Obituary: Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Leff

Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Leff lost her battle with cancer on Aug. 27. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, the youngest daughter of Joe and Irene Tabackman. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, where she was a sister in Sigma Delta Tau sorority. She moved from Athens to Atlanta after college, where she met the love of her life, Michael, the son of Nathan and Jennie Leff. She received her master’s degree in art education from Georgia State University. Never one to sit still, she started her own business, painting murals for friends, which quickly evolved into a full-time designer faux-finisher painting career.

For five decades, her business flourished, and her clients fell in love with her and all she created. Bobbie was the epitome of what it means to live life fully. She was a mother, wife, sister, friend, chef, gardener, and collector of experiences. However, arguably her favorite role was being a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren. For more than ten years she volunteered weekly in the art rooms and on-set at her grandchildren’s schools and rarely, if ever, missed a sporting event or performance in which one of her grandchildren participated. She was the heart of the family, the one to host dinners, birthday parties, special events and holidays — the “doer” of any and all projects. If there was ever a “need,” she was always the one to fill it.

She was deeply committed to her community, friends and family, whose love for her is endless. Her legacy will be a fifty-one-year marriage of love and friendship, her adoring sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, a home filled with beautiful memories, joy and love, and in her own words, “a lifetime of wonderful adventures.”

She is survived by her devoted husband Michael, children Kevin (Jennifer) and Barry (Amy), grandchildren Jordan, Nina, Alex and Evan, sister Debbie (Joel) and sister-in-law Brenda, and all of her adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Donations may be made in Bobbie’s honor to The Epstein School, where she was a beloved volunteer in the art room for more than ten years. She will live forever in our memories and in our hearts. The Epstein School, 335 Colewood Way, NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, 404-250-5636, ronette.throne@epsteinatlanta.org.