Obituary of Marilyn Resnik

COLONIE Marilyn Resnik, age 86, died peacefully on December 28, 2016, at St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born on November 28, 1930, and raised in the Bronx, NY, Marilyn was the daughter of Philip and Lily Resnik. A graduate of Queens College, she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Library Science at C.W. Post University in Old Westbury, Long Island. After raising a family and enjoying a long and rewarding career as an elementary school librarian in Levittown, NY she retired to Albany. A lifelong political activist and passionate progressive, she believed that peace, social justice, and equal opportunity were worth fighting for and she did just that. She protested the Vietnam and Iraq wars, marched for civil rights and served as a union representative. After retiring in her 60s, she continued to keep busy volunteering for progressive causes. Her dedication to liberal issues instilled in her children and grandchildren a sense of moral obligation to live life ethically, to recognize injustice in the world and to always strive to make a difference. Marilyn took great pride and joy in her three children and six grandchildren. An enthusiastic and adventurous traveler with seemingly limitless energy, she spent much of her later years chasing after grandchildren and taking them on adventures in the US and abroad. She was an avid reader and gardener who loved spending evenings at the theater and attending concerts with her family and friends. Her colorful sense of humor at times made her family blush with her frankness and willingness to say what was on her mind; far more often though, she made them laugh along with her at things she had said, done, or forgotten in a joyous way that was so uniquely her own.   Despite cognitive decline in the last few years of her life she maintained her warmth and kindness to the end. She is survived by daughter Tina DeAnna and son-in-law Gene DeAnna, daughter Amy Rodstein-Gilbert, son Barry Rodstein and daughter-in-law Yoshie Yamagishi; sister, Barbara (Bobbie) Stern and brother Herb Resnik; grandchildren, John Paul, Lauren, Peter, Nick, Luke and Kyle; nephew Matt Stern and close family friend Dona Wildove. Memorial contributions can be made to the ACLU (action.aclu.org)‎ or Emily’s List (emilyslist.org) 1800 M Street NW, Suite 375N, Washington, DC 20036