The New York Times - USA (2020-12-07)

THE NEW YORK TIMES OBITUARIESMONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 N D7

MOSCOW — Irina A. Antonova,
a commanding art historian who
led the Pushkin State Museum of
Fine Arts in Moscow for more
than a half-century, used it to
bring outside culture to isolated
Soviet citizens and turned it into a
major cultural institution, died on
Nov. 30 in that city. She was 98.
The cause was heart failure
complicated by a coronavirus in-
fection, the museum said.
Ms. Antonova steered the mu-
seum through the rigid and isola-
tionist cultural policies of the Sovi-
et Union and into the period fol-
lowing the fall of Communism. In
recent years she expanded the
museum to adjacent buildings —
sometimes angering their tenants

— to accommodate mushrooming
exhibitions.
From early on, Ms. Antonova
used her inexhaustible energy to
build connections with the world’s
leading museums. In 1974, she
brought the Mona Lisa from the
Louvre in Paris. Hundreds of
thousands of people lined up to
see it, the only queues the Soviet
government was proud of at the
time. Many knew that with the
country’s borders shut, it might be
the sole opportunity to see that fa-
mous Leonardo da Vinci work
during their lifetimes.
She further opened the world to
the Soviet people with an exhibi-
tion of 100 paintings from the Met-
ropolitan Museum of Art in New
York and the exhibition “Treas-
ures of Tutankhamen.”
On Ms. Antonova’s watch, the
Pushkin museum also exhibited
abstract and avant-garde works
by Russian and international art-
ists. That was generally unimag-
inable in a country where an unof-
ficial art show was once broken up

with the help of a bulldozer, and whose leader at the time, Nikita S. Khrushchev, while visiting an exhibition of new Soviet art in 1962, shouted that some abstract paintings were made with a “donkey’s tail” and that even his grandson could do better. In 1981, the museum hosted “Moscow-Paris, 1900-1930,” a landmark exhibition that mixed works by French artists like Ma- tisse and Picasso with highlights of the Russian avant-garde of the time, including works by Chagall, Malevich and Kandinsky. The exhibition showed how well Russian artists fit in with Western Euro- pean trends, and how they had sometimes helped form those trends. Thanks to her Bolshevik father, Ms. Antonova had a pedigree that made it easier for her to negotiate with Soviet cultural bureaucrats. Using her charm and wit, she was able to transform what was still largely a collection of plaster casts of famous statues into a compre- hensive museum worthy of a major capital. “We were allowed to do things that were never allowed in other places,” Ms. Antonova said in a documentary film dedicated to the museum’s 100th anniversary. “It was very easy to ban. They didn’t even have to do much, while we were still allowed to do some- thing.” After the collapse of the Soviet Union, she continued her quest of bringing Russia closer to the outside world with exhibitions of works by Joseph Beuys and Al- berto Giacometti, among others. She also moved to uncover art treasures that had been seized by the Soviet Army in Germany during World War II and hidden in the museum’s depositaries. Critics faulted her for moving slowly and even for failing to acknowledge their existence. But Ms. Antonova argued that it would have been im- possible to act during the Soviet period. In a message of condolence upon her death, President Vladi- mir V. Putin of Russia said Ms. Antonova deserved professional and public acclaim, having “served Russian culture with in- spiration” as a “devoted expert, enthusiast and educator.”

Irina Aleksandrovna Antonova was born in Moscow on March 20,

Her father, Aleksandr A.
Antonov, was an electrician who
became the head of a research in-
stitute; her mother, Ida M. Heifits,
worked in a printing house.
Irina moved with her family to
Germany in 1929 when her father

was sent to work at the Soviet Em- bassy. She lived there for four years, learning German and ac- quiring a taste for European culture. During the war, she trained as a nurse and cared for Soviet pilots, many of them severely injured, in Moscow hospitals.

