CYNTHIA ZIRINSKY

ZIRINSKY--Cynthia. A leading mental health advocate and philanthropist based in New York City, died May 28, in her Manhattan home. She was 95 years old. Aware of a growing need in 1958 for mental health care in New York City, Cynthia Zirinsky, her late husband Richard W. Zirinsky, a real estate owner and developer who died in 2002, and cousin Lawrence Zirinsky, built Gracie Square Hospital on Manhattan's Upper East Side. For more than 30 years Zirinsky was very active with the hospital, including as vice president and director of development and planning, as well as president of the board of directors. In 1992 Gracie Square Hospital became a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and Zirinsky continued as a board member. In the 1960's Zirinsky also became involved in the Mental Health Association of New York City. The association, which provided community mental health programs throughout the city, along with advocacy, education and policy, had been struggling at the time. Today MHA-NYC has been transformed into Vibrant Emotional Health, a national leader in mental health care, including as the administrator of the Suicide Prevention Hotline and 988. Zirinsky is an emeritus member of Vibrant's Board. Throughout her life Zirinsky focused her philanthropy and community service on mental health. She once served as president of the Queens County Mental Health Society, she was a chair of the New York State Legislative Council on Mental Health Chair, and she served as a mental health advisor to New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Zirinsky's philanthropic gifts have also gone to the Galynker Center for Bipolar Disorder, the Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Hospital, the Head and Neck Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, and the Parkinson's Foundation. Among the awards she has received was a tribute for her lifetime dedication to mental health from the MHA-NYC in 2017. Zirinsky was also the first recipient of LiLY's Lifelong Hero Award in 2019, given to those who are a "lifeforce past the age of 85." She had been overseeing the family real estate business since her husband's death. Cynthia Finkelstein was born on November 26, 1928, in Brooklyn, NY, to Jacob and Anna Finkelstein. Her older sister Natalie died in 2018. Zirinsky is a graduate of Brooklyn's James Madison High School. In 1948 she married Richard William Zirinsky. Zirinsky had three children, Susan, Barbara, who died in 1999, and Richard Jr., who died in 2018. In addition to her daughter Susan, who is married to Joe Peyronnin, Zirinsky is also survived by granddaughter Cynthia Eckes, her husband Craig Eckes, and their son, Brett. Also, granddaughter Zoe Peyronnin-Morgan, her husband Cameron Morgan, and their daughter Evie. Zoe is the daughter of Susan and Joe Peyronnin. Jay Luber became a beloved member, like a son, of the extended Zirinsky family. In 1985 The New York Times featured Cynthia Zirinsky in an article entitled, "Making Her Mark At 'Ma-Pa' Hospital." Zirinsky spoke about Gracie Square Hospital, saying, "It literally became an extension of our family." She added, "It seemed to me that if I was going to make a mark in the world, I would do it here." A funeral service will be held at 10am, Friday, May 31, at Temple Emanu-El, at Fifth Avenue at 65th Street, in Manhattan. It will be followed by a private burial. The family will be receiving Friday afternoon at 4pm at 100 UN Plaza, Manhattan. In lieu of flowers, and baskets, the family would appreciate donations in Cynthia Zirinsky's name to Gracie Square Hospital: Attn: Jennifer M. Frost, Development & Communications Officer, 420 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021.