Barbara Anne Schneider; Philanthropist

Barbara Anne Schneider, an energetic civic activist who served on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for 20 years, died Sept. 12 of brain cancer at her home in Beverly Hills. She was 66.

Schneider, a former president of the Music Center Operating Co., was also co-chairwoman of the first Meistersinger Ball at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1966. She was the honoree at the Magical Madrigal Ball in 1990 and, in 1998, she provided endowment funds to establish in perpetuity an annual a cappella concert, the Barbara and Charles I. Schneider Concert for the Master Chorale.

Schneider did not confine her community efforts to the arts. She found time to volunteer at the Reiss Davis Child Care Center, the Westside Community for Independent Living, Planned Parenthood, the Junior Philharmonic and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Born Barbara Anne Krause in the Albany, N.Y., suburb of Delmar, Schneider came from a musical family. Her father was a violinist in the local symphony orchestra, her mother a choir director and organist for the local Methodist church.

After graduating from Cornell University, she took a job with Church World Service, greeting immigrants after they cleared customs at Ellis Island. She helped them find food and shelter and aided their start in the new world.

A devoted traveler, she met her future husband, Charles I. Schneider, while on business in Puerto Rico. She is survived by her husband, who is a former vice president of Times Mirror Co., which earlier this year was purchased by Tribune Co.; a son, Charles Jr. of Littleton, Colo.; and four daughters, Susan of Inman, S.C.; Kim of West Hollywood; Karen of San Jose; and Tracy of Altadena.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Los Angeles Master Chorale or St. John’s Health Center.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park.