Fay Lewin really enjoyed life
Longtime Riverdalian Fay Lewin passed away on Nov. 23, 2019. She was 98.
She was born May 13, 1921, in Stuttgart, Germany. She lived there until the Nazis deported her family to Poland in 1938, where she met Murry, her husband of 66 years.
She immigrated to the United States, keeping a letter correspondence throughout the war with Murry while he served in the British army. They were married in Milan in July 1946, and reunited in New York in 1947.
Working in a millinery shop making hats, she and her husband started a family in Washington Heights, moving to Riverdale in 1965. She also worked for several years at the New York State Insurance Fund. They lived in Riverdale until 2002, retiring to Westchester.
She enjoyed cooking, music, painting original artwork, passionately discussing politics and current events, as well as reading historical biographies and novels. She always had some current newspaper clippings with her wherever she went to read or include in conversations.
From 1983 until 2003, she and Murry enjoyed winters in Florida, but opted to stay in New York since they wanted to be closer to family and grandchildren. Recently, when asked how she was doing, she would smile and reply, “Still kicking!” or “Hanging in!”
Her happiest times were spent with her family, which continued to grow late into her life. She is survived by her daughters Sharon Balog and husband Gilbert of Briarcliff Manor, and Debra Levy and husband Fred of Riverdale; four grandchildren, Dr. Joshua Balog of Jersey City, New Jersey; Aliza Goodside of New York City; and Jason and David Levy of Riverdale. She also had four great-grandchildren: Ezra, Zachary, Samuel and Meredith.
She considered it the ultimate full circle that a woman whose family was uprooted by hate at such a young age was fortunate enough to be a great-grandmother four times over. She will be fondly remembered for her favorite life advice: “Live long, but don’t get old!”
A graveside funeral was held Nov. 25, 2019. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish National Fund.
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