Obituary of Rhoda Zucker

Rhoda Zucker born in Manhattan, NY on May 23, 1923 to Eva (nee Wagner) and Mayer Rothstein was the youngest of five siblings: Joseph (Ross), Marley (Kessler), Jack, and Benjamin. Her father Mayer came from Russia and later brought his sister Rebecca. Mayer's father separated from his mother, moved to the USA prior to Mayer's arrival and established a second family in the Catskills. Mayer's half sister married a Mortman. While Rhoda's mother Eva who came from Austria, had 5 siblings: Abraham, Harry, Irving, Mary, Peter and Samuel came to the United States with Peter and some cousins. Eva's parents, Rabbi Solomon and Fannie Wagner arrived at a different time. They all lived on the lower East Side of Manhattan. Rhoda grew up around Avenue B and C just north of Houston Street. Her father was the owner of the catering establishment Hennington Hall, located at 214/216 East 2nd Street near Avenue B. The building still stands today. It was an active place of Jewish life for many Eastern European immigrants http://www.flickr.com/photos/tektonomastics/5070094677/ http://gvshp.org/blog/2013/08/13/the-mystery-behind-henington-hall/. She spent most of childhood roaming the Hall and seeing famous people like Louis Armstrong and later teaching dancing to customers. Rhoda was the youngest of 5 siblings: Joseph (Ross), Marley (nee Kessler), Jack and Benjamin. Rhoda grew up with a talent for art and went to Washington Irving High School for art. At the age of 16 she lost her mother, and went to live with her sister Marley and her brother-in-law Harry and their two children Racelle and Alan. She was accepted to The Cooper Union for art. At the time the highest graduate program received a certificate. In her fifties she was offered the opportunity to go back and complete her degree, which she did. She took her courses at Queens College and received her BFA degree from Cooper Union in November of 1978. At 25 Rhoda met and married Joseph Zucker (30). Although Joseph completed his BA from City College and received his DJS from the Brooklyn Law School, he primarily worked as an accountant. They had 4 children, Richard Paul, Sue Ann, Sandy M., and Martin Leigh. When Joseph was in his late 30's he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. His operation was a success but it radically, physically changed his appearance. Despite the cancer, Rhoda and Joe brought up all their children to go onto college (Richard, Sue and Sandy were the first in the family to receive a Master's Degree). All their children went on to have families of their own. Rhoda continued throughout her life doing her art. She worked in all areas. Her major concentrations were painting, drawing and printing. She produced a massive amount of work during her life. She was very talented and was able to produce almost anything her or her children needed. Rhoda, a talented seamstress, sewed her family's clothes when they were growing up. She was a stay at home mom for most of her life, though she proudly told of her work during WW2 where she worked as an architect in the Brooklyn Navy Yard working on aircraft carriers. Only later in her 50's did she return to work for the city of New York for 10 years. Rhoda lost her husband Joseph in 1993, just short of his 75th birthday. Rhoda imbued her children with a love of Art and reading, always regaling her stories of Hennington Hall. The family also loved camping and many of Rhoda's paintings involved landscapes from those camping excursions. She exhibited her artwork in many places, including the Brooklyn and Queens Museums. Rhoda is survived by her son Richard and his wife Sherry (nee Robb); Sue and her husband Thomas (nee Scharff) and their children Aram Jason and Ilana Ariel; Sandy and his wife Irene (nee Perez) and their children Shaina Nicole, Johnny (Matamoris) and Cynthia (Speagle (nee Matamoris)); Martin and his wife Colette (nee LiPari) and their child Sophia Emmanuelle. All the children and grandchildren were very important in Rhoda's life. Rhoda, as well as an artist, was a great story teller and recounted most of her life growing up on the lower east side, and her adventures in Hennington Hall. She was a kind and loving mother and grandmother as well as being a good friend to many people. She will be greatly missed.