Barbara Zenn (Zenn) Rediker

Barbara J. Zenn Rediker, a devoted social worker, loving wife, sister, daughter, aunt, stepmother, grandmother and great-grandmother, life adventurer, and generous friend, died on August 20, 2026, at the age of 88.

Barbara was born in New York on June 26, 1938, in New York City to Max and Ethel Zenn. She grew up with her younger sister, Marion Zenn Goldberg, who was seven years her junior. Barbara graduated from Smith College and earned her graduate degree from the Boston University School of Social Work.

Barbara devoted her professional life to helping others. She served many roles supporting seriously ill children and their families through some of life’s most difficult circumstances, including as supervisor of pediatric social service at Massachusetts General Hospital where she worked for almost 18 years. Later, through her work with Jewish Family and Children’s Services and other organizations, she worked with and advocated for older adults, including elderly people experiencing homelessness, helping them obtain housing and essential services. Her career reflected her deep conviction that every person deserved care, respect, and dignity.

On May 26, 1980, Barbara married her beloved husband, Robert “Bob” Rediker, at Temple Sinai in Lawrence, New York. Bob was a physicist, professor, and longtime researcher at MIT and its Lincoln Laboratory. They shared a loving marriage until his death in 2019.

Barbara lived in Watertown, Massachusetts, for many years before moving to Brookhaven at Lexington with Bob, where she served for many years on its social committee—a perfect role for someone who delighted in bringing people together, welcoming newcomers, and making sure others felt included. Barbara was fun, adventurous, generous, and kind. She was also creative and wonderfully playful. She loved cooking, arts and crafts, and finding thoughtful and imaginative presents for the people she loved. She especially enjoyed doing activities with the children in her family and had a gift for making things fun. Her warmth, curiosity, and wonderfully silly sense of humor brought joy and laughter to those around her.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Max and Ethel Zenn; her sister, Marion Zenn Goldberg; and her beloved husband, Robert Rediker. She is survived by her niece, Ellen Goldberg, and her husband, Barnaby Grist; her
nephew, Joseph Lawrence “Larry” Goldberg, and his wife, Marci; her stepsons, Richard Rediker and his wife, Gayle, and Donald Rediker and his wife, Jane; her great-niece and great-nephew, Zoe and Jeremy Goldberg; her grandchildren, Rachel Roy, Amy Anderlonis, Alana Stoltzfus, Kristin Rediker, and Michael Rediker and their spouses; and her 10 great-grandchildren.

Barbara’s family is deeply grateful to the staff and community at Brookhaven at Lexington for the care, kindness, friendship, and support they gave Barbara and her family.

Barbara will be remembered for her compassion, creativity, generosity, curiosity about the world, sense of adventure, and wonderful sense of humor. She shared her many gifts freely, and her warmth and love will live on in the family, friends, colleagues, and communities whose lives she touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory can be made to Jewish Family and Children’s Service in Waltham, MA (Caring for Generations | Jewish Family & Children’s Service).