Barbara Frankel Obituary, Death – We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to everyone who is lamenting the loss of Barbara Frankel, who was Director Emerita of the Detroit Opera and passed away on December 19, 2022. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Barbara was first chosen to serve on the Board of Trustees in the year 1995, and then she was elected to the Board of Directors in the year 2001. David DiChiera has a devoted admirer in Barbara, and she is always cheering him on in his endeavors. She devoted three decades of her life to being an ardent supporter of, during which time she worked tirelessly on behalf of the company, the art forms of opera and dance, and the Detroit Opera House, which she held in high regard.
The legacy that Barbara has left behind at the Detroit Opera consists of her active engagement on the board of directors, her support as a leader for some of our organization’s most important initiatives and events, as well as her generous donations to the organization. The things that people will remember most about Barbara are the unending enthusiasm she had for our organization and the simple acts of kindness she performed. Although many people will recognize Barbara because of the gorgeous donor lounge that bears her name, the things that will most stand out in people’s memories of her are the things that bear her name.
Everyone who worked for or served on the board of the Detroit Opera held the utmost respect and admiration for Barbara. She was regarded as the epitome of professionalism. We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Barbara’s family, and in particular to Ron, who was Barbara’s loving husband and a close friend for many years. Please accept our sincere sympathies on behalf of everyone in the Detroit Opera Family. I will pray that remembering her will be beneficial to you in some way.