MADELINE VIRGINIA RABINOWITZ

1923 - 2016

RABINOWITZ, KIKI Madeline Virginia “Kiki” Rabinowitz, 92, died peacefully at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford on June 4, 2016. Born on October 1, 1923, in Stamford, Conn., to Morris and Mary (Kahn) Harris, Kiki was raised by her father and stepmother, Libby (Shapiro) Harris, after her mother died in 1925. She is predeceased by brother Charles Harris and sister Charlotte Zone. A gifted artist and violinist, Kiki earned a degree in industrial design from Cooper Union in NYC. She moved to New Haven after marrying Harold Wolf Rabinowitz (recently deceased), who attended the Yale School of Art. Kiki received a teaching degree from Southern Connecticut State College. She worked as a window display artist and architect model-maker and taught art at the Foote School. Kiki and Harold were founders of the Creative Arts Workshop (CAW), where Kiki served as teacher and president. She and Harold built a large stone house in Bethany, Conn., where they taught children’s art and created the Rabinowitz Design Workshop, a business that continues to sell art materials and tools that they invented over 50 years ago. Kiki and Harold had six children, Sandra Mary, Michael Harris, Abbie, Rebecca Lee, David Lincoln, and Mary Judith (deceased), and seven grandchildren, all of whom pursue their talents in the arts, music, and science. Kiki served on the Bethany School Board for nine years and was a founder of the Bethany Brass Band jewelry group. Known for her strength of will, generosity, extraordinary kindness, creativity, curiosity, and love of native cultures and art, Kiki opened her home to anyone in need. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Connecticut Hospice, Inc. A memorial will be announced later this year on legacy.com.