Dr. Madeline Ginzburg dies at 70

Dr. Madeline Ginzburg, born Jan. 19, 1954, died on Dec. 7, 2024.

She was born in Bayside, Queens to Ruth Rendelstein, a schoolteacher and Sam Ginzburg, a diamond cutter. She is predeceased by both parents and her husband Joel Delfiner, who died last summer. She is survived by her three children Leslie Delfiner, Alexandra Delfiner and Matthew Delfiner and her grandchildren, Samara Reese, Hudson Reese, Hazel Bomberg, Rowan Bomberg and Tessa Delfiner.

Growing up, Ginzburg would go to East 47th Street to help out in her father’s shop and learn the dexterity required to manipulate small objects and drills. She went on to graduate with a degree in biology from Cornell University and then to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. There, she met her husband who was studying medicine. They were married in 1977.

After completing dental residency training at UPenn, Ginzburg and her husband, Dr. Delfiner moved to Riverdale where she ultimately opened Comprehensive Dental Care. She worked in this practice for nearly 40 years, improving the oral health of the Riverdale community and was beloved by her patients, her staff and her neighbors.

She was known for going above and beyond for her patients. On many occasions, she would open her office on “days off” to accommodate anyone with dental concerns. Most memorably, one evening she was able to fix a crown under a streetlamp in Manhattan and frequently ignored costs for patients who could not afford her services. She extended this attitude for her staff and friends as well, assisting with the purchase of school supplies and summer camp tuitions.

She was a board member of the New York State Dental Foundation, secretary of the New York Dental Society and volunteered at the Columbia School of Dentistry’s clinical practice, supervising trainees. She was incredibly proud to be elected as the President of the Bronx County Dental Society in 2013 and after an incident required her to respond to a medical emergency outside her office, she worked with lawmakers to pass a law requiring dental professionals to be certified in CPR.

She served on Bronx Community Board 8 and on the board of her synagogue, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale on West 250th Street.

Riverdalians may remember seeing jerseys around the neighborhood for the “Dr. Ginzburg Drillers” or the “Dr. Ginzburg Phillies,” the South Riverdale soccer and baseball teams she sponsored.

Ginzburg will be remembered for her kindness, her intellect and for the influence on Riverdale she made that will last for generations to come.