Barbara Maier Gustern
Maier Gustern in 1963
Born
Barbara Joan Maier

(1935-02-10)February 10, 1935
Boonville, Indiana, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 2022(2022-03-15) (aged 87)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materDePauw University
Columbia University
Occupation(s)Vocal coach, singer

Barbara Joan Gustern (née Maier; February 10, 1935 – March 15, 2022) was an American vocal coach and singer. She had many noted students, including Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Taylor Mac, Justin Vivian Bond, Diamanda Galas, and Kathleen Hanna.

Biography

Barbara Joan Maier was raised in Boonville, Indiana.[1][2] She was the daughter of Charles E. Maier and Gladys Hester Maier.[3] She completed a B.A. from DePauw University and a master's degree in psychology at Columbia University.[4] She worked briefly in psychology before performing in musicals.[4]

Maier met her future husband Josef Donald Gustern, the son of Louis and Helen Gustern of New York, while singing at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale.[1] They married on July 27, 1963, at her parents' home in Boonville, Indiana.[5][4] In August 1964, Gustern and her husband were cast in The Threepenny Opera at the Ephrata Star Playhouse.[6] When she was 40, she began teaching at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[1] Gustern had many noted students, including Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Taylor Mac, Justin Vivian Bond, Diamanda Galas, and Kathleen Hanna.[7]

Death and aftermath

On March 10, 2022, Gustern sustained a head injury after being pushed to the ground by a woman outside of her apartment building in Chelsea, Manhattan. While she remained conscious in the immediate aftermath and was able to give information to the police, her health deteriorated soon after, and she was taken to Bellevue Hospital for surgery, where it was found that she had suffered severe brain damage.[8] She died from her injuries five days after the attack, on March 15, at the age of 87.[9][10]

On March 22, 2022, a 26-year-old woman, Lauren Pazienza, turned herself in to authorities in connection to Gustern's death, and was charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors indicated that the charges could be upgraded to murder.[11] Pazienza pleaded guilty to the charges of first-degree manslaughter on August 23, 2023, for which she agreed to serve eight years in prison.[12] A judge later extended the sentence to eight years and six months, stating that she was "unconvinced" that Pazienza had taken responsibility for her actions.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cultivating the city's voices". NY Press. Straus Media. November 1, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Mary Testa and More Join If Music Be the Food of Love Benefit Celebrating the Birthday of Barbara Maier Gustern". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Charles E. Maier". Evansville Courier and Press. December 26, 2006. p. 12. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "Barbara Joan Maier Married Saturday at Her Parents' Home". Evansville Courier and Press. July 30, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Boonville Native to Sing June 2". Evansville Press. May 24, 1964. p. 82. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Musical Play Slated at Ephrata". Lancaster New Era. August 15, 1964. p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Broadway Singing Coach, 87, in Coma After Random Attack in Manhattan". March 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Ransom, Jan (March 14, 2022). "Broadway Singing Coach, 87, Dies After Attack on Street". The New York Times.
  9. ↑ Yakas, Ben (March 15, 2022). "Beloved Broadway singing coach dies after hard shove in Manhattan". Gothamist.
  10. ↑ Dodds, Io (March 15, 2022). "Renowned vocal coach Barbara Maier Gustern dies after being shoved to ground in NYC". The Independent. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  11. ↑ Wong, Ashley; Southall, Ashley (March 22, 2022). "Woman Is Charged in Shoving Death of Broadway Singing Coach". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ Golgowski, Nina (August 24, 2023). "New York Woman Pleads Guilty To Fatally Shoving Broadway Vocal Coach". HuffPost. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Evans, Chris (October 2, 2023). "Judge Adds Six Months To Prison Sentence For Woman Who Fatally Shoved NYC Vocal Coach Barbara Gustern". Deadline.
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