Obituary: Myron Hirsch

Myron Hirsch
Myron Hirsch died on July 3, 2010. Cherished husband of the late Lois. Loving father of Marilyn Hirsch (Gary Gordon) and Barbara Hirsch (Eric Davis). Beloved grandfather of David and Gabrielle Gordon and Kevin and Ross Davis. Devoted companion of Dolores Sachs. He was an optometrist and park commissioner in Great Neck. Funeral services were held at Beth Moses Cemetery on July 9. Contributions may be made to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, 14 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA, 94903 or to a charity of your choice.

Obituary: Eleanor F. Tessler

Eleanor F. Tessler
Eleanor F. Tessler, 88, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2010, lovingly surrounded by members of her immediate family. Born Eleanor Licht in Brooklyn on Jan. 28, 1922, she earned a bachelor’s degree from CCNY and her master’s from Columbia Teacher’s College. She met and married Ted Tessler (1919 – 1981) in 1950 and moved to Great Neck two years later. Eleanor was widely known for her culinary talents, studying at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, training with Chinatown chef and teacher Florence Lin, and ultimately teaching Chinese cooking classes in her Kensington home in the 1970s. She traveled extensively throughout the world and worked as a travel agent for 20 years. Eleanor was an avid community volunteer, contributing her time to numerous progressive causes, non-profit organizations and campaigns in support of the arts in Great Neck and beyond. She loved film, theater, dance, fiction, and the visual arts, and most of all, sharing quality time with family and a broad circle of loyal and cherished friends. She will be profoundly missed. 

Eleanor is survived by her children, Jonathan, Lisa and Jamie and their families, including grandchildren, Joanna, Jessica, Julian and Theo. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that donations may be made in her memory to the Great Neck Senior Center, Womanspace, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center or Doctors without Borders.

Obituary: Evelyn Wintrob Pantell

Evelyn Wintrob Pantell
Evelyn Wintrob Pantell, a 55-year resident of Great Neck, passed away peacefully in High Point, NC, on June 27, 2010. She would have celebrated her 93rd birthday on July 4. She greatly enjoyed her long memberships in the Unitarian Universalist Church, Manhasset, and the Great Neck Color Camera Club and will be missed by all her friends in those places. She is survived by a son, Jeremy Paul, and a grandson, Robert Edward, both of Greensboro, NC.

Obituary: Catherine Condon

Catherine Condon
1914-2010
Great Neck English Teacher
Catherine Anna (nee Sanschagrin, Murray) grew up in Rouses Point on Lake Champlain in upstate New York just south of the Canadian border. Every morning before school, she would go for a swim in the lake’s icy waters. Most mornings she found herself swimming past a hotel on the lake north of her home. As morning breakfast was being served to patrons of the hotel out on the back porch, people would call out for her to join them for a hearty meal, but she always replied, “No thank you, my mother told me not to.” Her formative years found her quite active in sports, including tennis, volleyball, rowing, track and basketball.

Obituary: Sylvia Robbins

Sylvia Robbins
Sylvia Robbins died peacefully at home June 20, 2010 after a long and fruitful life of 94 years. Wife of the late Herman Robbins, MD. Mother of the late Judith Robbins. She is survived and is remembered with love by her daughter Karen, son Philip, daughter-in-law Esther and grandchildren Michael and Lauren.

Obituary: Dorothy McKechnie Wells

Dorothy McKechnie Wells
Dorothy (Dottie) McKechnie Wells died peacefully on June 18, 2010 at her home in Boynton Beach, FL, surrounded by many of her large and loving family. She was the beloved wife of James R. Wells and the cherished mother of James R. Wells Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Nicholas M. (Renee) Wells of Lantana, FL, and Phoebe (Tedek) Wells-Gaj, RN, of Cambridge, MA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Paul) Wells Jaquith of Pembroke Pines, FL, James R. (Jill) Wells III of Forest Hills, Nicholas M. (Andrea) Wells Jr. of Brooklyn, Erin (Michael) Wells-Schaefer of Royal Palms Beach, FL, Eoin Gaj of Salt Lake City, UT, Daire Gaj of Cambridge, MA, and Cormac Gaj of Cambridge. Dottie is also survived by four great-grandchildren and her brother A. Randall McKechnie of Cockeysville, MD. Her twin sister, Mary Botti, predeceased her in 2008.

Obituary: Jean Christie

Jean Christie
Jean Christie, 98, of Madison, WI, and formerly of Great Neck, died on May 16, 2010, of a gentle sort of Alzheimer’s, sleeping peacefully more and more of the time until she did not wake up at all. She shared a home with her son, Richard Claus, and their cat, Hodge. Throughout her last months, hospice and home care staff provided her loving and wise service. Special thanks are due to Jane Randall, her friend and helper for the last eight years.

Obituary: Bernard Schnur

Bernard Schnur
Bernard Schnur, age 96. Beloved husband of the late Miriam. Father of Myrna (and Micahel Kabnick), Wendy (and Howard Kates) and the late Robert. Grandfather to Richard, Jill, Jamie and Michelle. Great-grandfather to Madeline and Marlee.

Bernard Schnur was a Great Neck resident for over 60 years. He retired to Boca Pointe, FL. He will be deeply missed.

Obituary: Etta Gluck

Etta Gluck
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Great Neck resident, Etta Gluck, 64, after a long and heroic battle with colon cancer. Etta was a warm, fun-loving person who loved and embraced our community since moving here in 1998. She worked as an insurance broker at The JLS Group, Inc., for 40 years.

Obituary: William J. Feminella

William J. Feminella
William J. Feminella, of Bethpage, formerly of Great Neck, passed away May 19, 2010. A U.S. Army Korean War veteran (European Campaign), he was a member of Divorced and Separated Catholics and Catholic War Veterans. He was an avid golfer and friend of many. He is survived by his brother, Richard; two nieces and two nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Joseph. Arrangements were made by Arthur F. White Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was held at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Cremation was private. Interment of his cremains took place at St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.