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SELMA LASKIN Obituary
Relatives and friends are invited to Graveside Services Thurs. beginning 1:30 P.M. at Shalom Memorial Park, Lower Moreland Twp., PA. Shiva will be observed at the home of Dr. David and Carol Laskin. Minyan services will be Thurs. and Sat. evenings at 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Caring Community, c/o Cong. M'kor Shalom, 850 Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.
PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS, Inc., Cherry Hill, NJ
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Memories and Condolences
for SELMA LASKIN
Rebecca Bonanno Mocciaro
May 16, 2022
As I end my legal career, I must thank Mrs. Laskin for the support and challenges she gave to all of us in her classes. She definitely made me a better reader and writer. She was demanding, but kind.
Marsha Rosenzweig Pincus
May 19, 2014
Mrs. Laskin was my 12 grade AP English teacher in 1970. She was the most memorable and important teacher in my high school career. Not only did she teach the classics, but she taught us how to write and think critically about literature. She also assigned controversial and contemporary authors such as James Baldwin and Norman Mailer. No one else was teaching those authors at that time and it took courage and it showed the respect she had for her students. It wasn't until I became an English teacher myself ( for 35 years in Philadelphia ) that I realized how much Selma Laskin had influenced my life. I can only hope that I was half the teacher as she.
July 7, 2013
My sincere condolences to Mrs. Laskin's family. She was my English teacher at GWHS in 1968 and '69.. Her classes were enjoyable, stimulating and inspired my imagination. Although she was tolerant of a certain degree of teen antics, she also made us work hard and seemed effortlessly to command the classroom. She contributed a lot to many people's lives, and I feel privileged to be among them.
Lynn Moskowitz Michaelson
Pamm Kerr
June 9, 2013
David - Mom and I have been talking about Aunt Sel since we heard the news. I only just, finally, managed to connect to this site. Please know that you and she are in our thoughts. She is a part of the fabric of my life and will be remembered. We'd love if you and Carol could come up to visit with us and Chris sometime soon. For now, I'm honoring your mom's passing by thinking of her and of Uncle Len as I remember them and sharing memories with Mom. Our love to you.
Michael Erlich
June 5, 2013
Mrs. Laskin was my eleventh grade English teacher at Washington High. She left the class mid-year (in 1977, I believe) to pursue her interest in counseling. Perhaps more than anyone else I encountered in those years, she thought systematically about what was needed to improve the performance of each of her students. To that end, she required us to write under pressure -- then categoried and tabulated every grammatical or other error we had made while doing so, and tracked how well we were able to eliminate them over time. Compared to many others in the profession, who just go through the motions, Mrs. Laskin was a visionary. Her impact will long survive her.
Robin Richman MD
June 5, 2013
Mrs Laskin, who subsequently went on to become Dr Laskin, was my English teacher in 10th and 12th grade at GWHS. She was an inspiration and created a love of reading that is with me today. She was kind, compassionate and always there for her students. Her support and guidance helped me become who I am today May her memory be a blessing.
Robin Richman MD
June 1, 2013
I had Mrs Laskin for 2 years at GWHS
She was my all time favorite teacher and taught me that nothing that I really desired and worked for was unattainable
She had the most influence in my life's journey
Thank you Selma and may you rest in peace
Meredith Dalton
May 31, 2013
Email me : [email protected]
[email protected]
Barry Gordon
May 26, 2013
My deepest condolences to her children, and to her whole family. Mrs. Laskin was a treasure!
Mrs. Laskin (how could I call her anything else!) was one of my most influential teachers in high school English (I'm George Washington High School, Class of '68). She was not just inspiring, and open to runs of imagination, but she was also tolerant of my lack of sophistication and my awkwardness. In those respects, she's been a role model for the style of teaching I try to do myself.
I am glad I was able to tell her some of this, after we reconnected in the late 1990's.
She'll be sorely missed.
Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
Jill Esterlitz Sheer
May 24, 2013
One of my most precious memories of high school was being in Mrs. Laskin's english class. She was a wonderful teacher and role model. Thirty years after I graduated from Washington, Mrs. Laskin helped to edit my daughter's essay for entrance into law school. She was a great influence on me and I always had a great deal of respect for her.
diane gallaher
May 23, 2013
Dr Laskin,
So sorry to hear of your mother's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Iris Pincus
May 23, 2013
Carol and David, So sorry to hear about your loss. The obituary in this morning's Inquirer was a lovely tribute.
Suzanne Herst
May 23, 2013
David and family
So sorry for your loss. Your mother was wonderful person! You are in my thoughts.
Marcia Stein
May 23, 2013
I'm so sorry for your loss.
