimely death in the year 2000.
Corinne graduated from University High and went to Rice
University in Houston, Texas, where she graduated as a Psychology major.
After trying numerous job options, she settled on Landscape Architecture,
completing a second undergraduate degree with highest honors at U.C.
Davis.
Cynthia’s only child and Barbara’s only grandchild, Andrew
James Westphal, has also proved to be an excellent student. Despite the
stress of his mother’s final illness, and grief over her death, he
maintained high-enough grades to gain admission to the University of
California at Berkeley, from where he recently graduated with honors as a
psychology major. He is planning to go on for a Ph.D. in
Neuroscience.
Being a stay-at-home mom kept Barbara pretty busy for a few
years, but as the children got older, she was able to become more involved
in the activities of the UCLA Faculty Women's Club. She became very
active in the UCLA Faculty Women's Club tennis section, winning many cups
at their tournaments. She was an avid bridge player, in the Faculty
Women's Club Duplicate Bridge group as well as with various day-time
groups. She was on the boards of the Affiliates, the Faculty Center, and
the Gold Shield Alumnae. She served as President of the Faculty Women's
Club from 1969 to 1970.
In addition to her involvement with various UCLA support
groups and Faculty Women's Club activities, Barbara began to renew her
interest in professional life. She returned to teaching, working part time
as a substitute teacher. She engaged in tutoring for students with
academic difficulties at Carl Thorp School, and volunteered at various
mental health organizations. She took some counseling classes and began
working with patients at various mental health facilities around Los
Angeles. Her interest in counseling developed to the point where she
decided to return to school, completing an MA in Counseling and Guidance
at CSUN in 1978. She went on to become licensed as a Marriage, Family,
and Child Counselor and carried on a part-time private practice for a
number of years.
As the years rolled by, Barbara began having heart problems.
She underwent a heart-valve replacement operation. She continued to have
heart problems and gradually became less and less able to continue with
activities that she had enjoyed so much in the past. In her final few
years, she had to endure considerable pain due to arthritis. Despite her
pain and disabilities, she remained cheerful and upbeat until the very
end. She will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing
her.
A memorial service for Barbara was held on February 20, 2010,
at Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westwood. |
