Cecelia Garfinkel

Garfinkel, Cecelia NISKAYUNA Cecelia Garfinkel died peacefully at the Hospice Inn surrounded by her loving family and friends August 9, 2008 after a brief but courageous fight with ovarian cancer. Born to Enrico and Giacomina Valeri in Newark, N.J. on July 13, 1933, she was the second born of their five children. She attended public schools in Newark, won an academic scholarship to Douglass College in New Brunswick, N.J. and received her BA degree in English, in 1956. She was the first in her family to attend college. She met her husband, Marvin, at Rutgers University and they were married in 1958. Ceil was a gifted teacher. Prior to her marriage, she taught English at a tough inner city high school in Newark. She influenced her students with love, respect for her subject matter and her conviction that everyone in the class could and would learn. Following her marriage, she and her husband went to Champaign, Ill., and she taught English nearby at Tolono High School. Her life changed in 1960 with the birth of her first child, David, and her move to Schenectady. Two more children followed; Aliza, in 1962 and Sarah in 1964. She worked as a substitute English teacher at Niskayuna High School, as a technical writer for GE and pioneered the opening of the new Niskayuna branch of the Schenectady County Public Library at the Van Antwerp School, running it for several years until it was moved to other quarters. She was active in the League of Women Voters, particularly when it was closely monitoring county issues and was a member of the Capital District Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Council. She was a life member of Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization and was it's president during the early crucial days of the 1967 war when Israel's destruction appeared to be imminent. It was during this incumbency that her unique abilities became clear. She showed her courage, willingness to discuss difficult situations openly in a non-threatening manner, and the ability to see her way through complex situations and focus on the critical issue of the 1967 six day war. She emerged as a community leader at a community-wide emergency meeting that included leaders and participants from all the local Jewish organizations. The meeting was unfocused until Ceil, as president of Hadassah, seized the microphone and, addressing particularly the leaders of the organizations that were present, highlighted Israel's urgent, immediate need- making the point that local organizational needs, while important, could well be addressed after Israel's dire need for funds had passed. She carried the day and many organizations, indeed, emptied their treasuries to meet Israel's urgent need. Ceil was a deeply spiritual person. She was a religious seeker and was convinced that modern religions had devalued and obscured the feminine aspects of God, much to our detriment. A Jew, by choice, she saw aspects of God in all religions. She considered all people children of the same God and was an active participant in interfaith activities. She was especially committed to the Interfaith Community of Schenectady, serving on its coordinating council and as its president in 2003 and 2004. She was instrumental in broadening what had been a Christian-Jewish group to include representatives from the rapidly growing local Muslim community. In keeping with her innate direct openness she encouraged sincere, frank, and respectful, discussion of issues in this sensitive religious arena. Ceil was very active as a volunteer for Mohawk-Hudson Planned Parenthood, serving on its board of directors from 2005 to 2007. She often said, "Women like me have always had access to these services. It is important that all women have access to reproductive health care." She co-led the campaign to raise capital funding for a new Planned Parenthood facility for Schenectady. She imbued that effort with a special vitality through her usual and simple direct approach. "If you want people to give money" she said "you have to ask for it". While she never told people how much to give, leaving it to their best nature, her direct approach was generally successful and the campaign was oversubscribed. Many people know Ceil by name through her many letters to the editor of the Schenectady Gazette which showcased her commitment to causes with wit, intelligence and generosity of spirit. They were always topical. She decried the folly of our enormous war expenditures in the face of the deteriorating American infrastructure and living standards of most Americans, and she hated the needless tragedy of American and Iraqi lives lost in the current war. She was a staunch letter writing supporter of Planned Parenthood in all of its many programs. She was a fiercely supportive mother and adored each and every one of her eight grandchildren. She was an avid, accomplished knitter and enjoyed completing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle every weekend, in ink. Ceil was predeceased by her sister, Rosemary Di Pede (Lou). She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Marvin; her children, David (Cathy), Aliza Mesbahi (Embarek), Sarah and her partner Debbie Cituk; her brother, Henry Valeri (Barbara); her sisters, Jackie Geisheimer and Frances Reissner (Gregory); and eight grandchildren, Meilin and Lilin Garfinkel; Belkacem, Rosalinda, SaidAli and Jamila Mesbahi; Carter Garfinkel and Cassidy Beauchemin. She also leaves behind her many devoted friends and acquaintances who will miss her warmth, sharp wit, concern for others, honesty and her positive spirit. She will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 at Congregation Agudat Achim, 2117 Union St., Niskayuna. Shiva minyans will be held at 1052 Merlin Drive Wednesday and Thursday evenings. In place of flowers, please make any contributions to the Community Hospice.