Obituary of Lillian Weiner Leffert

Lillian Weiner Leffert, 97, on February 19, 2016. Predeceased by many beloved family members, including parents Abraham and Minnie C. Weiner; sister Harriet W. Lavine; and loving husband of almost sixty-nine years, David J. Leffert, who proposed to her on their first date after they met on the tennis courts. Survived by daughters Susan (Frank) Johnston and Jacqueline (Jeffrey) Rubenstein; grandchildren Matthew, Emily, and Daniel; and many nieces and nephews. Lillian was an unconventional, glass-ceiling-breaking woman who always spoke her mind. She graduated magna cum laude from both the Journalism and Business Administration Colleges at Syracuse University in 1939 and went on to work in advertising and public relations. As advertising manager of Chappell’s department store in Syracuse, she created ads that won national awards five years in a row. She resigned her job to work from home until her children were in school fulltime. During this time, she took on freelance advertising jobs and taught at the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. When the family moved to the Utica area, she became publications director at the SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome (now the SUNY Polytechnic Institute) and twice earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. She retired from SUNY with Emeritus status and became a prolific artist, creating more than ninety striking oils & acrylics. Lillian was a dynamic woman who lived her active life with a strong and infectious sense of fairness, style, originality, and humor and emboldened others to do the same. Outside of work, Lillian was a tireless volunteer in numerous organizations. She was especially proud of creating and running the Blue Stars, a nationally recognized volunteer group of young girls who served the residents of the Charles T. Sitrin Home in Utica. She was an avid and strong golfer and a long-time member of the Ladies District Golf League of Central New York. She followed politics and sports, read voraciously, played bridge in numerous groups, drove a turquoise T-top Camaro, and played golf in the snow using a red ball. But most of all, she devoted herself to her family, to whom she always gave her time, love, honesty, and complete support. Funeral and burial services will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at White Haven Memorial Park (201 Marsh Rd.). Family will receive friends before the service in the Gathering Room beginning at 2 PM, and the service will begin at White Haven’s All Season’s Chapel at 3 PM. Receiving will continue at the Jewish Home of Rochester (2021 S. Winton Rd.) that day from 5:30-7 PM and again on Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 2-4 PM The family would like to thank the many caring administrators, nurses, aides, therapists, and the creative arts, activities, and support staff at the Summit, Wolk, and Jewish Home residences of Jewish Senior Life of Rochester. Home Brighton, New York Birthplace Syracuse, New York Donations