On Tuesday, a 26-year-old events coordinator from Long Island, New York, turned herself into police for causing the death of Barbara Gustern, 87, a vocal coach whose students included Blondie singer Debbie harry.
“Tuesday, 26-year-old Lauren Pazienza of Port Jefferson, surrendered to police. She was accompanied by her attorney,” CBS News reported. Pazienza allegedly shoved Gustern to the ground on March 10; Gustern sustained head injuries and died five days later.
Pazienza hails from Port Jefferson, Long Island and lives in Astoria, Queens, with her fiancé, according to The Daily Mail.
The Daily Wire reported on March 16:
Barbara Maier Gustern was traveling to watch a student to perform at Joe’s Pub when she was pushed from behind by a 30-ish red-haired woman in front of her building at West 28th Street and Eighth Avenue in Chelsea.
On Tuesday morning, her grandson posted on Gustern’s Facebook page, “Today, at 11:15 AM, we have lost one of the brightest little flames to ever grace this world. ‘I ask that you all give me a little time and space, but I want to make time for anyone and everyone who wants to know more about her final moments. … Bobbob, I love you, you are and always will be my heart.”
“Surveillance footage released Sunday shows the suspect leaving the scene towards Ninth Avenue. She is described as a red-haired woman, likely in her 30s, wearing a black jacket, black leggings, a white skirt and dark colored shoes. She has not been caught,” The Daily Mail noted.
After she was struck and lying on the ground with a gash in her head, Gustern told a friend, “I’ve never been hit so hard in my life.” “Ms. Gustern gave the police a description of her attacker and said that the woman shouted a derogatory term before assaulting her,” The New York Times reported.
While Gustern was in the hospital, Mallory Portnoy, who appeared in the “Oklahoma!” revival and had been coached by Gustern, said, “I don’t know how people come back from something like this at this age, but if anybody could it’s this woman because she is so strong and so full of life and she can overcome, it seems like, truly anything.”
A group called The Hot Sardines posted on Facebook:
I’d say rest in peace, but I can’t imagine my beloved voice teacher, friend and musical co-conspirator Barbara Maier Gustern ever sitting still. At 87, she would coach a dozen singers by day and then dash off to performances nearly every night to support all of us, beaming from the front row. That’s where she was headed when she was randomly attacked outside her Manhattan apartment Thursday night. The last time I saw her — after one of our shows — we hugged goodbye, her 4’10” frame barely reaching my collarbone, and thanked me for being in her life. That’s just who she was.
To lose her is hard enough; to lose her to a random, senseless act of evil is more than I know what to do with. I don’t get it, and I’m so angry. But Barbara didn’t spend much time on anger — as she put it, “Bad things have happened to me, but I’ve had a wonderful life.” Her spirit was a rare light in a dark world.
So grateful for Barbara. Sending light out to all those whose lives she bettered. She did so much good for so many people. The irony is that whoever did this might not have if only she’d had Barbara in her life. Whatever you do today, find the love and the joy in it. She’d want us to keep the party going.