She graduated from Moscow State University and was sent to work at the Pushkin museum shortly before the war ended. The museum was founded in 1912 by wealthy merchants; when she ar- rived, the building had no heating, and its glass roof had collapsed during bombings. Olga L. Sviblova, a friend and director of the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow, said in an in- terview that Ms. Antonova had brought to the museum “a deep conviction that culture and art have no borders: temporary, geo- graphical, national.” “She defended these convic- tions under Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, and during the 30 years that she lived and worked in new Russia,” Ms. Svi- blova added. In 1961, Ms. Antonova became the first woman appointed director of the museum. She held that post until 2013, when she was named its president and gave up

day-to-day administration to con- centrate on strategic develop- ment. Her overall tenure in vari- ous roles spanned 75 years. During the Soviet era, Ms. Antonova had been lucky to be allowed to travel, but she said that she sometimes cried when leav- ing a culturally rich Italian city, knowing that it might be her last time there. In those years, together with the acclaimed Soviet pianist Svia- toslav Richter, Ms. Antonova began hosting a series of concerts in- side the museum’s expansive halls every December. The concerts, called December Evenings, remain some of the most sought- after performances in Moscow. Her husband, the art historian Yevsey I. Rotenberg, died in 2011. She is survived by her son, Boris. She was succeeded as museum director by Marina D. Loshak, who said, “It is hard to imagine the Pushkin museum without Irina Antonova.”

Irina Antonova, Art Expert

Who Brought Treasure Trove

To Soviet People, Dies at 98

By IVAN NECHEPURENKO

Irina A. Antonova in front of a painting by Vittore Carpaccio in 2012 at a news conference for the 100th anniversary of the Pushkin museum in Moscow and, left, in an undated photo.

ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPUTNIK, VIA ALAMY

Having ‘a deep

conviction that

culture and art

have no borders.’

Reprinted from Sunday’s early edi-
tions.

Arthur, Greer Carol, Levitan Ginsburg, Sigmund Guariglia, Charles

Lipson, Amy Lurie, Alison McCormack, E. Pierson, Alice

Tamarkin, Jerry Tambakis, Apostolos Tankel, Claire

ARTHUR—Greer Jr.

Greer Martin Arthur Jr., February 15, 1935 - November 18, 2020. Greer Arthur passed away peacefully on Novem- ber 18, 2020. He was born in Champaign, IL to Olive Si- mard Arthur and Greer Mar- tin Arthur. His parents called him Jerry but the name did not stick after high school. Due to Greer's father's job with Kinney Shoes, they moved often and eventually settled in Long Island where Greer attended Garden City High School. Greer went on to graduate from Lafayette Col- lege in Easton, PA and then from law school at Columbia University in New York, NY. After a brief stint practicing law, Greer realized his passion was for business and he joined McKinsey & Co. where he met his lifelong friends, Charlie Smith, Bob Champion and Bob Aresty. His work eventually took him to Paris where he met the love of his life, Veronica Lattman, and courted her with the help of his beloved red '67 E-type Ja- guar. They married Novem- ber 30, 1968 and together with Veronica's children, Alexan- dra and Vincent, they lived briefly in Connecticut before movingtoSanFrancisco when Greer became president of SSI/Itel Corporation in

Greer's daughter, Tanya
Veronica, was born in 1970
and his son, Greer Martin, III,
“Gem”,wasbornin1971.
They moved down the Penin-
sula to Atherton, CA in 1973.
In 1974 Greer started Trans
Ocean Leasing (TOL) with
his partner, Marvin Dennis.
TOL grew steadily as they
diversifiedand specialized
their containers for the vary-
ingwaystheircustomers
used them including open top
and refrigerated containers.
During the 80s TOL began ac-
quiring their competitors and,
by 1994, became the 3rd lar-
gest container company in
the world. With headquarters
in San Bruno and 15 offices
around the world, they
served more than 300 custo-
mers and could be found in
over 250 depots worldwide.
TOL was sold in the late 90s
to TransAmerica which left
him to focus on Trans Ocean
Distribution (TOD), a liquid
logistics company that he ac-
quired in the 80s. TOD was
alsohypersuccessfuland
was sold in the early 00s.
Greer always felt the success
of TOL and later TOD were
due to the talented, commit-
ted and creative people that
worked there. Greer and his
partner, Marvin, spent much
time building their team and
leading the industry by focus-
ing on “Continuous Improve-
ment” through company
training.Theywereearly
adopters in personality train-
ing which createdgreat
bondsbetweentheteams
which lasted much past the
end of TOL. Greer and Vero-
nicabroughttogetherthe
Trans Ocean family by host-
ing the infamous Christmas
Party even years after the
sale of TOL. The company
Christmas partieswill be
sorelymissed.Greermet

