Sonya Barbara Boswell

Sonya Barbara Siskin was born to her parents Louis and Jeanne Siskin on November 23, 1930 in Brooklyn New York. Her parents came to this country from Jewish families escaping the turmoil of the Russian Revolution in 1917. She was the Siskin's first born and was given a sister 10 years later, Judy. Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1920's was not easy and her family, like so many families, fell victim to the challenges inflicted by the Great Depression. She told the stories of growing up as a tomboy and member of a girl gang. Early on, she took grief from no one and often told her family and friends how she once lifted a boy hassling her and hung him up on a hook. She had aspirations of becoming a dancer and while she did not pursue this professionally, she remained a great dancer most of her life. Instead, she met and married the son of their family physician, William Cantor, when she was but 19 and did not complete her college education. Together they started a farm in Connecticut, and she eventually gave birth to two sons, David and William (Billy). William and Sonya divorced, and Sonya later married and divorced twice more but had no other children. Being divorced in the 1960's and left to be the primary provider for her two children, Sonya sought and became certified and licensed as Medical Technician in Connecticut with special training in serology and eventually published research findings during her medical tech career. She worked long hours and provided for her sons. Her little family lived in small farming town in Connecticut until her sons went off to college. During this time Sonya developed and exhibited many talents with her artistic skills and exhibited her art in a number of venues and won awards. Art was part of life since she was a young girl. Her art often centered around portraits of fictitious characters as she knew that the eyes and the lines within the face often told the story of the soul and lifetime of the individual. The often "other" theme of her artwork often portrayed a single lonely and often twisted tree amidst the backgrounds of storms and twilight. So much this likely reflected her own inner thoughts of feeling alone to grow and survive despite both internal and external "storms" that plagued life and despite all this, there always a certain beauty amidst the darkness shrouding such work. Her artwork was as much a gift to others as it was a therapeutic exercise for herself. Eventually she came to work with her sons' side by side in hospitals and health clinics, first as an EEG Tech and later as the office manager for her older son. She continued to work with her older son as she developed his practice across two states and spanning over 30 years. Largely due to her sacrifices and efforts, this practice has grown to nearly 40 employees as a unique integrated multidisciplinary clinic providing services largely for now thousands children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders over the years.
Sonya is perhaps best remembered for being a very strong woman in endurance and spirit, often very outspoken about her world views of systems and people, but above all her accomplishments, she treasured her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her oldest son, Dr. David Cantor, her sister, Judy Montague, grandchildren, David Strickland Cantor, Steven Cantor, and Mitzi Cantor as well her great grandchildren Reese and Margo Cantor. Her youngest son, Billy succumbed to cancer in 2021. In recent years, our cousin Dr. Michael Rubin and his wife became an important part of her life.
To her final day, Sonya cared deeply for family and friends and on a daily basis and she constantly sought to making sure they were safe and well even with her dying breaths. She will be forever missed.
Funeral services will be January 11, 2023 at Crowell Brothers Funeral home located at 5051 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 at 6 pm followed by a repast reception to be announced at the service. For those unable to attend personally but wishing to participate via zoom meeting, please inquire the link at cantord@mindmotioncenters.com.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donations on her behalf to further the services for children with neurodevelopmental disorders can do so at www.innovativehealthfoundation.org.
On-line condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements entrusted to Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. 770-448-5757.
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