Helene Barnes
Jan. 9, 1931-Feb. 1, 2022
Stanford, California
Submitted by jennifer

Helene Barnes, January 9, 1931- Feb 1, 2022, Stanford California, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Boston where she had been living since October ’21.

Born in Philadelphia, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 9. As a high school student at Cleveland Heights High, Helene played French horn in the Cleveland Women’s Symphony. Winning a full-scholarship, she attended Wichita State University, graduating as a music major.

She was the beloved wife Dr. Arthur P. Barnes of 67 years and loving mother of three surviving children: Jennifer Wolfeld (Jeff) Holly Barnes (Richard Bremer) and Jeff Barnes. She is further survived by (5) grandchildren and (2) great-grandchildren.

With her husband Art and their three children, she lived on the Stanford University campus for 58 years, playing in a variety of Stanford University music ensembles, community orchestras, and teaching scores of French horn students up and down the Peninsula.

Her students and her children will always remember the warmth, encouragement, and steadfast support she gave to their musical development. Helene instilled in her children, her grandchildren and her horn students an appreciation of what it means to be a true musician: to contribute their best to the ensemble, and to be generous with their talent.

Helene was a regular member of the Livermore-Amaden Symphony, conducted by her husband, and played French horn in numerous community orchestras on the Peninsula until her mid-80’s. As the wife of a Stanford music professor, she frequently opened her home to visiting musicians, conductors, composers, friends and students. She loved to entertain and hosted many a post-concert party with ease and grace.

A prolific writer, Helene was the consummate “story teller” entertaining her family and the public with zany stories of her life—all of them humorous, and all of them true! She was an excellent cook, an expert bridge player, a loyal friend, had a gift for making people feel welcome and appreciated. We will all miss her.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: Alz.org

Tags: teacher/educator