Obituary of Marilyn Starr Friedlander

Marilyn Starr Hofkins Friedlander, 86, of Pleasant Valley, NY, died April 19, 2018, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.

Marilyn was born October 7, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Eva and Saul Hofkins. She was one of six siblings, raised under thrifty circumstances during the Great Depression, which endowed Marilyn with a deep appreciation for life's simple gifts as well as an ingrained habit of hard work. A graduate of Temple University, she was a lifelong teacher, predominantly in the Yonkers School District, working there for 26 years prior to her retirement in 1996. Her marriage to Henry Friedlander, which ended in the 1970s, produced three children, Benjamin, Robert, and Ruth.

Marilyn was a passionate lover and, eventually, collector of art, and she carried from childhood an abiding interest in sports. She also enjoyed card games with friends, visits to the racetrack and casino, and the company of animals, having raised several dogs over the years. Her kindheartedness and stoicism were notable features, put to the test by several decades of struggle with medical afflictions. Following retirement she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Haralambos Levantis, along with their two children, Elena and Andrew, whose company brought particular pleasure.

Marilyn is survived by her sons and daughter and by her two grandchildren, as well as by three siblings, Stanford, Gail, and Florence. She will be greatly missed by all the hearts she touched.