By Vilma Shu
Town&Gown founder Mimi Ungar Barash Coppersmith signed her letters and cards with her monogram, MUBC. But to most people in State College, she was known simply as Mimi. As a fixture of State College life and an admired Penn State alum, Mimi became an icon, a self-made businesswoman, a breast-cancer survivor, and a catalyst for change in the community.
Mimi passed away on Sept. 14 at the age of 92.
In countless ways, Mimi’s legacy is rooted in her efforts to highlight the importance of town and gown relations and the undeniable bond between the State College community and Penn State University. She dedicated herself to elevating the quality of life for those who call Happy Valley their long-term home as well as for those who arrive at Penn State, as she did in 1950, in pursuit of higher education.
She imprinted herself on both sides of College Avenue by capturing the history of Happy Valley in the stories published in Town&Gown, the magazine she founded almost 60 years ago, and as a philanthropist supporting scholarships and nonprofit organizations that were close to her heart.
It is hard to imagine what State College and Penn State would have been like without her leadership in support of the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Pink Zone, Girl Scouts, Centre Safe, Youth Service Bureau, Jana Marie Foundation, Strawberry Fields, and the Centre County Historical Society, as well as her contributions to scholarship funds through Centre Gives and Penn State.
In addition, Mimi will be remembered for her impact as a volunteer and board member serving on local organizations, including the State College Area Chamber of Commerce (now Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County), Penn State Renaissance Fund, Centre LifeLink EMS, Palmer Museum of Art, and the State College Choral Society’s Holocaust Memorial Project.
Mimi was a Jewish woman from humble beginnings who persevered against all odds to become, in 1953, the first in her family to graduate from college, honored as Pennsylvania Small Businessperson of the Year in 1981, and the first woman to chair the Penn State Board of Trustees, in 1990. In her 2018 memoir, “Eat First, Cry Later,” she wrote, “I am a woman of action, and almost nothing stands in my way when I’m intent to conquer something, even in myself.”
Reluctantly, Mimi was thrust into a business world dominated by men after the death of her beloved first husband, Sy Barash, and later by the sudden passing of her second husband, Lou Coppersmith. She had to learn quickly to pave her own path as a businesswoman. The unfortunate tradeoff for being successful in her business would be her deep sense of regret, which she expressed in her memoir, for her shortcomings as a mother to her two daughters, Carol and Nan. In her later years, she tried to make up for her absence and to rebuild those relationships. She also made it her mission to champion other women and improve the landscape for women in business and higher education.
To say that Mimi was one of a kind is an understatement. Those privileged to have worked with her or to have gotten to know her personally will say she was one in a million. Outspoken and often unfiltered in her point of view, she wasn’t always received in the most favorable light by those who may have disagreed with her. But beneath her tough outer shell, she was a mother and a businesswoman searching for her purpose, wanting to make a difference.
As she wrote in “Eat First, Cry Later,” she struggled with depression, heartbreak, and tragedies in her life journey. In sharing these stories and lessons learned, she hoped her memoir would inspire others to overcome challenges, seek mental health help, and be kind to themselves. She ended her book with one final lesson: “Bring hope and courage to others in these troubled times. That’s why we’re here; that’s all we have; and it is enough.”
Although Mimi sold Barash Media in 2008 to Gazette Printers, officially retired from her role as a sales consultant for Town&Gown in 2021, and concluded her “Lunch with Mimi” column a year later, Town&Gown continues as her lasting legacy to highlight the people, events, and businesses of Happy Valley, and capture the history of State College and Penn State.
For someone who has had the privilege of knowing Mimi for more than two decades, it is hard for this writer to imagine not being able to call her for advice or meet her for lunch to seek her infinite wisdom. Our community lost a shining light, a beacon for change, and a matriarch to all women, young and old. Mimi was truly a gem and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Mimi often quoted strong and outspoken women in history and was known to start her Lunch with Mimi Liveevents with quotes to inspire her attentive audience. So, in honor of Mimi, I will end this memorial to her life with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that Mimi might appreciate:
“Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. It’s your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time, then you’ll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there’s no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself.”
Mimi Ungar Barash Coppersmith, 1933-2025
1933
- Born on June 11, in Wilkes-Barre, Mimi is the third daughter and fourth child of Max (1895-1956) and Tillie (1901-1990) Ungar, Jewish immigrants who fled anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. They run a small grocery store in Wilkes-Barre, where Mimi will work after school and on weekends.
- In December, when Mimi is 7 months old, her parents take custody of her two first cousins after their mother, (Mimi’s father’s sister) dies of influenza and their father can’t take care of them.
1944
- On July 25, the Ungar family receives a telegram from the U.S. War Department saying that their first-born son, Calvin S. Ungar, was killed in World War II on July 7. Faced with her parents’ profound grief, Mimi vows at 11 years old that she would find happiness in easing the burdens of those afflicted by hardship and tragedy.
