IRMA MILSTEIN

MILSTEIN--Irma Cameron, aged 95, of New York City and Scarsdale, passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones. Irma was a devoted daughter to her parents, the late Harry and Sadelle Cameron. She was a loving wife to the late Paul Milstein to whom she was happily married for 63 years. She was adored by her loving children (Roslyn and Jerry Meyer, Howard and Abby Milstein, Barbara and David Zalaznick, and Edward Milstein and the late Robin Rapoport Milstein), grandchildren (Rebecca Meyer and Jeff Resnik, Michael Meyer, Jamie Meyer, Michael Milstein, Jeffrey and Ali Zalaznick, Samantha Zalaznick, Amy and Tim Sommers, Andrew and Carly Milstein, Lexi and Michael Feldstein, Benjamin Milstein, Elizabeth and Jeremy Orlian) and great- grandchildren (Lucy and Forest Meyer-Resnik, Poppy, Leo, and Zoey Zalaznick, Bella and Sadie Milstein). Irma is also survived by her dear sister Phyllis Edelman and her brother-in-law Jerome Edelman. Irma was born in Brooklyn, where she went to public high school, and earned an undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College, Phi Beta Kappa, where she majored in languages. She was fluent in French and Spanish. She met the love of her life, Paul Milstein, through a family connection, and theirs was a long, great and joyously happy marriage. She was a true partner to Paul in business and at home and they traveled and discovered the world together. Irma valued family above all else and was an involved and devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, niece and cousin. Her extended family returned that love and devotion. For her children, Irma instilled a love, appreciation and respect for each other and the importance of giving and making a difference in others' lives. Irma loved life and lived it with zest. She was a very happy person by nature and she infused that joy and enthusiasm into everything she did. She was quick to laugh and brought sunshine wherever she went. She was brilliant, elegant, capable, and decisive. A lifetime of playing cards and scrabble with friends and family -- and teaching the same across generations -- created special memories of spirited and sophisticated play, fun, and wonderful conversations. Irma was generous and caring, giving bountifully to myriad causes. She was passionate about the American Museum of Natural History where she was a Trustee for many years. She and Paul gave the naming gift for the Hall of Ocean Life among many others at the Museum. She served on the Board of the Jewish Theological Seminary where she and Paul established the Center for Interreligious Understanding and through which she and Paul funded a new High Holy Day prayer book which has been adopted in synagogues nationally. Irma was a Life Member of Hadassah and she endowed the Heart Center at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. She was supportive of Cornell where a number of her children and grandchildren were educated and she and Paul gave the naming gift for Paul Milstein Hall in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. A generous benefactor to Bank Street, Irma was given an honorary degree in return. She was an important donor to the New York Public Library where she and Paul endowed the Milstein Division of US History, Local History, and Genealogy. Irma's family will be forever grateful to Juan Acosta, who gave Irma extraordinary and loving care in her final years. There will be a private funeral for immediate family only.