many of his closest friends through his affiliation with Young Presidents Organiza- tion and subsequent groups WPO and CEO. He immense- ly enjoyed the camaraderie, network and many fascinat- ing and educational trips, several of which he helped to or- ganize and lead. Greer was also active with The Family, the Palo Alto Men's Club and served on the boards of the San Francisco Opera and The Alzheimer's Association. Greer rarely stood still. When he wasn't working and traveling for work you could find him on the ski slopes, water skiing, river rafting, biking, hiking, driving, playing tennis or golf, playing catch with a football, baseball or frisbee, spending time in Tahoe (among his favorite places on earth), traveling, the list goes on. If there was a competition happening, you could be sure Greer was knee deep in the middle of it. Greer loved wine and enjoyed collecting and learning about wine as much as possible. Some will recall hisfavoriteparty trick of pouring an entire bottle into one of his wine glasses. Greer traveled extensively for work and for pleasure. He spent time on every continent especially Europe and Asia. He was in Berlin when The Wall came down as well as in Moscow at the time the Iron Curtainfolded.Hisfamily was fortunate enough to join him on many of his business trips and adventures including a once in a lifetime safari in Kenya and Tanzania and a family cruise through the Ta- hitian archipelago. Greer passed away peacefully at the Kensington Place where he lived for the last year and a half. He is survived by his wife, Veronica, their children, Alexandra,Vincent,Tanya andGem,andtheireight grandchildren, Ryland, Ber- gen, Kazimir, Olivia, Caylin, Lowell, Sophia and Greer IV. We will miss him. The family will be planning a celebration of life some time in 2021.

LEVITAN—Carol Frank Philips.

November 20, 1923, - Decem- ber 4, 2020. Carol Levitan was born in 1923 to Carrie Lorch Frank and Edwin Frank in Cincinnati, OH. She died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 97 after a full and exciting life. She attended Walnut Hills High School, Sophie Newcomb College and graduated from the Uni- versity of Cincinnati. She was married toJessePhilips, from 1946-1971 and had two children, Ellen and Tom. In 1973, shemarried Rabbi Kalman Levitan, retired Colo- nel USAF, when she had the happiest years of her life until his death in 2002. She has lived in Dayton since 1950. Carol's greatest joy was be- ing a mother and grandmother, (and great-grandmother!) but she thrived professional- ly, too, as a nurses' aide during World War II and a teach- er, before helping Jesse Phi- lips to start Philips Industries, wheresheservedonthe Board of Directors. Philan- thropy was important to

Carol, and over the years she served as a board member of The Dayton Art Institute, Arts Dayton,CouncilofJewish Women, and Hospice of Day- ton.Formanyyearsshe spent winters in Palm Beach Gardens, living at Eastpointe and then at Devonshire. An avid golfer, she belonged to Meadowbrook Country Club, Dayton, where she was the Womens' Golf Club Cham- pion 12 times,Eastpointe CountryClub,andDayton Country Club. Carol was known for her keen sense of humor, her empathy, and her love of all people - she knew no strangers and as she began to outlive her friends, she simply made new, younger friends. Shealwaysgave greatadvice,evenifyou didn't ask forit.She is survivedbyherdaughter EllenKatz(Howard)and her son Tom Philips (Marty), her grandchildren Elizabeth Owens (Kyle), Teddy Schwarzman (Ellen), Ashley Philips,CarriePhilips,and Spencer Philips (Julia), and great-grandchildren Owen, Phoebe, Sadie, and Graham Right, Lucy,William,and Mary Schwarzman, and No- rie and Henry Philips. Her step-children are Robin Wening,Davidand Daniel Levitan. Carol was a member of Temple Israel in Dayton and Temple Israel in Palm Beach, FL. Donations may be made to Ohio's Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420.

GINSBURG—Sigmund. The Galatan and Galatan- Stone family is deeply sad- dened by the loss of our lifelong friend, advisor and mentor Sigmund Ginsburg. Albert James Galatan family, Helen Galatan-Stone, Harlan Fiske Stone II

GUARIGLIA—Charles R.

