Photo courtesy of Byles Memorial Home - New London
New London, Connecticut
Dec 22, 1936 – Feb 4, 2021 (Age 84)
NEW LONDON - Gabriella Pintus Schlesinger died on February 4 at the age of 84.
Gaby was born on December 22, 1936 in Haifa, now Israel but then the British Mandate of
Palestine. She was the daughter of Else Berl Pintus and Hans Richard Pintus who had fled
Germany as refugees during World War II and who later made their way to the United States.
She arrived in Brighton, Massachusetts at the age of two and always considered herself a child
of Boston. She graduated from Girls Latin School and Summa Cum Laude from Radcliffe College.
Shortly before graduation she met Ernest Schlesinger, to whom she was married for nearly 50
years until his death in 2008.
Together they moved to Connecticut. While a graduate student at Yale, where she received her
Ph.D. in English Literature, she had her two children.
Settling in New London in 1962, she embraced her new community. Her passions were
progressive politics, bettering racial relations, improving interfaith relations, and strengthening
education; she maintained a deep optimism and belief in the potential of the country she
emigrated to and adopted.
As well as co-founding the New London School Volunteers, she served on the boards of such
organizations as the League of Women Voters, the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut,
and the Alumnae/i Network for Harvard Women (ANHW), which she helped create.
Whether she was volunteering or teaching, she was most devoted to her cause. Everywhere
she taught, latterly at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point Campus, her efforts revolved
around the totality of her students, She cared about the details of their lives as though they
were family and assisted many who had thought they could never finish to graduate.
In addition to these passions, she loved eating desserts, especially chocolate; visiting family and
friends; and celebrating birthdays as if they were major holidays.
She will be greatly missed by her son David and daughter-in-law Rachel, her daughter Eva and
partner Dave, and several grand-animals as well as her Beth El congregation, numerous friends,
and others whose lives she touched.
Private funeral services were held with burial in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA. Byles
Memorial Home, New London is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations
in her name may be made to the Alumnae/i Network for Harvard Women, the Jewish
Federation of Eastern Connecticut, or UNICEF. Please visit www.Byles.com to sign the guest
book or to share memory.
I have lost a very dear and unconditional friend, colleague and mentor who was there for me during very important times in my life, such as graduating with my PhD, welcoming our children to the world, landing a job at Conn, and earning tenure. I will miss our consistent correspondences, supporting exchanges, coffees and meals.
Rest in power, Beloved Friend!
Monika Lopez-Anuarbe
March 07, 2021 | Guilford, CT | Friend
We knew Gaby Schlesinger when Phil was a colleague of her husband Ernest on the
faculty of Connecticut College. We became good friends with Gaby, a warm, affectionate person, with wide friendships, active as a volunteer for diverse community organizations. After we left Connecticut for Kenyon College in Gambier, we kept in close touch, mourning Ernie’s death, exchanging
personal news. We were deeply saddened by Gaby’s death on February
4 of this year. We had not known...
Philip and Sheila Jordan
February 23, 2021 | Chebeague Island, ME | Family
So deeply saddened to read of Gabby's passing. I first met Gabby and Ernie on a memorable trip to Israel and so many other joyful times at many and different community events. May her memory forever be a blessing for a life so meaningfully and so well lived. My heartfelt condolences to David, Eva and family. I will deeply miss Gabby and the warmth I felt whenever we met.
Irene Schienberg
February 14, 2021 | Friend
Eva & David, Please accept my husband Peter's and my condolences on the passing of your mother. For many years, when we lived in SE CT (until 2005), Gaby and I enjoyed our times in the League. I also connected with her as a GLS alumna and Peter as a Harvard alumnus. We now live on Cape Cod.
Elaine & Peter Bono
February 13, 2021 | Yarmouth Port, MA | Friend
Gaby and my mother, Anne, were lifelong friends, truly inseparable. I loved hearing all the stories about their adventures growing up and about Gaby's family later in life. May her memory be for a blessing!
Peter Mullin, Leslie Delserone, with Connor and Liam Mullin and for the rest of the Mullin family.
Peter Mullin
February 12, 2021 | Lincoln, NE | Friend
In loving spiritual memory from her dear friend, Annesy - they shared so much for so long. Peace: Mullin Family
CHARLES MULLIN
February 12, 2021 | BONITA SPRINGS, FL
Gabby was a kind and thoughtful neighbor to my parents, Joyce and Keith Christianson on Grenada Terrace . She and Ernie were especially helpful when my mom died. I read Joan Didion's book ,The Year of Magical Thinking, at her suggestion ; and it helped. When my dad moved to Atria, Gabby kept in touch. She was a good person and will be missed. -- Susie Christianson Ouellette
Susan Ouellette
February 11, 2021 | Weatogue, CT | Neighbor
Remembered By
Sheila Wertheimer
February 08, 2021 | Old Lyme, CT | Friend
Gaby was a wonderful colleague and friend at UConn-Avery Point. She generously welcomed me to the campus when I arrived in CT in 2005, and was always excited to talk about books we'd both read. She was a beloved professor to many of our students, who also remember her fondly.
I always appreciated Gaby's big smile and warm personality. She will be sorely missed.
Pamela Bedore
February 08, 2021 | Friend
