The Workers Circle Mourns the Loss of Barnett Zumoff, z"l

March 22, 2021

Statement by Workers Circle CEO Ann Toback:

It is with great sadness that I share with you that this past weekend Dr. Barnett (“Barney”) Zumoff, a lifelong Workers Circle member, Past President of the Board, Camp Doctor at Camp Kinder Ring for 50 years, husband to Workers Circle leader, Selma, z”l, and father to Francine, z”l, Linda, and Janine, passed away.  

Barney was born into the Workers Circle community on June 1, 1926. Outside of his devotion to his family, the organization was his primary passion. There was no role at the Workers Circle that Barney didn’t participate in and/or lead.  His childhood was spent as a student in Workers Circle Shules, at times attending supplementary schools six days a week. He started as a camper at Camp Kinder Ring and then served as Camp Doctor for 50 years. He was an active participant along with his family in a lifetime of summers at Circle Lodge. He was a Branch leader. He served on countless local and national committees. And Barney was a President of the Workers Circle Board. Barney truly lived and lead by example our Workers Circle progressive values; our passion for Yiddishkayt, our social justice activism, education, and service to our community of friends.   

But more than that, Barney was truly a renaissance man – with many interests and accomplishments. An eminent physician, a Yiddish scholar translating plays and poetry, an author and poet, with numerous published books. He was a leader in every part of the cultural Jewish community as President of the Forward, President of the Kultur Congress, Board member of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, board member of the Atran Foundation; and the list goes on and on.

Barney remained active in these various endeavors and organizations until last year as illness overtook him. Even then he continued writing a just completed autobiography. 

Barney was a true lion of the Workers Circle.  It is always said that “he will be missed.” In the case of Barney, nothing could be truer. His lifelong leadership and commitment to our community leaves an indelible mark on our organization, today and into the future.  Barney’s life will serve as an inspiration of living our values to generations of activists to come.  May his memory be for a blessing.

The family will be planning a memorial service for our community once we are back in person.  We will notify everyone as soon as there is more information.

The entire Workers Circle community joins together to extend our deepest sympathies to Janine, Linda and the entire Zumoff mispokhe.