May 5, 2026
By Thomas Rayfiel
Linda Faust, a longtime Park Slope resident and Coop member, died of mesothelioma on February 25. She was 77 years old. Linda taught biology and earth science at nearby Clara Barton High School for 30 years at a time when few women taught science in the public school system. She waited to join the Coop until she retired, fearing she would not have enough spare time to fulfill the work requirement. This reflected her all-in commitment to being a teacher. Dr. Brigitte Holder, a former student who became a lifelong friend, recalled:
“The way to describe her was independent, stern and demanding of respect in her classroom. She genuinely wanted to mold you into the best version of you. Her classroom was a learning arena. I couldn’t wait to attend health occupation science because I knew every day I would emerge with a new wealth of knowledge, bringing me closer to becoming a physician.”
When Linda did finally join the Coop, she was on a Receiving Squad, stocking produce in the early morning, before the store opened. The Coop gave her another way to participate in the community she loved. Her friend Judith Foster remembered:
“Linda and I would always ask each other, ‘Need anything from the Coop? I’m going to walk over there soon.’ She really liked the coffee, SodaStream, the lox, and the maple yogurt. She saw the Coop as part of communal Park Slope life and felt strongly that it belonged to everyone who worked there, not just those with a particular point of view.”
Linda and her husband Steve were instrumental in improving bike access to the Coop. The bike valet system was largely the result of their efforts. After Steve’s death in 2014, she continued to advocate for easier and safer bike access, feeling that bicycles were integral to the fabric of the city. In her retirement, she frequented the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and museums all over the city. She also took great pride in the achievements of her three grandsons.
Dr. Holder emphasized how Linda’s instruction extended far beyond the classroom, even during her final illness:
“Until the last minute of her life, she remained the consummate teacher, now teaching me a life lesson. I watched her while she lay in hospice, gracefully making all decisions along with her family on how she would pass on her own terms, without tubes and medical devices.”
Linda is survived by her daughter Juliette Faust Kennedy, son Nathan Faust, son-in-law Terence Kennedy, daughter-in-law Tamarah Faust, grandsons Eli, Miles and Seamus and sister Estelle Roca.
Thomas Rayfiel is the author of eight novels. He has also written “living obituaries” for VICE TV.