78, of Spring Lake, passed away on December 4, 2020 with his wife Eileen by his side. Chuck lived a happy life, and spent each day enthu- siastically and optimistically. His passing leaves all who knew him with memories of courageandunconditional love.Chuckwasbornin Brooklyn,NYtothelate Frank and Elizabeth (Rudek) Guariglia. Some of his most important life lessons came fromridingtheStuhmer's bread truck with his father: say “Goodmorning,” be honest,anticipate,dothe hard things first, be courte- ous, stay organized and work hard.Chucktaughtthese lessons to everyone, either by example or explanation. Chuck attended Brooklyn Technical High School. He wasaproudalumnusof SetonHall University;he served for many years on alumni boards and his Phi Kappa Theta fraternity groups and was a mentor to many students. He always called his Seton Hall friends his “brothers.” While attend- ing Seton Hall, Chuck joined the local National Guard Unit. He completed six months of basic training after graduation and got a job with Lever Brothers.ButtheNational

Guard called again, and he spenteighteenmonthson dutyinAlabama.In1969, Chuck moved to Hazlet, and shortly after to Middletown, NJ to raise his family. Chuck had a magnificent forty year career in advertisingfor Ogilvy. He left briefly to be Dean of Enrollment at St. BonaventureUniversity in Olean, NY - it was his dream job, until he missed home and advertising. After returning to Ogilvy, he never left until he retired in 2010. Ogilvy was Chuck's work family and he held fast to the friends he made there. In his retirement, Chuck and Eileen were inse- parable; they spent each day together, they traveled, and they loved each other's company. Chuck also treasured his countless hours of time with his grandsons, Peter and Henry. Chuck instilled in “his boys” his life lessons, taught them golf, and relished in their every adventure and success. Chuck was a lifetime member and past Commo- dore of the Shrewsbury River Yachtclub.Helovedthe beach and spent almost fifty summersonanextended Guariglia Family vacation in North Wildwood, NJ. One of Chuck's favorite hobbies was music-playing“guessing songs” (a homemade version of “Name That Tune” well be- foretheshow'sinception) with his sister Ronnie, while drying dinner dishes; listening to WNEW on the radio; collecting every recording by Frank Sinatra; and singing along to iPhone recordings of live ukulele and guitar duets by his grandsons, created ex- clusively for their Poppy. His favorite song, though, was “Moon River,” his serenade to Eileen, whom he called “the prettiest girl in Brook- lyn.” Chuck is survived by his beloved wife, Eileen (O'Flynn) Guariglia, the love of his life for 61 years; his devoted daughter, Kelly Bird (who had the joy of speaking withherdadeveryday), andherhusbandDouglas (Chuck's “favorite son-in- law”) and his cherished grandsons, Peter and Henry; his daughter Susan Guariglia; his dear sister Veronica Warrenandher husband Thomas; and all the family and friends whom he kept close and inspired over the years. Chuck was everyone's cheerleader. All immediate services are private and under the care of the John E. Day FuneralHome, Red Bank, NJ. A service in celebration of Chuck's life will be held at St. George's by-the- River at a later date. Chuck's only request of his family and friends is that they shed no tears - he is only as far away as a happy memory. Please visit Chuck's memorial web- site available at: http://www. johnedayfuneralhome. com

LIPSON—Amy. Died on November 29, 2020, of cancer at the age of 77. She was born in Manhattan on December 21, 1942 and com- plained bitterly when younger that it was too close to Christmas for decent swea- ters. Her parents were Leon Aronson, an elementary school principal, and Frances Aronson (nee Globerman), a homemaker and later a school secretary. Amy went toNewYorkCitypublic schools and was the Valedic- torian of her graduating class atLongIslandCityHigh School. She graduated from StonyBrookUniversityin 1963 with a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and later a Masters from Columbia Uni- versity Teachers College. She began teaching at a Junior High School and later at New- town High School in Queens for a total of 28 years, inter-

