Barbara Lux Lapidus, 86, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 1, 2024. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Malcolm Lapidus, in 2012. Barbara will be interred next to Richard at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville. Barbara was born on December 29, 1937, to William and Harriet (Schall) Lux in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Mountain Brook Elementary and Lakeview Elementary schools and was Salutatorian of the class of 1955 at Shades Valley High School. Upon graduation, Barbara went on to study at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University from 1955-1957. It was there Barbara met and married her first husband, Edmond Lee Cohn. Eddie died three years later, and Barbara returned home to her family as the widowed mother of an infant son, Jeff. Once back in Birmingham, Barbara met and fell in love with Richard Lapidus, and they married in 1961. Richard and Barbara moved to Huntsville in 1963, founded Richards Lighting, and had two more sons, Brad and Michael.
In addition to raising three active boys and helping run a growing business, Barbara jumped right into the Huntsville Community. In 1963, she joined Temple B’nai Sholom, served on the Board of Trustees, Religious School principal and Sunday School teacher, advisor to the Temple Youth Group, and eventually became President of the Temple Sisterhood, as well as a regional officer, and congregational President from 1984-1986. Richard and Barbara became endowed members of Temple B’nai Sholom in 1984. She also served on the National Board of Women of Reform Judaism, traveling to NYC for national meetings to determine policies related to women in Reform Judaism. Barbara was a member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, an organization tasked with creating a cooperative environment encompassing both faiths. She also became a member of Church Women United Panel of American Women, which was dedicated to encouraging dialogue during the racially turbulent times of the 1960s.
Barbara volunteered at Huntsville Hospital and founded the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (HHF) along with Harry Rhett and Alvin Blackwell, among others. On June 20, 1978, Barbara was recognized for her “acceptance of a leadership role as one of the initial eleven incorporators of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.” She also was a longstanding member of the HHF Millennium Society.
Barbara volunteered with the United Way, where she eventually became the first female Campaign Chairman and later President of the Board. When she was Campaign Chair, donations exceeded one million dollars for the first time. She then became Associate Director of the United Way for four years and led seminars for other volunteer leaders throughout the Southeastern United States. In March 1982, the State of Alabama House of Representatives adopted Resolution H.R. 244 “Commending Barbara Lapidus for her Contributions to the United Way of Madison County.”
Always active in her children’s lives, Barbara served as President of the Jones Valley Elementary School PTA and second Vice President of the Grissom High School PTA. In 1986, she was also appointed by the Governor to the Alabama State Textbook Committee, where she served for one year. She was assigned more than 1,000 books to review. She quickly set up a library in the Richards Lighting warehouse and recruited readers from both Huntsville and Birmingham. Barbara had each reader write their review on an index card, which she then reviewed and reported on during statewide meetings held in Montgomery.
Throughout the years, Barbara joined her husband Richard in supporting the arts in Huntsville, especially the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and Broadway Theater League. In 1988, she joined the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild (HSOG), eventually serving as Treasurer, Hospitality Chairman, and Finance Committee Chairman. Barbara was a member of the Guild for 36 years and remained a supporting member until her death. Barbara also was honored as a recipient of the 2019 Grace Club award.
After taking a few classes at the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) Osher Institute of Lifetime Learning, Barbara became an adjunct teacher of both finance and Mahjong. She had learned to manage money when she was widowed and grew up watching her mother play Mahjong. Barbara began playing Mahjong when she was in high school and continued to play with friends well into her 80s.
The organizations Barbara joined flourished under her influence. Barbara was called into the initial brainstorming meetings for Constitution Hall Park. Ever the team player, Barbara helped attain the organization’s 501 (c) 3 status, find a site, and get it done. She is an Ambassador for Constitution Hall Park, which she helped create.
Barbara is survived by her children, whom according to Barbara “are absolutely our finest achievements:” Jeff (Meribeth), Brad (Marion), and Michael (Jennifer) Lapidus, all of Huntsville, and “the most beautiful and intelligent grandchildren in the world:” Gaby, Emily, Molly, Matthew, Madison, Zoey, Elisabeth and Ally.
“Life has not always been roses – never will be – but just an ordinary life made extra-ordinary by love and respect, a great zest for challenge, a need for productivity, and enormously good luck!!” – Barbara Lapidus
Family and friends are invited to a graveside service on Wednesday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple B’nai Sholom, 103 Lincoln Street SE, Huntsville, AL 35801 or the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, 801 Clinton Ave. East, Huntsville, AL 35801.