1945
- Mimi’s younger brother, Sanford Ungar, is born.
1950
- On Aug. 27, Mimi arrives in State College to attend what was then The Pennsylvania State College to pursue her undergraduate studies in journalism. As a freshman, she lives in McAllister Hall on campus.
- At Penn State, Mimi starts writing for The Daily Collegian and joins the women’s intramural basketball team.
- Mimi is a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, one of three Jewish sororities at Penn State.
1952
- Mimi spends the summer living in Chicago with her sister Sylvia and Sylvia’s husband, Henry. Mimi works in the publication division at Kling Studios proofreading General Electric user instruction manuals.
1953
- Mimi becomes editorial director of The Daily Collegianand is paid to write a weekly column, “Strictly from Ungar.”
- Mimi is captain of her debate team, which wins the Women’s Grand National Debating Championship.
- In May, Mimi meets Sy Barash and goes on their first date to Friday night services at Penn State Hillel. Sy is seven years older than Mimi and had just started an advertising business with Sidney Friedman.
- She completes her degree, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college.
- In August, Mimi’s sister Sylvia’s husband, Henry, dies from complications of polycystic kidney disease.
- That Labor Day weekend, Sy takes Mimi to Philadelphia to meet his parents, Fannie and Herman, who also own a neighborhood grocery store, and Mimi gets to meet his sister Sylvia. Sy surprises Mimi that weekend by proposing to her.
- Mimi starts her master’s degree in speech at Penn State, which includes teaching a Speech 200 graduate course, but “life had other plans for me,” she recalls in her book, so she does not complete her degree.
1954
- On Jan. 31, Mimi marries Sy Barash at the Manfield Ballroom in Wilkes-Barre.
1956
- Mimi and Sy move into their first house together at 325 Homan Ave., State College.
- Mimi’s father, a World War I veteran, passes away after a decade-long battle with diabetes.
1958
- On Oct. 16, Mimi’s first daughter, Carol, is born.
1959
- Sy and Mimi start their advertising business in the basement of their home. On Jan. 31, their anniversary, Sy and Mimi purchase Nittany Ad-Ver-Tis-Er from Sid and Herman Friedman. They also split the client list from Sy and Sid’s advertising agency, Friedman and Barash, and Barash Advertising is born.
1961
- Sy and Mimi buy Morgan Signs in Altoona, expanding their billboard business across Blair, Bedford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union counties.
- On March 26, Mimi’s second daughter, Nan, is born.
1966
- Barash Publications (later Barash Media) is established. In January, Town&Gown’s first issue is published, featuring things to do in and around State College and Penn State.
- In early issues of Town&Gown, Mimi writes a monthly column called “Catalyst.” A column protesting the Elks Club’s refusal to admit African American members lands her in hot water, and advertisers threaten to boycott the magazine.
1967
- Mimi and Sy buy and remodel a fraternity house at the corner of South Allen Street and East Nittany Avenue in downtown State College to become their new office for Morgan Signs and Barash Advertising.
- Mimi is a leader of the group of local artists and businesspeople who start the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
- In the 1960s, Mimi runs for State College Borough Council. The only woman, she comes in fifth out of six candidates.
1972
- In December, Sy Barash is diagnosed with lung cancer.
1973
- Under Mimi’s direction, Town&Gown features Joe Paterno in a “Joe, Don’t Go Pro” campaign to urge him not to take the head coach job with the New England Patriots. The campaign includes postcards inside the magazine that encourage people to mail their comments to Joe. Thousands participate in the campaign, and in the end, Joe Paterno turns down the Patriots.
- Mimi becomes president of the State College Chamber of Commerce. During her presidency, she helps initiate the discussion that leads to Penn State taking over management of University Park Airport, expanding the runways, and bringing the first commercial flights in and out of State College.
- Sy’s cancer of the left lung spreads into bones in his back.
1975
- On Feb. 8, Sy Barash dies at age 48 after a long battle with cancer, and Mimi takes over The Barash Group.
- Mimi establishes the Barash Award for Human Services at Penn State, recognizing a full-time faculty member, staff member, or student who has made a significant contribution to human causes and public service beyond their regular duties.
- Mimi is approached by state Sen. Robert “Bobby” Jubelirer of Altoona and Minority Leader Henry “Merc” Hager of Williamsport to run for a state senate seat. At the nominating convention in the Centre County courthouse, Mimi loses the nomination to challenger J. Doyle Corman, who was a Centre County commissioner at the time.
1976
- Mimi helps organize the first Sy Barash Regatta at Stone Valley Recreation Center to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The annual regatta continues until 1993.
- Mimi’s first daughter, Carol, goes to Yale University.
1977
- Mimi meets state Sen. Lou Coppersmith of Johnstown at the Pennsylvanians for Effective Government annual dinner. At the time, Lou had just lost his wife to suicide.
