Lesley I. Kirschenbaum

Lesley Kirschenbaum of Mansfield died on Thursday, December 2012, at Yale New Haven Hospital. She fought a fierce battle against the unbeatable foe of pulmonary fibrosis. Lesley was born in September 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Syracuse University earning a degree in special education. Lesley taught for two years in Tully New York before moving to Connecticut with her husband. She took several years off after the birth of her children before becoming a kindergarten teacher in the Windham public schools. She taught there for 30 years loving the diversity and challenges and joys involved in dealing with young children. During her teaching years she continued to study, learn and innovate her professional life, obtaining a Masters degree in reading education from the University of Connecticut. After retiring, Lesley continued her involvement with the Windham schools helping to coordinate the funding and realization of the Cultural Arts programs in the several elementary schools. Lesley became very active in the regional community in both personal and volunteer activities. She was a member of the local chapter of AAUW, serving several years as the chapter president. Les recently became involved in trying to cope with the homelessness issue, locally and in the political arena. With her husband and children Lesley traveled the country and the world with her boundaries expanding after retirement. After leaving the duties of professional life behind Lesley learned to play the banjo, expanded her knitting talents, took up flat water kayaking and continued her decades long passion of cross country skiing. Lesley is survived by her husband of 48 years, Arthur, her son Howard and his wife Brenda of Windham; her daughter Marjorie and husband Scott and grandchildren Haskel and Emmet of Epping, NH; her brother Stewart and wife Connie of Westport; several nieces and nephews; and extended family. She was blessed to have countless wonderful friends, locally, across the country and around the world. Lesley was a kind, caring person who gave freely of herself. She has suggested that flowers not be sent but that anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory select one of the following: The Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Temple B'nai Israel, PO Box 61, Willimantic, CT 06226 or AAUW Education Foundation Legal Advocacy Fund, c/o AAUW, 1111 16th St. NW, Washington DC 20036 or Yale Interstitial Lung Disease Program, c/o Dr Danielle Antin-Ozerkis, 15 York Street, LLCI 101, New Haven, CT 06510.