Barbara Bongard, a member of a family prominent in New York thoroughbred racing and breeding, died on Dec. 16, 2023, at Albany Medical Center. She was 87.
She was the owner of Rojan Farms, one of the oldest horse-breeding farms in New York. She founded the farm with other members of her family in Gallatin in 1960, and moved the operation to Northumberland, N.Y., near Saratoga Springs, in 1997.
Born on Sept. 23, 1936, in New York City, she was the daughter of Bertram and Rojean Bongard. Bongard’s sister, Ellen, with whom she ran Rojan Farms, died in 2020. A brother, Bertram Bonard Jr., also died before her.
Bongard graduated from Skidmore College and received a master’s degree from Smith College. She taught physical education at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, and at schools in Bronxville and Scarsdale in Westchester County, and was a successful field hockey coach. She was also an avid reader and horse-race handicapper.
The family requested that contributions in Bongard’s name may be made to TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program Inc.AKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program Inc., P. O. Box 21028 Floral Park, N.Y. 11002, or to New Vocations, 719 Dolan Lane, Lexington, Ky. 40511.