The Roosevelt island community lost a long-time friend and neighbor, Judith Arond Dinerstein, on September 14, 2017. Judi was a beautiful “fixture” on Roosevelt Island since 1976. She participated in many Island and off-Island groups and activities. Before there was Facebook, there was Judi, the original social networker who brought people together. She was well known by residents as an effervescent, friendly neighbor who knew everyone by name.
Judi was born in New York on November 22, 1950. She was raised in Queens, a real New York gal. Judi became an RN and worked for 27 years as a nurse and unit director at Bellevue Hospital. She was an avid sailor, accomplished musician and long-time docent at Carnegie Hall.
Judi was board member and the Summer Program Director at The Center for Learning and Living, an adult education school in New York City. She maintained that a place to learn and socialize was an antidote to social isolation in retirement. When the school lost its space and closed, Judi used her networking powers to find a new space, mobilize the board, work on the finances, find an administrator, locate professors and reach out to former students. Watching her generate the school anew, simply through the power of conviction was an inspiration.
Judi enjoyed the community garden, social activism, travel and the arts. She was an avid supporter of many Island organizations and events. For the past 11 years Judi had the opportunity to enjoy winters in Florida. While there she was a member of an orchestra, volunteered at an adult day program for people with memory loss, took classes and created a large community of friends in Florida. She never stopped!
Judi leaves behind a legacy of love, friendship, and an appreciation for continued learning and growth. For thousands of people, whether they were touched by her personally or through her work for charitable causes or lifelong political activism, the world is a better, kinder, and more just place.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Marty Dinerstein, parents, Ronnie and Hank Arond, her brother, David, nephew, Josh, and his daughter Khalila, niece, Elisa, her step-daughter Rhonda and her husband, Doug and their children, Jordana and Michael, step-daughter, Joyce and her husband, Phil and their children Ashley and Ethan. She was pre-deceased by her sister-in- law, Caroline.
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