Esther Saxe

Esther Troub Saxe, 102 years of age, of West Hartford, died peacefully at home in the care of her family on February 7, 2009. Esther was a warm, loving, generous woman throughout her long life, brightening the days of family, friends and even her most casual acquaintances with her quick wit, shining blue eyes, and intelligence. She was born in Mikolajow, Austria on June 25, 1906, the daughter of the late Dora and Moses Troub. Esther migrated to Hartford, Connecticut in 1913 to avoid the impending war. She attended the Arsenal School, graduated from Weaver High School, and earned her teaching certificate at the Culver-Smith Kindergarten Training School, followed by continued studies at Trinity College, Saint Joseph’s College, and the Lincoln School of Education at Columbia University. Esther loved her profession, teaching kindergarten at Vine Street School for 40 years. In addition, she taught Sunday School at Congregation Beth Israel. Esther married Alfred Saxe, a radio broadcaster for WTIC with whom she shared a love of music. A perfect day was spreading a blanket on the grass at Elizabeth Park, enjoying a picnic lunch and being serenaded by Alfred singing her favorite songs Summertime, On the Street Where You Live, and Some Enchanted Evening. Esther was devoted to her parents caring for them in her home as they became frailer. She had unbounded love for her many nieces and nephews always taking an interest in the latest family news. She was especially close to her niece Constance Troub Walker, M.D. and Connie’s husband Jonathan. Their children Abraham Jacob Walker, Sara Esther Walker and Dvora Jenna Walker basked in her unconditional love and quick praise. Wednesday were reserved as “Aunt Esther Day,” a walk to the library followed by a treat at the bakery or frozen yogurt shop. There was never a visit without the offer of food, gifts and an invitation to please stay longer. One of her greatest gifts to Abe, Sara and Dvora was her insistence that they have fun. Her confidence in her nieces and nephews was such that she never worried about how they did in school or work; fun was Aunt Esther’s department. Sometimes she directed the fun, sometimes she watched, and often, she just encouraged them to find their own way, relating stories of her own adventures and travels. An enthusiastic participant in community projects, Esther was recognized as a “Victory Girl” during World War I. She joined the Wadsworth Museum Women’s Committee in 1937, participated in the first and subsequent Festival of Trees & Traditions, acted as a docent, arranged flowers for the Fine Arts & Flowers Program and volunteered in the gift shop. She was a long time fundraiser for the University of Hartford Art School House and Garden Show. A picture of Esther on horseback in Keney Park with her description of favorite leisure activities hangs at the Charter Oak Temple Oral History of the Jewish Community of Hartford Project. Esther had a zest for life, enjoying the simple pleasures of a walk on the beach collecting shells, sitting in the sunshine, daily visits with her sister Shirley, singing around the piano, bundling up and getting outside on a cold day. Though Esther was only 5’2, she was a quick and aggressive basketball player. She enjoyed skiing, horseback riding, walking, ice skating and was a champion golfer and bridge player well into her 90’s. She enjoyed travel, the adventure, architecture, museums and especially the interaction with new people. A meticulous dresser she loved dressing up in a suit or a pretty dress cooking for family and friends at the house or going out on the town. Esther liked people, who in turn sensed her interest in them and were quickly put at ease. She was always ready to welcome another person into her home and circle of friends. Her happiness was contagious, her generosity bountiful. She loved being part of the condominium community at 5 Bishop Road and then an active resident of Sunrise Assisted Living where she was given the special assignment of meeting with potential residents and their families. Her intellect and memory were amazingly sharp through out her life, enjoying bridge, history, biographies, scrabble and current events. She achieved a goal of dressing up in a suit and going to the polls to vote for her candidate of choice Barak Obama, recalling how she first voted shortly after women had achieved suffrage. She was creative loving to do needlepoint, knit and refashion store bought clothes with her own embellishments. In addition to Constance and Jon, Abe, Sara, and Dvora, Esther is also survived by her nephews Stephen Troub Meadow and his wife Roz, Charles Troub Meadow and his wife Mary Louise, and her nieces Frances Troub Roberts and her partner Betty Hudson, and Mickey Friedman, as well as numerous great and grand nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband Alfred and by her six siblings Leonard Troub, Bernard Troub, Julius Troub, Florence Troub Meadow, David Troub, and sister and her best friend for over 100 years, Shirley Troub Walker. The family is deeply appreciative of the concern, loving care and companionship Esther received from Drs. Gregory Walsh and John Baron, Harriet Winograd, Sandy, Gadi, and Naomi at Sunrise, Lezlene Glenn, Carnetta Ellis, Anne Betts and all the other care givers who optimized the last years of Esther’s life. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday February 11 at 12 noon in the Silberman Chapel of Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Interment will follow in Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery, Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends at their home, 46 Ballard Drive, West Hartford, Wednesday following the funeral, and Thursday and Friday 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Esther’s memory may be made to Congregation Beth Israel Music Fund or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford.