Memorial - Babin - Phi Beta Kappa PBK Northern California Association Honor Society

Madeleine Babin

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At Asilomar 2005		Graduating PhD from UC Berkeley

Madeleine Babin Resident of Walnut Creek Madeleine Babin, Ph.D., a resident of Walnut Creek for over 50 years, passed away April 17th, 2007 at age 84. Born in Vienna on December 12, 1922, died April 17, 2007 in Folsom, CA. Madeleine was the only child of Ernest and Sophie Tritsch. She attended high school in Switzerland, and then, when only 16, immigrated alone to the United States. During WWII, fluent in German, French and English, she worked in the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS), predecessor to the CIA. She was involved in founding the Levittown Public Library on Long Island. In 1948 Madeleine married Alexander Babin, and remained happily married for 50 years until his death in 1998. She was loving mother to her three children, Deborah, who died tragically in 1970, Marc and Linda; and she was an adoring grandmother to Megan, Josh, Matt, Rachael and Jessica. After raising her family, Madeleine, a bright, energetic, and intellectual woman, returned to school to earn her doctorate in Comparative Literature in 1978 from Berkeley, where she taught for several years. Active in many charitable efforts, she was a founding member of the Diablo Valley chapter of Hadassah, an active docent and historian for the San Francisco Opera Guild, and an active member of the Northern California Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Madeleine had many, many friends, and loved her large family, never missing our annual reunions, and nurturing our already-close family ties. She shared her love of music with family and friends and went to the theatre on a regular basis. Mady left us so many gifts of spirit and example. She lived life to the fullest, even skiing until she was 80. We were all lucky she was in our lives. Her family and friends are gathering for a memorial celebration of her remarkable life at Temple Isaiah on May 19th from 4-7 p.m. Early during the gathering we will share our experiences of her life, and dinner will follow. Should you wish to honor one of her favorite organizations, consider Diablo Valley Hadassah, Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, San Francisco Opera Guild, or Northern California Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. For more information call (530) 409-0801.

Published in the Contra Costa Times on 4/29/2007.

From the Memorial Program

Our beloved Madeleine...

Born to Ernest and Sophie Tritsch, an only child, Madeleine lived in Austria until 1938 when she was sent to Lausanne, Switzerland to live with relatives. Madeleine went to boarding school there and learned French. At age 16, she was sent alone by boat to New York to be later joined by her parents.

In 1942 Madeleine worked with the 0SS (Office of Strategic Service) later known as the CIA, Madeleine met Alex skiing in Canada in 1947 and they married January 24, 1948. They had three children; Deborah who died tragically in 1970, Marc and Linda; 5 grandchildren. Megan, Joshua, Matthew, Rachael and Jessica.

Madeleine went to tic Berkeley when Linda was in grade school and completed her PhD in 1978. She taught at UC Berkeley for 7 years and then spent 2 years teaching in Turlock at CSU Stanislaus. Alex and Madeleine later developed, shared ownership and operated Montego Heights Lodge in Walnut Creek.

Madeleine will be remembered for her immense generosity of spirit, time and love, her positive outlook and beautiful smile, her love of the arts, family and friends, and how she went to great lengths to be with them, her tireless effort to support multiple philanthropic organizations and her never ending quest to travel the world. Madeleine was an inspiration to many and a role model of how to live life to the fullest with grace, style and dignity.

She will be terribly missed by all whom she touched and we are thankful to have had her in our lives.