Eleanor Close Barzin, 96, widow of conductor Leon Barzin, daughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post
wazzzy
ELEANOR CLOSE BARZIN
December 3, 1909 - November 27, 2006
She died at her home in Paris, France, on November 27, 2006. She was
born Eleanor Post Close on December 3, 1909, in Greenwich, CT, to
Edward Bennett Close and Marjorie Merriweather Post.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Eleanor Close Barzin was
held on March 6, 2007, at Hillwood Museum & Gardens in Washington, DC.
Among those attending were her granddaughter, Laetitia Allen Vere
(London), sister, Nedenia Hutton Hartley (Dina Merrill) (New York),
her brother, Edward B. Close, Jr. (Colorado), nieces, Ellen MacNeille
Charles (Washington, DC) and Melissa MacNeille Cantacuzene (Virginia),
nephew, Stanley Hutton Rumbough (Connecticut), and grandniece, Glenn
Close (New York).
She was an avid collector of fine art and built a P,.3 magnificent
personal collection of 18th Century French furniture and decorative
arts as well as contributing to the collection at the museum founded
by her mother, Hillwood Museum & Gardens in Washington, D.C. She
supported the development of Hillwood after her mother's death in
1973, serving on the board of trustees from 1978 through 1986 and as
trustee emerita thereafter. One of her more well-known donations was a
1964 gift to the National Museum of Natural History of a pair of pear-
shaped diamond earrings that belonged to Marie Antoinette. She served
on the board of the American Hospital of Paris Foundation and was
awarded the 2001 American Hospital of Paris Foundation Medal. She also
received the French Legion of Honor. She contributed to other
organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee; the
American Hospital of Paris; Doctors Without Borders; the First Church
of Christ, Scientist; the International Eye Foundation; the National
Orchestral Association; the Salvation Army; and the Versailles
Foundation.
She resided in Fribourg, Switzerland, and Paris, France, until her
death on November 27, 2006, in Paris. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Leon Eugene Barzin in 1999, a well-known conductor who
founded the National Orchestral Association and served as the founding
musical director of the New York City Ballet, and her sister, Adelaide
Close Riggs, who died in 1998.
She is survived by her son, Antal Miklas Post de Bekessy;
granddaughter, Laetitia Allen Vere; sister, Nedenia Hutton Hartley
(Dina Merrill); brothers, Edward B. Close, Jr., and William B. Close,
M.D.; nieces, Marjorie Durant Dye, Ellen MacNeille Charles, Melissa
MacNeille Cantacuzene, Nedenia Rumbough Roosenberg, and Heather
Robertson; nephew, Stanley Hutton Rumbough; and many grandnieces and
nephews.
Published in The Washington Post on 3/25/2007.
Charlene
with him in 1930 and they broke up in 1932.
According to all reports she's actually the aunt, not the great-aunt,
of Glenn Close. Her sister Dina Merrill, the actress, is married to
Ted Hartley, a former actor and investment banker who's now the
chairman and main shareholder of RKO Films.
More interestingly, her brother William Close (Glenn's father, and
some 15-20 years younger than Eleanor) spent years practising medicine
in Central Africa. He was the personal physician to Mobuto Sese Seko
for a while and has written a number of books about his time in Africa
and his medical practice there. Interesting stuff. Also, his name is
William T. Close, not William B. Close as in the obituary. His website
is at http://www.williamtclosemd.com/ .
wd42
Louis Epstein
: Eleanor Close Barzin was first married to Preston Sturges. She eloped
: with him in 1930 and they broke up in 1932.
:
: According to all reports she's actually the aunt, not the great-aunt,
: of Glenn Close. Her sister Dina Merrill, the actress, is married to
: Ted Hartley, a former actor and investment banker who's now the
: chairman and main shareholder of RKO Films.
And WAS married to Cliff Robertson...I thought there was a child of
that marriage who doesn't seem to be listed among the survivors?
: More interestingly, her brother William Close (Glenn's father, and
: some 15-20 years younger than Eleanor) spent years practising medicine
: in Central Africa. He was the personal physician to Mobuto Sese Seko
: for a while and has written a number of books about his time in Africa
: and his medical practice there. Interesting stuff. Also, his name is
: William T. Close, not William B. Close as in the obituary. His website
: is at http://www.williamtclosemd.com/ .
Nedenia (Dina) was the daughter of Marjorie Merrieweather Post Close
Hutton Davies May by her second marriage,to E.F. Hutton...was William
Close Eleanor's full sister or Edward Close's daughter by a second wife?
: wd42
Of course,Marjorie was the Post of Post Cereals (E.F. Hutton took
General Foods public,but Marjorie had inherited Postum from C.W.)
back when RKO was the Radio adjunct of the Keith Orpheum vaudeville
theaters...
-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.
Charlene
> Nedenia (Dina) was the daughter of Marjorie Merrieweather Post Close
> Hutton Davies May by her second marriage,to E.F. Hutton...was William
> Close Eleanor's full sister or Edward Close's daughter by a second wife?
He was her half-brother, by a second (or maybe third) wife.
Although if he were her sister, there'd be a story there...
wd43