Sylvia Bankoff

March 25, 1918 - June 17, 2008
MICHIGAN CITY - Mrs. Sylvia (Rosner) Bankoff, 90, died at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in St. Anthony Memorial Health Center, Michigan City. Services will be held Friday, June 20, at 1:30 p.m. at Sinai Temple, with Rabbi Reni Dickman officiating. Visitation will be today, June 19th, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Carlisle Funeral Home. Burial will be at Sinai Temple Cemetery, Michigan City. Mrs. Bankoff was born March 25, 1918, in New York City, to Fred and Stella (Goldstein) Rosner. On May 3, 1938, in New York, she married Dr. Milton L. Bankoff, who preceded her in death on January 12, l994, and with whom she shared a long and loving partnership that inspired all who witnessed it. Surviving are her children, Barbara Ann Bankoff of Washington, D.C., Dr. David L. (Billie Lou) Bankoff of South Bend, IN, Dr. Peter R. (Mary) Bankoff of Paradise Valley, AZ, and Nancy Lynn (Martin) Chalifour of San Marino, CA. Grandchildren are Jennifer Bankoff Skinner (Matthew), Dr. Jonathan E. Bankoff (Heather), Rebecca Bankoff Asleson (Dan), Amy Elizabeth Bankoff (Daniel), Michael Jacob Bankoff, Stephanie Anne Bankoff Chalifour, Benjamin Eric Bankoff and Eric Chalifour. Great-grandchildren are Sarah Elizabeth Skinner, Isabelle Margaret Skinner, Keegan Thomas Bankoff, Connor William Bankoff, William Bankoff Buss, Elizabella Marie Bolton, and one more great-grandchild (Becky and Dan Asleson) due soon. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Tena Rosner of Shaker Heights, OH, brother-in-law, George (Elaine) Bankoff of Northfield, IL, sister-in-law, Eleanor (Frank) Stein of Kokomo, IN, many beloved and devoted nieces and nephews, and countless cherished friends. She was preceded in death by brothers, Dr. Benjamin Rosner and Dr. Arthur Rosner, and a sister, Muriel R. Berkson. Mrs. Bankoff also was blessed with loving and committed caregivers who enabled her to continue her active role with her family and community during the last years of her life. Sylvia Bankoff's quiet but forceful presence filled a room. As the proud matriarch of an ever-growing family, she provided inspiration by her indomitable will and generous heart to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her nieces and nephews - and to her large extended family, which included many, many cherished friends. She had a kind word for everyone, an open and optimistic nature, and was never intimidated by the many challenges she faced. She was a long-standing member of Sinai Temple. Along with her husband, Milton, she founded the Sinai Sunday Evening Forum in 1954. She was a past board member and president of Sinai Temple and a past president of the Sinai Sisterhood. She served on the United Way board for 12 years, was a past president of the LaPorte County Welfare board, and a member of the finance committee of the Unity Foundation. She earned a master's of business administration, U. of Chicago (1979), received the Liberty Bell Award in 1988, League of Women Voters 50 Years of Service Award in 2001, League of Women Voters Extraordinary Service Award in 2001, was awarded the State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2000, the Outstanding Woman in Education, Purdue North Central in 1991, Michigan City Human Rights Commission/News Dispatch Humanitarian Award in 2000, Michigan City/Sinai Forum Appreciation in 2005, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Purdue University in 2007. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Sinai Temple Endowment Fund, the Sinai Sunday Evening Forum Endowment Fund, c/o the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, or to the Dr. Milton and Sylvia Bankoff Memorial Foundation Fund, c/o the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. To view the video tribute, sign the guestbook and leave condolences, please visit carlislefh.com.