Meyer Rangell

RANGELL--Meyer, 91, died on Saturday, August 18th in Worcester, Massachusetts. His passage was sudden; he had been in good health. Mr. Rangell was blessed with 33 years of marriage to his cherished first wife, Lea. After her untimely death, he married Evelyn, recently deceased, whom he adored. They too, spent 33 years together in love, dividing their time between the Catskill Mountains and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He was the father of his cherished daughter Anne Richstone and her husband Michael, of Massachusetts, and son Harmon Rangell and his wife Linda of New York. He was the beloved brother of Sydelle Levitan of New York, Dr. Leo Rangell of California, and the late Dr. Nelson Rangell of Colorado. He was adored by his grandchildren Dr. Lee Richstone of New York, Danielle Ayotte and her husband David, of Massachusetts and was the beloved great-grandfather of Ryan, Rachel and Benjamin Ayotte. He is also survived by grandchildren Melissa, Bradley, Nathaniel, Alison, Eric, Gina and Rosa, and great-grandchildren Jeremy and Alex. His tremendous intellect, generosity, and love touched all who knew him. Mr. Rangell was born in New York City in 1915 and educated at the City College of New York and the University of Chicago. Thereafter, he became a social worker in New York City and later founded the Midtown Typewriter Company. Mr. Rangell had a lifelong commitment to helping the underprivileged and oppressed and was a dedicated pacifist. His social activism included pioneer work in the field of antidrug abuse, serving as a Member of the Board of Trustees at Daytop Village. He spoke out forcefully against poverty, racism and injustice through innumerable essays, and his letters were published frequently in the New York Times. In 2004, his writings were published in a 697 page compilation entitled, Speaking Out: Toward an Ethic of Personal Integrity and Citizen Responsibility in a Democratic Society. A private funeral service for his close family and friends will take place on Tuesday, August 21st, at the Mount Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York.