Obituary of Barbara J. Zlotnick-Sanders

Barbara J. Zlotnick-Sanders, Ph.D., 82, of 220 Brook Valley Road died June 28, at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice after a recurrent illness. 

She was the devoted wife and best friend of Robert J. Sanders for nearly 46 years.  Besides her husband, she leaves two sons and their wives, Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Sanders, Jr. of Pompton Lakes, N.J. and Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Sanders of Allentown, P.A.; one daughter and her husband, Dr. Stacy B. Sanders-Burke and Mr. Richard Burke of Rochester, M.N.; one sister, Christine Z. Tafe of Kennebunkport, M.E. and her family; five grandchildren Emily Schwartz, Richard Sanders, Robert J. Sanders, III, Steven Sanders, and Ainsley Burke; and two great-grandchildren Cooper and Maggie Schwartz. 

She was born in Webster, MA, daughter of Stanley J. Zlotnick and Stasia (Poswiatowski) Zlotnick.  She attended Simmons College and then later graduated from Smith College and St. Louis University School of Medicine after receiving her Master’s degree and Ph.D in microbiology. 

She pursued a career in science at a time when few women dared to and even fewer were successful in doing so.  Her distinguished career began in the laboratories of the Massachusetts Department of Health working as a bacteriologist, continued at Hoffman LaRoche where she supervised the microbiology laboratories of the Quality Control Department in the pharmaceutical production area, and concluded at Lederle Laboratories where she served and retired as the Vice President of Quality Assurance/Quality Control.

In her retirement, she was a perseverant golfer, an occasional bridge player, and an avid reader of science magazines, murder mysteries and newspaper comics.  She served at St. Pius X Church as a lector, eucharistic minister, soup kitchen volunteer, and as a founding member of the Caring Crafters.  More than anything, however, she loved spending time with her family.  She and her husband honeymooned on Cape Cod in 1976 and returned there every summer thereafter to celebrate their life together.  She cherished time spent at the family lakehouse, large Christmas dinners, and any opportunity to visit with her grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on July 1 at Scanlan Funeral Home, 781 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains NJ and a mass will be held at St. Pius X Church in Towaco NJ on July 2.  She will be interred in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Webster, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice in Fredon, NJ.