Amherst, MA – Evelyn (Baker) Goldenberg died suddenly on October 8, 2026 surrounded by dear friends, family and endless love. She was 88.
Evelyn was a natural born nurturer and communicator. Throughout her life, she magically connected with people of all ages and sustained relationships that lasted for decades. She touched and helped so many people, from her students when she was a high school guidance counselor who kept her in their lives after graduation, to her colleagues, to the neighbors, to the students who rented rooms in her house decades ago and stayed in touch, to her friends and family. She welcomed people into her home and into her life because it brought her great joy.
Evelyn Baker was born on March 4, 1938, in Salem, MA, to Louis E. and Betty R. Baker, joining brother Marshall. She had a very happy childhood, graduating from Salem High School and later attending Simmons College, where she earned her degree in psychology in 1959. During college she met and fell in love with Mark Goldenberg, whom she married in 1958. Evelyn became a teacher while living in Cambridge, MA, and then lived in Heidelberg, Germany, during which time she and Mark traveled the world, learned languages, and made dear friends.
The family moved to Amherst in 1967 from Princeton, NJ. When her children were in elementary school, Evelyn earned her master’s degree in counseling from UMass. She worked as an aide at Wildwood, as a counselor at Pelham Elementary school, and then took on a full-time role at the Amherst Regional High School when Mark died tragically in 1978.
For the next 25 years, Evelyn gave her compassion, talent, empathy, patience, love and perseverance to help countless students, including those who were struggling and those who simply enjoyed her company and counsel. She gave and earned love, admiration and respect from her colleagues. She retired in 2001.
Evelyn was an active member of the Amherst Women’s Club and was involved in many local non-profits including the Amherst Survival Center, Family Outreach and the ABC House, where she served on the Board for many years.
She loved fine food and drink, which she enjoyed in the company of dear friends and family, both near and far. Food was a natural way to bring people she loved together, whether at her home, their homes, or at restaurants.
She was proud of and loved her home, as well as her garden, and took special care to make sure that they were always beautiful and well maintained.
More than all else, she adored and was fiercely proud of her children and grandchildren. Family was the most important thing to her and her home was blanketed with photos of everyone from every stage.
Evelyn is survived by her daughters Laura (Howard) and Karen, and son Michael (Karen), her grandson David and granddaughter Claire, her surrogate daughter Kim Edwards, her sister-in-law Marcia Baker, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her brother Marshall died in January 2026.
Her sudden and unexpected death leaves a gaping void, with so many people heartbroken and in shock. Evelyn’s memory will live on forever in the countless people whose lives she touched.
Donations in Evelyn’s name can be made to Family Outreach, the Amherst Survival Center or Mazon. A celebration of her beautiful life will be held at a later date.
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