Esther (Rotenberg) Robbins

Esther Rotenberg Robbins, born in 1915 in Rochester, NY, to Ceilia (Tsippa) Tobias Rottenberg and Louis (Leib) Rottenberg. She was a 53-year resident of Griswold Drive, West Hartford until 2003 and a recent resident at Chatfield in West Hartford, spending her last years at the Hebrew Home in West Hartford. Wife of Mayer/Roby Robbins (deceased), she leaves her children Al (Ceila) Robbins of Bolton; Susie Namerow of Avon; Carolyn (Jonathan) Siegel of Albuquerque, NM. She was predeceased by a son, Richard, formerly of Chicago. She leaves her seven cherished granddaughters: Becca Robbins (Kurt) Gisclair of Bellingham, WA, Allison Robbins (Jess) Mace of Portland, OR; Lisa Namerow (Lonnie Lazaer) of Reston, VA; Lori Namerow (Tim) Sweeney of Gaithersburg, MD; Lynne Namerow of Avon, Hannah Robbins Dumo of Deerfield, IL; Jessica R. Siegel of Albuquerque, NM and London. She also leaves six great grandchildren: Ellie, Lily and Benjamin Sweeney; Gabriella and Charlie Dumo, and 9-day-old Luke Mayer Lazaer, in addition to many nieces and nephews, including Jeffrey Robbins of Avon. The family is grateful to her longtime caregiver, Lynette Laurence, who was like a daughter to her, and to the 4 South staff at Hebrew Healthcare, who referred to her as “Queen Esther.” She was also predeceased by her close companion Sidney Perry, and her siblings, Sheva Berman & Abe Rotenberg. Esther earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Greater Hartford Community College; and was a past president of American Jewish Congress, and a member of the Board of Hadassah. She worked at Lord & Taylor for many years and she retired in 1978 from her office job at the West Hartford Board of Education. Upon retirement she became a docent at the Noah Webster House and at the Mark Twain House. She was an active member of Congregation Beth Israel for over 50 years where she was involved with the Library and other committees. Esther and Roby had special friends with whom they shared a Gourmet Dinner Group and a Card Group for many years. She was a voracious reader, participating in book clubs throughout the years, and had a great love of music and theater. She had a vast collection of Playbills from her theater experiences as a child which she continued throughout her life. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, August 26, 2012 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. Interment will follow in Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon. Shiva to be observed on Sunday and also on Monday from 4-8 p.m. at the home of Susan Namerow in Avon. One of her great loves was Elizabeth Park. Those who would like to contribute to a fund for a park bench in her memory may do so by sending donations to: Esther Robbins Fund, Knox Parks Foundation, 75 Laurel Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Or to the Library Fund at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT 06119. For further information, directions or to sign the guest book for Esther, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.