Barbara Marie Moeller of Hampton Bays Dies February 27

Barbara Marie Moeller of Hampton Bays, a devoted mother, accomplished artist, and passionate historian, died peacefully on February 27 in Redwood City, California. She was 87.

She was born Barbara Marie Wunder on February 20, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, to Marie Barbara Scudder and Louis Tiffany Wunder.

She grew up in Union, New Jersey, and attended St. Michael’s Catholic School before transferring to Connecticut Farms Elementary School. She graduated from Union High School in 1955, where she overlapped with her older brother, Robert Wunder. She then attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, earning a degree in political science. It was there she met the love of her life, Henry “Skip” Moeller. The two married on November 12, 1961, in Union, shortly after her graduation.

In 1964, the couple moved to Hampton Bays to begin their life together after Henry Moeller accepted a teaching position at Southampton College. They later relocated to Southampton before returning to Hampton Bays in 1986, where they poured their hearts into renovating a “fixer-upper” home on Squires Pond, doing much of the work themselves.

For many years, she devoted herself to raising her two sons, Thomas and Russell. In 1986, she re-entered the workforce as a human resources assistant at Southampton Hospital, and eventually became the hospital’s HR supervisor, a position she held until her retirement in 1999. She was also instrumental in cataloging and preserving the hospital’s impressive art collection, which featured works by Willem de Kooning, Robert Dash, and Alexander Calder.

A lifelong artist, she found joy in capturing the natural beauty of Long Island’s East End. She worked in watercolor, oil, and pastels, frequently exhibiting at art shows in Water Mill. She was an active member of a local community of women artists, including Fay Mack, Helen Giaquinto, Connie Morris, and June Cancio.

Her deep appreciation for history went hand-in-hand with her artistic pursuits. As president of the Hampton Bays Historical Society, she played a crucial role in documenting and categorizing the many historic homes in Hampton Bays. She was also a key collaborator on Henry Moeller’s 2019 book, “Inventing the American Flag: How the Stars and Stripes Was Woven from Symbols.”

She is survived by her sons, Thomas Moeller (Kelly) and Russell Moeller (Joyia); and her grandchildren, Carson, Genevieve, Wesley, and Mitch Moeller. She was predeceased by her infant son, Charles Moeller; her brother, Robert Wunder; and her husband, Henry.

“Barbara’s legacy of creativity, commitment to historical preservation, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her,” her family said.