[9][10] Her father served in the Luftwaffe but was imprisoned after they found out that his mother was Jewish;[11] he later escaped and moved to West Germany where he married and had two children.
[8] She had a dual degree in education and interior design and began her career as a high school teacher of French and English in Düsseldorf.
[8] She also volunteered at the Museum of Modern Art where she was influenced by the works of Color Field painters Helen Frankenthaler and Gerhard Richter.
Her spiritual journey began with Chabad in Aspen where she is a major benefactor, and serves on its board of directors.
[8] Barbara and Gerry Hines also support The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.