HELGA M. WALDMAN

Helga M. Waldman, who taught the joy of creative movement to generations of children in Rockland County, died Wednesday December 14 in Saint Petersburg, FL, where she and Herman, her husband of 51 years, spent their retirement. She was 78. A native of Berlin, Germany, who lost her father and her homeland during the holocaust, Helga fought breast cancer with the same irrepressible determination that allowed her to overcome so many other hardships. In the end, cancer was the only thing that turned out to be stronger than she was. Born on August 11, 1927 to Hedwig and Curt Bejach, MD, she was sent to England by her father on the last Kindertransport one day before her 12th birthday. After World War II, Helga immigrated to New York where she settled with relatives and studied to become a dance teacher. Later, she completed a Bachelor's Degree in dance education and a Master's degree in Recreation Therapy. She married Herman Waldman in 1954. They had two children and moved to Pearl River in 1962. Helga was a founding member, teacher and coordinator of the dance department at the Rockland Center for the Arts in West Nyack for 25 years. She and a group of dear friends also formed the Potpourri Dancers and performed frequently throughout the county. Helga also performed in many community theater and summer stock productions. She continued dancing and teaching dance/exercise to senior citizens after moving to Florida in 1988. In addition to her husband, Helga is survived by two daughters and sons-inlaw, Hilary Waldman and Joe O'Brien, of Andover, CT; Beverly and Harlan Rich, of Providence, R.I., six beloved grandchildren; Maxwell, Samantha, Ilan and Cole Rich, and Jill and Liam O'Brien. Funeral is Friday in Florida. Memorial contributions to the Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, FL or a charity of the donor's choice.