Sydelle Beiner

Writer, educator, reporter, book and film critic, and many, Sydelle Beiner passed away in her sleep last night. She was ninety-one years old and always preferred the name Syd. Born in Brooklyn, she resided in Delray Beach, Florida, New York City and Sag Harbor, N.Y. Syd taught English and Film History from 1968- 1996 at Bayside High School, Queens, N.Y. To quote Syd, "I gave myself the middle name of Ophelia. That's what happens when you study literature too long. Syd attended Bernard Baruch College (B.B.A. in Statistics); Brooklyn College (B.A. English Literature and American Poetry); Hunter College (M.A. and Ed.D. in English Literature.)
First and foremost, Syd considered herself to be a feminist and was a member of the Radical Feminists from 1969-1972. She is listed in the "Feminists Who Changed America," a published record of well-known activists in the Women's Movement. She was a reporter, and a book and film critic for the Majority Report, a feminist newspaper from 1971 to 1974; and the Editor of the NOW-NY Newsletter (National Organization of Women) from 1972 to 1975. She was Chairman of the NOW-NY Board in 1975. During her time spent in the Hamptons, she volunteered for EEGO (the East End Gay Organization.) She was a member of EEGO and the Stonewall Library Archived in Fort Lauderdale. On April 20, 2009, Syd received a Medal of Honor from the Veteran Feminists of America along with other pioneer and contemporary feminists from Florida.
Because Syd was born on Halloween, she called herself 'Syd the Good' and thought of herself as being a 'good with.' Her witty humor was so quick, it was 'spooky' but her words were honest, which made her irresistible to many. She was famous for wearing her Sheriff's badge during poker games and she loved playing poker with Bella Abzug and friends.
Another of her pastimes was ballroom dancing and country dancing, which she adored. She kept a black book in which she listed all the movies she had seen every year, and she took her Maltese dog, Jake to the movies with her often. Her creative, colorful socks and high-top sneakers, which she wore to formal events, were famous. Most of all, Syd was an original- a one-of-a-kind-with a mind all her own.
We will miss you beautiful, feminist woman. Rest in peace. Details of a Celebration of Life for Syd will follow.