rupted by maternity leave. In June of 1964, she married En- och Lipson, whom she had known since the fourth grade. They had two sons, David (Ellen Jakovic) and Matthew (Elizabeth Stone) and four grandchildren,Sarah,Jack, Juliette and Leonora. Amy was extraordinarily and cor- rectly proud of her sons and grandchildren. Her face lit up whenever she heard or saw them. In addition to her husband, sons and grandchildren, her younger sister Joan Pollack(Gerald)andtwo nieces Francine Pollack (Greg Otto) and Pamela Pol- lack and their children sur- viveher.Amy,whowas much loved by her family, willbegreatlymissedby themand byher many friends who loved her humor and infectious laugh. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife,mother,teacherand guidance counselor and will be fondly remembered by those she came in contact with. LURIE—Alison. The American Academy of Arts and Letters notes with sorrow the death of the writer whose sharp novels of man- ners possess a sly effortless- ness that belie their moral and intellectual insight. McCORMACK—Elizabeth J. The trustees and staff of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) mourn the passing of ACC Trustee and Chairman Emer- itus Elizabeth J. McCormack. Elizabeth joined ACC as Vice President and Founding Board Member in 1980. She was committed to continuing ACC founder John D. Rocke- feller 3rd's vision of a world made more peaceful through cultural exchange. A trusted friend and colleague of Blanchette Hooker Rockefel- ler, Elizabeth succeeded Mrs. Rockefeller as ACC's second Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1990 to 2012. At age 98, Elizabeth was a lifelong champion of inter- nationalculturalexchange. Throughout her 40 years as a trustee, ACC invested more than $100 million in the exchange of artists and scholars acrossAsiaandtheU.S. Elizabeth's own contributions are unparalleled. ACC's first endowmentcampaign,the Elizabeth J. McCormack Fund, raised $10 million in her name. Elizabeth's decades- long philanthropic legacy will carryforwardforgenera- tions to come. Her dedicated service was recognized with the Blanchette Hooker Rock- efeller Award in 2019. ACC is honored tohave worked alongside Elizabeth and her inspiringwisdom,integrity, and leadership. Wendy O'Neill, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Eileen Connor, Interim Executive Director PIERSON—Alice R. “Kitty.”

Of Lincoln, MA, formerly of Englewood, NJ, died Tues- day, November 24, 2020, at her home after complications followinghipsurgery.She was 91 years old and was sur- roundedbyfamilyatthe time.BornAliceWinthrop

Roberts in Princeton, NJ, she was the daughter of Sylvia andThomasRoberts.She was nicknamed “Kitty” from birth. Her father was a suc- cessful oilman in Oklahoma, and later the founder and CEO of an early technology company, ASCOP. Her mother was a homemaker and sparkling entertainer at their homeonHodgeRoadin Princeton. Kittygrew up thereandgraduatedfrom WellesleyCollegein1951. Shortly after graduation she married Fred Dunn, a Har- vard-trainedphysicianand tropicaldisease specialist. Herhusband's worktook Kitty across the country and around the world, from Great Britain to California to Malay- sia. She had two children, Alice and Eric Dunn, who survive her. After Kitty's first marriage ended in divorce, shemarried achildhood friend, Dr. Richard N. Pierson, who survives her. Kitty had a lively time raising Alice, Eric, and Dick's children from a previous marriage: Robin Pierson, Olivia Jacobs, Alex- andra Griffin, and Cordelia Pierson. Their first big adventure was a six week bicycle trip across southern France, camping in farmers' fields and getting to know each other. Kitty was keenly interest- ed in nature and conserva- tion, and served many roles at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center inEnglewood,NJ where she and Dick settled in

In 1984 they built a house
on the rocky coast of Great
Cranberry Island in Maine,
next to her brother and sis-
ter-in-law, Owen and Janet
Roberts. Kitty devoted many
yearstosupportingisland
life, through creating affor-
dable housing and other
needs.Aferocioustennis
player, she won numerous
titles at the island's annual
tennis tournament, “Wimble-
berry.” Kitty lived a life of
outdoor adventure, spending
her summers as a child in
Red Lodge, Montana and la-
ter camping with her family
in the Adirondacks, the Cana-
dian Rockies, and other re-
mote places. She loved to
hike, and completed her last
ascentofAcadiaNational
Park's near-vertical Precipice
Trail at the age of 80. She
taught her children how to
ski, swim, use power tools, ar-
range flowers, cook over a
campfire, push their bounda-
ries, and to be kind to others.
She was an avid reader who
loved a good conversation
over a jigsaw puzzle by a
merry fire, her ubiquitous cup
of tea by her side. Services
private. Donations in Kitty's
honor may be made to: Flat
Rock Brook Nature Center,
443 Van Nostrand Ave, Engle-
wood, NJ 07631 or to Cranber-
ry Isles Ladies Aid, PO Box 27,
Cranberry Isles, ME 04625. To
sharea memory or offer
a condolence, visit:
http://www.concordfuneral.com
TAMARKIN—Jerry,
June 24, 1932 - December 4,

Boca West Country Club
has lost a great member. He
was a best friend to many,
andastandupguy.Our
condolences to Kay and the
entire family.
Gerry Hoffman

