Barbara O.B. Meyer

Barbara Osborn Babinski Meyer, a Wainscott resident whose roots go back to John Osborn, one of the first settlers of the hamlet, died at home surrounded by her family on Aug. 31 after a brief illness. 

Mrs. Babinski Meyer is in the 10th generation of Osborns who live in the Town of East Hampton. John Osborn, the son of Thomas Osborne, who followed Lion Gardiner here in 1670, dropped the last letter of his surname, according to Hilary Osborn Malecki, the family historian. Twelve generations later, his descendants still live in Wainscott.

“Barbara loved Wainscott and the ocean, but her greatest loves were her family and friends,” her family said. All but about two years of her life were spent in Wainscott, in houses no more than a mile apart, her daughter, Jane Weigley, said.

The only child of Elisha and Ella Osborn, she was born on Dec. 9, 1924, in a house on Wainscott Main Street that dates to around 1700. It remains in the family, though it has been moved twice. Her family later moved to Beach Lane.

Her father was a farmer, and Mrs. Babinski Meyer’s grandson Billy Babinski farms the land today. Her father also was among the offshore whalers who caught the last Wainscott whale in 1907, Ms. Malecki said.

A member of the first class at the third Wainscott School building, Mrs. Babinski Meyer graduated from East Hampton High School in 1941. She then earned a teaching degree at the State Teachers College at New Paltz.

After teaching for a few years at the Bridgehampton School, she met Bill Babinski, the son of Polish immigrants, when he returned to Bridgehampton to work on his family’s potato farm after serving in the Navy in World War II. She went on to teach, mostly second graders, at the Springs School. Mr. Babinski died in 1963.

In 1976, she was married to Henry von L. Meyer Jr., a summer resident and family friend. She retired around that time after 22 years in the classroom.

Active in local organizations, Mrs. Babinski Meyer was a member of the Wainscott Sewing Society, the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, and multiple bridge clubs. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an association of retired teachers.

Her children, William Babinski, who is known as Andy, of Wainscott, Ms. Weigley, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Wainscott, survive, as do five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Tom Meyer of Bedford Hills, N.Y., her stepson, and his two sons also survive.

Another stepson, Hank Meyer of Stuart, Fla., also died before her, but she is survived by his two sons as well.

Mrs. Babinski Meyer’s second husband died in 2003 at the age of 94.

A private burial was held on Sept. 5 at the Wainscott Cemetery. Her son-in-law, Jim Weigley, wrote her eulogy. A celebration of her life took place at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church the following day.

Memorial donations have been sugested to the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church’s painting fund, P.O. Box 3038, Bridgehampton 11932.