Josephine Propp Laitman

1918 - 2014

On May 16, 2014, Josephine P. Laitman died peacefully at home.
Born July 14, 1918, in New York City, Josephine was the only daughter among the four children of Jacob and Dina Propp. Along with her brothers, Sidney, Seymour, and Theodore, she excelled in the arts and trained in violin, piano, and voice at the Manhattan School of Music, studied dance with Marjorie Ward (Penny Marshall's mother), and graduated from Hunter College at age 19. She married Milton "Mickey" Laitman "under crossed sabres" upon his West Point graduation in 1939, remarkably celebrating nearly 75 years of marriage.
For 60-plus years, she played violin in various orchestras and, a trained singer, she performed at numerous public occasions. She passed along her own dedication to education and music to her three daughters, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Giving her best and expecting the best, she remained deeply engaged with her extended family until her final days.
Known for her keen insights and no-nonsense attitude, she had a fierce and total devotion to family and lived her motto, "no distance is too far and no price too high" for them. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of love and learning and will be dearly missed by her husband, Lt. Col. Milton Laitman; daughters, Marcie Laitman Kotler (husband, Dr. Morris Kotler), Dr. Lynn Laitman Siebert (husband, Dr. Donald Siebert), and Lori Laitman Rosenblum (husband, Bruce Rosenblum); brother, Theodore Propp (wife, Ellen); sister-in-law, Elaine Propp; grandchildren, Lawrence J. Kotler (wife, Rita), Leila Kotler Joffe (husband, Dr. Ian Joffe), Arielle Siebert Whiting (husband, David Whiting), Asher B. Siebert, James Rosenblum (wife, Anna Gligvashvili), Diana Rosenblum (fiancee, Julia Lin), and Andrew Rosenblum (fiancee, Tara Lynn Ramsey); great-grandchildren, Julia, Teddy, Nicky, and Mikey Kotler, Daniel and Justen Joffe, and Connor and Jack Whiting, as well as many devoted nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the West Point Jewish Chapel Fund, 750 Merritt Rd., West Point, N.Y. 10996, to Hadassah (www.hadassah.org), or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by J.L. Apter Memorial Chapels of Somerville, (908) 575-1800.