Edith HERBERT

HERBERT - Edith passed away on August 23 at the age of 96. She was a 58-year resident of Valley Stream's Green Acres, now known as Millbrook. She was wheelchair-bound, suffering from advanced dementia after her third seizure in July 2011. A two-time cancer survivor (1974 and 2007) she was still living in her home with round-the-clock medical care. She is survived by her long-time life partner of 30 years, Kenyon Silvey, who was lovingly devoted to her throughout her journey, her older son Jonathan, an artist living in Brooklyn, and her niece Sue Shehan from Georgetown, DE. Her brother Gilbert Stahl, and her younger son Roger had pre-deceased her. Edith Herbert graduated from Hunter College with a BS in 1938 and earned a MS from Teachers College in 1939. She was a kindergarten teacher for 30 years - 14 years in Scarsdale and 16 years at the Morris Avenue School in Rockville Centre. She was a member of many peace organizaions both on Long Island and nationally including PACA, South Shore Citizens for Survival, Five Towns Forum and ARISE. Edith was a professional-level Folk Dancer who both taught and performed, and she had studied with Martha Graham. Additionally, she was for many years a member of the Nassau Hiking and Outdoor Club and a supporter of several classical music groups on Long Island. She has donated her body to Mt. Sinai Hospital Medical School, as did her mother in 1980. There will be a celebration of her life on a date to be determined.