Barbara H. Van Slyke

On April 23rd, Barbara Heaps Van Slyke, a resident of Stanford since 1967, died peacefully of lung cancer, surrounded by her family and close friends.

She had a long and successful career as a psychotherapist. She was also an accomplished musician, with a deep love for the harpsichord and baroque era music, especially that of J.S. Bach.

Born in Chicago on September 26, 1931 to Porter and Dorothy Heaps, she grew up in Evanston, where her father was an internationally known organist. She attended Carleton College, and in 1954 received a B.S. in education from Northwestern.

In July 1953, she married Lyman P. Van Slyke, then in Naval service based at NAS Alameda. They later lived in Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in Chinese history at the University of California. During this period two sons and a daughter were born. They also lived for three years in Taiwan before and just after her husband joined the Stanford University faculty in 1963.

In 1971, Barbara earned an MSW degree from the University of California at Berkeley, thus beginning a career as social worker and therapist that continued until February 2011.

She also had a deep commitment to the recovery process and to its fellowship, from which she drew many of her closest friends. She also had a passion for her garden. She and her husband traveled often, both domestically and abroad, especially to Asia. Always a strong swimmer, in her later years she participated in short-course triathlons. In 2003, she finished first in her age group at the Pacific Grove Triathlon. It didn't matter to her that she was the only entrant in the over-70 category.

Barbara is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years; by her children, Peter (Denise), John (Susan), and Elizabeth; by four grandchildren; by her sister (Portia); by many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and by a wide circle of friends and former clients whom she loved and who loved her.

We wish also to thank the Kaiser Hospice Program for its unfailing care and consideration. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the San Francisco Early Music Society, to the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial celebration will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto on Friday, June 10, at 2:00 p.m.