Sonya Madoff

1930 - 2022

Sonya Madoff June 23, 1930 - June 3, 2022 Sonya Madoff, adored wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on June 3, 2022 in Stamford, CT at the age of 91. Sonya, nicknamed "Sweetie" in her childhood, was born in the Bronx and was raised in a happy home by her doting parents, Joe and Bessie Rubenstein. She loved dance lessons, making paper dolls, reading books, and visiting the Bronx Zoo with her father on weekends. She became close friends with two sisters in the building, Muriel and Charlotte, and the trio enjoyed many fun times together including designing and decorating their dollhouse and playing jacks on the front stoop. After graduating early from high school at the age of 16, Sonya enrolled at City College where she worked diligently and earned her teaching degree. One day, she reached for a shelved course book in the local library and discovered another hand reaching for the same title. That hand belonged to her future husband, the love of her life, Jeff Madoff. After college, Sonya began her teaching career in the Bronx. Soon, she and Jeff were married and began their wonderful 67 years together. She continued teaching in Cleveland where Jeff earned his PhD in Psychology. When he was drafted into the US Army in 1953, they moved to Georgia where she continued teaching at a local elementary school. After Jeff's army service, they moved north again to Middletown, CT, where Jeff was hired as a psychologist at Connecticut Valley Hospital and Sonya could continue her teaching. Soon enough, they bought a home and their beloved son, Alec, was born. They settled into a lovely life together, closer to grandparents and other family members. Sonya excelled at traditional homemaking skills: cooking, baking, needlework, decorating, and orchestrating amazing themed birthday parties for her young son. She was known especially for her warmth as a hostess and for her beautiful holiday tables. Every Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, and Passover, she and Jeff would invite family and friends to join them for elegantly served feasts that were beyond compare. Her specialties included matzo ball soup, potato kugel, brisket, roast turkey, apple pie, and countless baked treats. Weekday meals were always homemade and delectable. In his entire K-12 career, Alec never once stood in the cafeteria lunch line. Instead, even in high school, he would unwrap a hand-packed, nutritious, delicious lunch with a sweet handwritten note from his mom. A bit embarrassing, but the envy of all. Simultaneously, Sonya remained a dedicated teacher, working late into the night grading student work and preparing lessons for the next day. She taught Alec the importance of dedication, curiosity, and integrity. All through her life, and even more so during her retirement years, Sonya made volunteering and helping others a priority. She wheeled the magazine cart at Middlesex Hospital, and crocheted hundreds of animal finger puppets for children in the pediatric wing. She led the Board of Directors at St. Lukes Residential Apartments (where her mother had lived later in life), planning events and providing refreshments. She volunteered at the Russell Library and at the Middletown Historical Society. In Vero Beach, Florida, (where she and Jeff spent several winters) she volunteered as a tour guide at the Environmental Learning Center, and together, they loved operating the red and white popcorn cart at their condo association's weekly Movie Night. Her dedication to serving those less fortunate stayed with her for her whole life. One of Sonya's greatest gifts was the ability to express love to others with the most considered, consistent, and thoughtful manner. Whether it was the amusing, detailed letters that she sent Alec every single week he was away at college; the thoughtfully numbered hand-wrapped gifts she prepared for her granddaughter Isabelle to open as a child on the way home from long road trips (one for each half hour of the drive); or the endless troves of spices and ingredients she carefully gathered and packed for summer weeks in Maine, meticulously planned so that she could prepare all the family recipes we looked forward to each year, she expressed her love for others through acts of kindness and giving. She was selfless to a degree that was rare and profound. Sonya was loved dearly by her husband Jeff, who always serenaded her with "I've Got a Crush on You, Sweetie Pie." After retirement, they learned ballroom dancing together and danced at any opportunity, of course, exclusively with each other. She was adored by Alec, his wife Jeannine, and their daughter Isabelle, who feel so lucky to have basked in Sonya's generosity, kindness and sweet spirit for as long as they did. Having never wasted a single second of a single day, Sonya and her unflagging efforts to make the world a better place help us reflect on what more we can do for those we love and those in need of a hand. Sonya will be loved forever by all whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to any of the following organizations that were important to Sonya and Jeff: The Community Foundation of Middlesex County re: The Sonya and Jeff Madoff Fund, 49 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 The New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St, New Britain, CT 06052 Middlesex Hospital, Middlesex Health, Office of Philanthropy, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457