Isabel Miriam Goldenkoff's Obituary
Isabel Miriam Goldenkoff (Levin) passed away peacefully on March 1, 2023, following a brief illness. She had just celebrated her 91st birthday with her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter.
Isabel was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 12, 1932, to Abraham and Florence Levin. She spent her childhood there and made lifelong friends with whom she kept in close touch throughout her life. She attended Adelphi University on Long Island and in 1957 married her life partner Ralph. Following their marriage, they spent six weeks honeymooning in Europe, traveling throughout the continent. Upon returning from their honeymoon, they settled in Forest Hills, NY, where their two children, Karen and Robert were born. After several years they resettled in Searingtown on Long Island to have a house with a backyard. Those were wonderful years, filled with travel and the joy of raising a family. In the early 1970s, Isabel returned to school to get a Masters in Library Science. She began as a school librarian and then continued her career as a reference librarian at Syosset Public Library, retiring as the head of the reference section.
Following retirement, they became snowbirds and ultimately permanent residents of Boynton Beach, Florida. Isabel continued her love of books by starting a library in the clubhouse of the gated community where they lived. With her expertise and love of books the library thrived and was enjoyed by the residents of the Palladium. Isabel’s children and grandchildren visited them regularly in Florida and enjoyed the pool, playing tennis, eating out, kayaking in the Everglades, and spending time in Delray Beach. She even enjoyed visits from her first great granddaughter, Aviva.
In early 2022, she relocated to the Woodlands in Fairfax Virginia. While she was not happy about moving to a cold climate (she considered any temperature under 75 as “freezing”), she was ecstatic to have family close by. Her last year was filled with wonderful times spent with kids, grandkids, great grandkids, nieces and nephews and their progeny. She also met many new friends at the Woodlands and loved attending concerts and other events there.
Isabel will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her son Robert and his wife Lynn, her daughter Karen and her husband Michael, her grandchildren Jeremy (Amanda), Elyssa (Tyler), Adriana (Josh), Elana (Eric) and her beautiful great granddaughters Aviva and Zoe and her loving sister in law Barbara Levin. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph and by her brother Lewis.
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