It's admirable that she earned her PhD and continued to guide students. I knew her prior to that point.
Mrs. Laskin was my teacher in 10th and 12th grades. She was demanded excellence, talked about college and prepared us well for our futures. She was the best teacher I've ever had and I've thought about her often over the years and am grateful to have been her student.
Barbara Cutler
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Laskin (as I called her) was by far, in my opinion, the most wonderful teacher! We have managed to stay in touch throughout the years, and our relationship has always been very special to me. Her remarkable skills and attention to detail still inspire me.
Eileen Maunus
May 22, 2013
My deepest condolences to the family of one of the best teachers I was fortunate enough to have had at George Washington. To this day I still quote Mrs. Laskin as I write and edit judicial opinions. It was because of her high expectations that so many of us succeeded in college and our chosen careers. She will live on in those she influenced and inspired. (class of 1976)
Gail Trager
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Laskin was unquestionably one of the best teachers ever to grace a classroom, and I had the privilege of being her student my senior year at GWHS (class of 1969) . She was tough but fair, and I will thank her everyday for her unwavering emphasis on the importance of having a reasonably extensive vocabulary.
Because in part of her tenacity, I graduated with honors from Temple University, confidently writing numerous papers and typically receiving "A"s. As a real estate salesperson I never flinched when required to write and present many different marketing plans, most of which were used as prototypes going forward.
I am certain that all of her students benefited in some way from her guidance, and we will all be forever touched by having known her.
RIP most wonderful educator. You made this world a better place.
Gail Trager
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Laskin was unquestionably one of the best teachers ever to grace a classroom, and I had the privilege of being her student my senior year at GWHS (class of 1969) . She was tough but fair, and I will thank her everyday for her unwavering emphasis on the importance of having a reasonably extensive vocabulary.
Because in part of her tenacity, I graduated with honors from Temple University, confidently writing numerous papers and typically receiving "A"s. As a real estate salesperson I never flinched when required to write and present many different marketing plans, most of which were used as prototypes going forward.
I am certain that all of her students benefited in some way from her guidance, and we will all be forever touched by having known her.
RIP most wonderful educator. You made this world a better place.
Brian Hunn
May 22, 2013
Dr. Laskin was a friend of my aunt who also taught English at George Washington in the 1960s. When my mother died during my senior year at GWHS, my aunt asked Dr. Laskin to check in on me. She was a very kind and caring person.
Rebeccca Bonanno (Mocciaro)
May 22, 2013
Mrs. Laskin (that's what we called her when she was my senior year AP English teacher in 1969-1970 at GWHS) expected each student to do his or her very best. I know she encouraged me with my writing and analytical skills--helped me get through demanding college and law school curricula. I have to admit she scared me too, but she was a kind, loving teacher who I shall never forget. RIP.
Mitch Kline
May 22, 2013
Without question, Mrs. Laskin was the best teacher I had a George Washington. I was so fortunate to have Mrs. Laskin as my 11th grade English teacher. I will never forget the vocab quizzes we had every Friday in order to prepare us for the SAT's. A wonderful teacher and a wonderful woman. GWHS Class of 1969
Barbara Zafran Zeiger
May 22, 2013
Anyone who had the privilege of having then Mrs. Laskin for a teacher (I had her twice, tenth and twelfth grades) came away a better writer and a better person. Her weekly vocab and spelling tests, her detailed comments — always in red pen — her appreciation for god-given talent and her willingness to sculpt it into something viable were gifts she gave all of us lucky enough to receive her rigorous lessons. So many of my GWHS memories are Mrs. Laskin-centered, and not just because of my love of writing. I remember the B+ I somehow managed to achieve on my Old Man and the Sea paper after reading only the Cliff Notes, and the D I earned on my Vanity Fair test. I like to think she knew what was going on in both instances. I remember her "stream of conscious" assignments (LOVED them). I remember reading Ionesco's Bald Soprano in class and her indulging my literally falling off my chair laughing at the similarity to my own family dinner conversations. She exposed me to A Separate Peace and Chaucer (great, great presents) and to the talents of my classmates, always a calm, hands-folded, holding a paper presence in the room. Years later, I sent her a story I'd written, and while I didn't want to accept her assessment ("OK, you had your catharsis. Now go write something good"), I respected her judgment and eventually did much more writing, forging a career based on her many valuable teachings. I have missed her since I graduated in 1969 and now I'll have a whole new wave of saying good bye. My sympathies to her family and the many students whose lives she so lovingly, kindly, and knowledgeably touched.
Ellen Poriles Weiler
May 22, 2013
My condolences to the family. As a former student, I can tell you she had a profound influence on my writing. She was tough as nails, and one of the few who really knew her subject.
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