Barbara Ann Thompson-Welch of Warwick passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at Valley View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Goshen due to complications from Covid-19. She was 79 years old.
Born in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 1940, Barbara was the daughter of Josephine Louise (Russo) and Corbin Craig Thompson.
Barbara graduated from Saint Bernadette School in Silver Spring, Maryland, before going on to college at The Catholic University of America where she received both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees.
In 1963, Barbara sang with the Cardinalaires, performing for John F. Kennedy at his Inaugural Gala under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. That same year Barbara and the Cardinalaires toured with the USO to Puerto Rico, Guantanamo and Panama before being evacuated due to anti-American riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone.
Returning home to D.C., Barbara began her teaching career at Chillum Elementary School in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Barbara continued to pursue her singing career, as well, performing classical music recitals at the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as guest soloist with the National Symphony, and many other notable performing arts venues in and around the Nation’s Capital.
In the 1970’s, Barbara played leading roles from the great canon of classic American Musical Theatre often opposite her first husband who, together, owned and operated two dinner theatres in D.C. and Virginia.
By the mid-70’s Barbara had left her home in Georgetown and moved into a two-bedroom apartment at 78 West 85th Street, NYC, where she began auditioning for Broadway- bound productions. It wasn’t long before Barbara was cast in the National Tour of 'Hello Dolly" with the original Dolly, Carol Channing. The tour crossed the country playing all the great houses including a stint in Hawaii where she married her second husband and Carol Channing’s drummer, Winston Welch. After six years on the road, the tour culminated with a run on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
After Broadway, Barbara returned to her teaching career at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights where she taught beginning and advanced voice and music.
In 1991, she left Manhattan for Warwick, where she enjoyed the serenity of her lake home in Hill Lake Estates and friendships with good neighbors. She continued teaching at Saint Ann’s for six years until the commute became too much.
In 1996, Barbara accepted the K-8 music teacher position offered her at St. Stephen-St. Edward’s School in Warwick. While creating a well-rounded music program at St. Stephen-St. Edward, Barbara also taught private voice and music lessons. One of her greatest joys was working as the vocal coach for the Warwick Valley High School musicals with Director Nick DiLeo and her longtime friend and fellow music teacher from Saint Ann’s, Dr. David Crone. Barbara was a dedicated musician and committed to her students who she loved. She took great pride in offering them praise and encouragement and sharing with them her gift of music.
She is survived by her brother, Craig and his wife, Karen Thompson, and their daughter, Emily Thompson of Warwick; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by sisters Linda M. Defeo and Sharon E. Madine.
In remembrance of Barbara Thompson-Welch and in honor of her legacy of music education, please consider making a small contribution to Broadwaycares.org or the Theatre Development Fund (give.tdf.org).
Due to the restrictions on public gatherings, private burial arrangements have been made.
Private burial arrangements have been made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick, NY. To send an online condolence, please visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.
Curtain.