Madelyn Singer Obituary (1920 - 2008)

Madelyn Ruth Hershfield Singer, of Gambier, OH, passed away October 2, 2008. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lee Singer, sister, Helen Gilner, and brother, Milton Hershfield. She is survived by her sister, Florence Bern; her sons, Stuart Singer (Robin Mace), Robin Singer ( Judith Berger), Jeff-Neal Singer (Nancy Fink) and daughter, Wendy Singer (David Lynn); grandchildren, Emma Berger-Singer, Leah Berger-Singer, Max Singer, Zachary Singer, Aaron Lynn, and Elizabeth Lynn; nieces, Karen Tammany, and Ellen Bern; nephews Steve Gilner, Jay Bern, and Benjamin Hershfield. Madelyn Singer was a professional ballet dancer in the American Ballet in New York City in the 1930s. Later she became a mathematician, studying at Brooklyn College and Columbia University. She taught in a number of places, but particularly for many years at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, VA and then at Virginia Western Community College. She completed her career as an academic administrator--one of the first women deans in the state system--running the Allied Health Professional programs at Virginia Western Community College. She spoke fondly of her special connection to the people and village of Topsham, England, where she lived on several occasions. She will be remembered not only by her family and many friends, but by the generations of students whose lives she touched. A memorial service was held in Gambier on Sunday October 5, 2008.