KATES
BARBARA E., Designer, passed away on December 5, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with glioblastoma. She graduated Cheltenham High School and Penn State. Barbara was a designer and manu-facturer of women's clothing made in the U.S. and sold internationally. Her company, Barbara Kates Designs, included many lines of upscale women's clothing, accessories and wedding gowns sold in Joan Shepp's, Bergdorf Goodman's, Saks, Nan Duskin's and Mendelson's. Revlon Cosmetics, in 1985, selected Barbara Kates Designs for their Seville advertising campaign, promoted on the covers of Vogue Magazine, Women's Wear Daily. A New York Showroom represented her clothing lines, which were also featured at the New York Prett Show. The September, 1986 cover of Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Dresses The World issue, featured Turquoise Erving (Mrs. Dr. J) modeling a pearl and crystal encrusted dress, a beautiful Barbara Kates Design. Her second career of volunteering and being a tour guide started in 1993 as an Associate Assistant with the World Affairs Council. In that capacity she was hostess to both former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Soviet Ambassador Dobynin. One of her greatest loves was with the Foundation for Architecture/ City Hall Tours from 1996-2003. She was responsible for imparting the architecture, history and art of Philadelphia's historical City Hall Building, as well as the local politics of the day to thousands of visitors. Barbara volunteered with the non-partisan Philadelphia 2000 as the Philadelphia Liaison to the Massachusetts Republican Delegation during the Republican National Convention. She enjoyed working for the Landmarks Society from 1998 to 2005, giving home tours of historical figures Dr. Philip Syng Physick, the Father of American Surgery and Samuel Powell, Mayor of Philadelphia. From 2003-2005, Barbara enjoyed working for the National Constitution Center in their Interpreter program. Barbara was a valuable volunteer for AARP Pennsylvania. During two of AARP's largest campaigns, Divided We Fail and You've Earned A Say, Barbara was a lead volunteer for the Main Line section of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. Barbara sought after conservative areas of the region to discuss AARP's message to the 50+ population about having access to affordable healthcare and retirement security. She traveled to Harrisburg to attend training sessions as well as shared strategy on how to reach members of her community with needed information. She was a member of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, World Affairs Council, American Institute of Architecture, Preservation for Landmarks, Barnes Museum Alumni Chapter, National Constitution Center and Philadelphia Museum of Art. She is survived by her husband Gerald (Jerry) Kates, daughters Lauren and Susan (Michael), grandchildren Alexander, Benjamin, Isabella and Julianna, sister Lynne (Steve) and niece Stacy (Erik). Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Sunday, 1 P.M. precisely
GOLDSTEINS' ROSENBERG'S RAPHAEL SACKS, 6410 N. Broad St. Int. Roosevelt Memorial Park. Shiva will be observed at the late residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 200, Newton, MA 02458.
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
