Sylvia Witkowski Feibus' Obituary
Feibus, Sylvia Witkowski, 99 of Boynton Beach, Florida (formerly of Chevy Chase, Maryland) passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 16, 2020.
Sylvia was born on April 17, 1921 to Benjamin and Jennie Terlitzky, who had immigrated from Russia.
She was their first born and took it upon herself to help her Orthodox Jewish parents, who mainly spoke Yiddish in their home, to assimilate to American ways. She was an exceptional student and avid reader and read every book in the children’s section of the local library, so she would be allowed to take out books in the adult section at an early age. She graduated Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC in 1937 at the age of 16. In 1940, at age 19, she married Sanford Witkowski. She and Sanford had a deeply loving, affectionate, and true partnership throughout their entire marriage.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Wilson Teachers College in Washington, DC. In 1941. After her children were of school age, Sylvia became a highly respected and sought-after elementary school teacher. She especially loved teaching sixth graders at Larchmont Elementary School in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She was instrumental in initiating “overnight” field trips and organized trips to Williamsburg, Virginia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania for all sixth-grade students. During the last 10 years of her teaching career, she became a math specialist teacher and taught educators “how to teach math” at 22 elementary schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. Always a 12-month teacher, she wrote curriculum and “new math” for math textbooks during the summer months.
Sylvia was very social, had many friends, and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining. She and Sanford hosted almost all family holiday meals, a few family weddings, and many milestone celebrations in their home, as well as regular Saturday night couples’ poker games. She loved the performing arts (especially musicals and the ballet), worldwide travel, and was an avid duplicate bridge player. She remained a voracious book reader into her early 90’s, reading at least three books a week, and could complete the New York Times Sunday Crossword in ink, in under an hour. When she was in her late 20’s, Sylvia joined Hadassah and was an active member throughout her life. In March 2000, she was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Hadassah Boca ATID chapter.
Sylvia was deeply devoted to her family and friends. She will always be remembered as the true matriarch of the family. She was a woman with true class, a generous and charitable spirit, and an ever-present positive and no-nonsense disposition.
She is survived by her daughters Alice Witkowski (Gary Pepper), and Marilyn Witkowski, and her son David (Ruth) Witkowski; six grandchildren—Meredith, Benjamin, Eric, Rachel, Emily, and Scott; and six great grandchildren—Rhiannon, Marin, Avery, Zachary, Harrison, and James. She was predeceased in death by her husband of 48 years, Sanford Witkowski, and by her second husband Irving Feibus. Funeral services will be private.
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