SYDNEY MITCHELL

MITCHELL--Sydney,

of West Lebanon, New Hampshire, and formerly of New York City and New Rochelle, NY, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully at home on January 18, 2017, of natural causes. He was 102 and was predeceased by his wife, Cecile Mitchell, who died in 2013, just a month short of their 73rd wedding anniversary. He is survived by his daughter Susan Greenstein (Lewis), daughter Andrea Mitchell (Alan Greenspan), son Arthur Mitchell (Nancy), granddaughter Rachel Mitchell (Matthew Haber), grandson Joshua Mitchell, granddaughter Sara Greenstein, and great-grandchildren Adara Greenstein and Isaac Haber, as well as many devoted nieces and nephews. Mr. Mitchell was one of the founders of Loroman Company, a New York firm that designs and manufactures furniture and housewares. Planning to retire at age sixty-five, when he and his partner sold the business, he accepted an invitation that to the surprise of no one who knew him well kept him involved with Loroman, providing insight and direction, into his eighties. In New Rochelle, he was an active member and past President of Beth El Synagogue, playing a leading role in fund-raising for a new sanctuary that remains the home of the congregation. With Cecile, he also dedicated his energies to an organization for developmentally challenged children and to the growth of what was then the Philharmonic Symphony of Westchester. He was the "Pied Piper" of neighborhood activities, organizing backyard softball games that brought all, boys and girls equally, together for weekend fun. His enthusiasm also led to happy years coaching a Little League team. He loved baseball (the Yankees); his allegiance to the team spanned his lifetime, ranging from a much- prized Babe Ruth home run ball caught in a game he attended in his youth to celebrating his 90th birthday in the stadium. His own sports history began with a challenge. In 1916, he was hospitalized in a polio isolation ward with other children on what is now Roosevelt Island, but regained his ability to walk, and through true grit eventually played basketball in a New York City high school tournament. Perhaps in keeping with his era, he preferred to make light of the visible after effects of the polio, years later finding brilliant workarounds to do the rhumba with Cecile at a holiday resort. Throughout a long, well-lived life, he retained his characteristic charm, generosity, and resilience. A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, at 1:30pm on Friday, January 20.