Naomi Kotkin

Rye Brook - September 17, 1937 - February 18, 2025

With a heavy heart we share the news of the passing of Naomi Deborah Sacks Kotkin who died suddenly in her sleep on February 18, 2025. Naomi was the loving wife to the late Morton I. Kotkin, devoted mother to Rebecca, Lauren and Dina (Feivelson) and mother-in-law to Don (Steinberg), Jon (Packer) and Neal Feivelson. She was the cherished grandmother to Deborah (Steinberg) and her husband, Will (Mounfield), Leah (Frydman) and her husband, Josh (Frydman), and Ted (Steinberg), and to Sonya and Dahlia Feivelson. She was the besotted great-grandmother to Myles Frydman and step-great-grandmother to Zander & Alaura Packer. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She will be dearly missed by her brother, Allan (Sally) Sacks and her warm and loving extended family.

Naomi was born in the Bronx and proudly graduated from Elizabeth Barret Browning Middle School, Hunter College High School, and City College of NY. She taught elementary school, special ed and spent the last 30+ years of her career as a preschool teacher. She delighted in the relationships she built with the children and loved sharing stories of their growth and development. She brought her love of teaching and learning to her family and her friends, encouraging others to join her for classes and lectures and learning new skills throughout her life. Although she was not raised with digital technology, during the pandemic she mastered Zoom, texting, Facetime, and email so she could remain in touch with her family and community. She also enjoyed online shopping, even though she would still phone to make the final sale.

Naomi was a caring and devoted friend to so many. She was fiercely loyal and social, always the first to arrive and the last to leave a party. She maintained relationships she had since being a counselor at summer camp, high school and college, keeping friendships alive through phone calls, visits, cards and letters. An active member of Westchester Jewish Center for 60 years, Naomi was always excited to attend a synagogue program - social and/or educational. WJC was an important aspect of her identity and she treasured the community there throughout so many of her life cycle events. Deeply connected to her Jewish values and traditions, Naomi could always find a Jewish song to fit any occasion - or any lyric.

Funeral services will be held at Westchester Jewish Center on Thursday, February 20 at 11am with a burial at Sharon Gardens. Shiva will be observed at Westchester Jewish Center on Thursday until 9pm, at the Atria Rye Brook on Friday, February 21 beginning at 10am until 4pm and on Sunday, February 23 from 10am until 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Naomi's memory to Westchester Jewish Center, Hadassah or any other charitable organization.