TINTON FALLS – MARY WALKER BARON passed away on Friday, August 30, 2024, at Brandywine Sycamore Assisted Living in Shrewsbury. She was 78 years old.

Born in Florence, Arizona, in the infirmary of the Arizona State Prison to Ira and Alice (née Latham) Walker, she and her brother Tom grew up on their parents’ cattle ranches near Wickenburg and Globe, AZ. Mary graduated from Arizona State University with a BA degree and received an MSW/MAJCS degree from University of Southern California and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Mary excelled as a psychiatric social worker, treating the chronically and persistently mentally ill. In the latter part of her career, she was an adjunct assistant professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at University of Southern California. She was also the author and co-author of three books, past president of Temple Sinai of Glendale, California, and a cantorial soloist.

Mary is predeceased by her parents, Ira and Alice Walker; and her brother Tom Walker.

Surviving are her wife, Rabbi Leslie Bergson of Tinton Falls; and her daughter, Jesse Leffler and her husband, E. Michael Leffler, of Red Bank and her grandchildren, Charles Leffler and Claire Leffler.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 12:15 pm, at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ, under the direction of MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL CHAPELS, East Brunswick, NJ. For directions, please view our “Events” listed below.