Jacqueline Z. Pardo

Jacqueline Z. Pardo

July 7, 1931 – August 15, 2025

Jacqueline "Jackie" Z. Pardo, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and community leader, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2025, at the age of 94.

Born on July 7, 1931, in Westbury, New York, Jackie was the daughter of Frank and Carmella Zaino. She grew up with strong roots in the Westbury community, surrounded by the values of family, hard work, and generosity. After graduating from the Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, Jackie began her career at Mademoiselle magazine, where she worked alongside the young Andy Warhol. Soon after, she co-founded a fashion brand, Jac-a-Bob, with her dear friend Barbara Willet. Their designs were sold at Lord & Taylor and Bonwit Teller, a testament to Jackie's talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.

In July 1955, Jackie married Benjamin A. Pardo, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned 70 years. Together they raised three children-Francesca, Benjamin, and Nichole-and built a life grounded in love, generosity, and civic spirit. Jackie was also the driving force behind her husband's professional endeavors, working side by side with him in his pharmacies and helping to guide and grow the family business. She was the welcoming face of the stores, greeting customers, supporting the staff, and making the pharmacies feel like gathering places for the entire community. Their stores were more than businesses; they reflected their relationship, their love for each other, and the values they shared.

Jackie's creativity infused every part of her life. She organized window-painting contests on Post Avenue that raised money for high school scholarships, and she found beauty in unexpected places-famously even making art from sewer pipes-showing others how imagination could bring joy to everyday life. She and Ben championed projects to enhance Westbury, from flower baskets along Post Avenue to lively community fundraisers that mixed good food, wine, and camaraderie.

She was also known for her humor and her love of life's pleasures. Jackie would never turn down a hot fudge sundae and was known to eat yours too. She organized museum trips, was an avid theatre and Broadway lover who never missed a show or movie premiere and became a Netflix series binge watcher. A painter of personalized rocks, she shared them with friends, family, and every doctor she ever met. If you are reading this, you likely have one of her rocks. She delighted in making flower centerpieces for every event at her club and always kept a festive table for the holidays, ensuring beauty and celebration were part of every gathering.

Together, Jackie and Ben helped found the Westbury Chamber of Commerce, supported the creation of the Business Improvement District, and raised funds for countless local organizations, including Westbury Senior Citizens and Westbury Arts. Their efforts embodied the Westbury Arts motto: "Together we create Westbury."

Jackie is survived by her devoted husband of 70 years, Benjamin A. Pardo; her daughters, Francesca H. Pardo and her partner Robert Lane, and Nichole A. Pardo and her husband Greg Bernstein; her son, Benjamin Pardo and his partner David Gresham; her cherished granddaughter, Sofia Bernstein; and her sister, Frances Smith of Westbury.

Jackie valued her family, friends, and neighbors above all else. She will be remembered for her creativity, her generosity, her humor, and her enduring love.

In lieu of flowers please donate to MSK for Sarcoma Research.

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