TAMBAKIS—Dr. Apostolos P., 94, of New York passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Weill Cornell Medical Center on Friday, December 4, 2020. Apostolos was born to Panagiotis and Vasiliki Gian- nopoulou Tambakis in Kala- mata, Greece on October 24, 1926 andmarriedVirginia Spanos in 1958. He graduated from The Military Medical School of Thessaloniki, Greece in 1953. He volun- teered as a physician in the Greek army, and was recent- ly recognized and honored as a distinguished ambassador for his services during the Korean War. In 1956, he immi- grated to the United States, and studied at St. Luke's Hos- pital and the Hospital of Spe- cial Surgery in New York City. He practiced as an orthopedic surgeon for 55 years until

Apostolos was a founder
of the Greek American Hip-
pocratic Orthopedic Society
and former President of the
Hellenic Medical Society of
New York. Dr. Tambakis was
an icon of integrity and gene-
rosity to Greek causes and
organizations throughout the
NY metropolitan area and
Kalamata. He was a passion-
ate philanthropist, donating
the first one hundred compu-
ters to his elementary school
in Kalamata, his Brooklyn of-
fice to the Hellenic Medical
Society, and a commercial
building to Saint Demetrios
Cathedral. Dr. Tambakis was
preceded in death by his lov-
ing wife, Virginia and sur-
vived by his two daughters
ConstanceTambakis-Odom
and Christine Tambakis Mc-
Donnell(Dennis),andhis
grandchildren, Virginia Ruth
Odom, John Apostolos Ros-
coe Odom, and Alexander
Bailey McDonnell and loving
sisters, Christina Spanos and
CalliopeKefakiandmany
loving nieces and nephews.
His service will be held on
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at
10am (9am-10am viewing), at
SaintDemetriosCathedral,
30-11 30th Drive, Astoria, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please con-
sider donations on behalf of
Dr. Tambakis to the Hellenic
Medical Society of New York,
139 East 57th Street 8th floor
New York, NY 10022.

TANKEL—Claire D.

This announcement is for the manypeoplewhoselives Claire Tankel touched and for those who may, yet, find in- spiration in her legacy. As architect and driver of New York City's Arts Apprentice- ship Program from 1974-1991,

Claire Tankel provided ex- perienceandopportunities for the many emerging artists and aspiring students of the arts converging on our great metropolis at a time of unparalleled exploration, ex- perimentation and commit- ment to public art. Adminis- tered through the city's De- partment of Cultural Affairs, the program offered appren- ticeshipswiththecutting- edge artists of the day: pain- ters,sculptors,filmmakers, photographers, writers, musi- cians and composers, theater and performing artists and arts organizations. An indelib- le and enduring tribute and legacy survive in the work of the many artists whom she championed. The Metropoli- tan Transit Authority's guide “Art En Route” reads like a who's who of Arts Appren- ticeship alumni! http://web.mta.info/mta/ aft/about/N11802_AFT enroutemechx.pdf Tankel's passion and dedica- tion to helping people realize andsurpasstheirdreams mirroredthatofherown journeytogiveher own lifemeaningandpurpose through public service and advocacy of the arts. Born May 30, 1926, in Mount Ver- non, New York, in 1946 she married architect and urban planner Stanley Tankel, who championed the preservation of historic landmarks in New York City, most notable among them, the Jefferson Market Library. After several years of living in Europe, where Stanley had a FulbrightScholarship,they moved to Greenwich Village, where they joined a flourish- ing community of activists, artists and intellectuals. The Village was a good fit for Claire with her creative energy and free-spirited enthusiasm.Already an accom- plished pianist, she studied piano with renowned pianist and composer Joan Tower and painted with Ruth Gikow and Tony Prestopino at the New School. Tankel found her raison d'etre when, in 1967, she was offered an opportunity to work at the NYC Parks Department and, from there, wenton to developtheArtsAppren- ticeship program, satisfying a need to support creative ex- pression and artistic endea- vor, as well promote public access to art. She passed away on December 1, 2020 and was, til the end, by all ac- counts,singingwithfeisty and indomitable enthusiasm and determination, as was her nature. She is survived by son, Joshua Tankel, daughter Joanna Tankel, grandson Simon McAleney and niece Rachel Berchten and by many of the artists on whom shehadsuchaprofound impact.

JOHNSON—Lisa M. December 7, 1990. DearMom,Iwillalways treasure your memory. Hope Dad is with you. Love, Robbie

Deaths Deaths Deaths Deaths Deaths Deaths Deaths

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The New York Times - USA (2020-12-07)

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