- Lou and Mimi start a courtship, and by Thanksgiving, they introduce their kids to each other.
- Mimi is approached to run for Congress but declines the offer because she had just been elected to the Penn State Board of Trustees and feels that role is a better fit for her.
1978
- In the spring, Mimi marries Lou Coppersmith at Eisenhower Chapel on the Penn State campus.
1979
- Mimi’s second daughter, Nan, attends the University of Arizona.
1980
- Mimi is elected an alumni trustee of Penn State.
1981
- She is appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women by Gov. Dick Thornburgh, and is named Pennsylvania Small Businessperson of the Year.
1987
- Lou and Mimi break ground on The Towers high-rise at 403 S. Allen St., State College.
- Mimi’s daughter Nan joins her in the family business, starting her own division, Barash Group Philadelphia.
1989
- On Jan.17, Lou Coppersmith dies suddenly from a heart attack while running at the YMCA in downtown Johnstown.
- On Jan. 31, the grand opening party is held for The Towers, including the new offices for The Barash Group.
- Mimi goes on a date with Sam Fredman, Sy’s fraternity brother and a judge of the Supreme Court of New York.
- Mimi discovers a lump in her breast.
- Mimi acquires DuBois Outdoors to expand the billboard business.
1990
- In the 1990s, Mimi reorganizes the billboard business (Morgan Signs) and the advertising agency (Barash Advertising) as Morgan Signs Inc., doing business as The Barash Group.
- In the late 1990s, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts asks Mimi to serve as president of their board. Mimi also wins the bid to publish the Arts Festival Guide, which Barash Media continues to publish today.
- Mimi is elected the first female chair of Penn State’s Board of Trustees, serving two years in that role. As a trustee, she would lead Penn State to divest from South African stocks and create the university’s first policy of equal rights for the LGBTQ community.
- Mimi undergoes surgery for her breast cancer.
- On Feb. 24, Mimi marries Sam Fredman.
- In May, Mimi’s mother dies.
1993
- Mimi faces a second cancer threat.
1996
- In January, the “Lunch with Mimi” column first appears in Town&Gown, with Mimi interviewing notable people at Penn State and in the State College community.
- Mimi’s daughter Carol joins the family business, The Barash Group (from New York).
1998
- Carol leaves The Barash Group to start her own business.
2005
- In June, Mimi launches her Lunch with Mimi Live series, sponsored by Kish Bank. This in-person event invites women panelists to speak on a wide range of topics of interest to women, and proceeds from the ticketed event benefit local charities.
2006
- Mimi helps launch the first Think Pink Lady Lions Basketball game to benefit breast cancer treatment.
2007
- Mimi’s suspicion of her third husband’s infidelity is confirmed.
2008
- Mimi files for divorce from Sam Fredman.
- In February, Mimi sells the billboard side of Morgan Signs to Lamar Advertising. Barash Advertising’s client list is divided between Mimi’s former art directors into two separate businesses.
- In June, Mimi sells Barash Publications (later renamed Barash Media) to Gazette Printers of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Mimi remains as a consultant for Town&Gown magazine for many years under the new ownership.
2010
- On Nov. 27, Mimi’s divorce from Sam is finalized.
2014
- On Nov. 3, Mimi makes the final payment on The Towers.
2016
- In January, Town&Gown celebrates its 50th anniversary. The issue wins the Arnold Addison Award from the State College Borough Council in recognition of outstanding contributions to improving the quality of life and promoting relations between Penn State and the Borough of State College.
2018
- Mimi publishes her memoir, “Eat First, Cry Later,” about what it was like growing up in a Jewish immigrant family with humble beginnings in Kingston, and sharing her heartbreak over the loss of her brother Calvin in World War II, losing two beloved husbands, Sy Barash and Lou Coppersmith, and surviving breast cancer.
2021
- In March, Mimi officially retires from her role as a sales consultant for Town&Gown but continues her Lunch with Mimi column.
2022
- In September, Mimi makes the difficult decision to conclude her “Lunch with Mimi” column in Town&Gown.
2023
- On June 11, Mimi celebrates her 90th birthday.
- The Palmer Foundation recognizes Mimi’s community contributions with a gift that memorializes her legacy by naming the Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom in the new Palmer Museum of Art. Mimi shared a lifelong friendship with Barbara Palmer until Barbara’s death in 2019.
2025
- On Sept. 14, Mimi passes away at The Village at Penn State. She lies beside her first husband, Sy, in the Jewish section of Centre County Memorial Park. T&G
Vilma Shu is a former general manager of Barash Media whose friendship with Mimi began more than 20 years ago when she started as an editorial intern for Town&Gown. Mentored by Mimi throughout her professional and personal life, she currently works as a marketing operations project manager at Penn State Smeal College of Business, where she leverages her expertise in project management and marketing communications to support the college’s academic and social initiatives.
