From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
October 4, 2020
Friends and Families
My dear friend JOYCE CHINSKY died, after a long, spirited struggle against cancer, on September 30th – It doesn’t seem real.
Joyce and I first met in the early 1980’s when we were fellow English teachers at Grand Avenue M.S. in Bellmore. Over the following decades, our activities often included family, especially her husband BOB and son PETER, when he was a child, and my daughters SUE and LAURIE.
Merrick, New York, USA. July 2, 2016. L-R, BOB CHINSKY, JOYCE CHINSKY, BOB STUHMER are in front of Bouncy Castle at Emily’s First Birthday Party, hosted by her Mom and Dad at Nana Ann’s home.
There were the summers we went with our young children to our friend Carolle Bendle’s beach club.
We had Broadhollow Theater subscriptions for ourselves and our children.
Joyce, my daughters and I had NYC excursions. She joined my extended family to root for the Parry Girls’ team on a game show taped in a studio in Hell’s Kitchen on a rainy day in 2006, and the three of us went to a Hillary Clinton rally in 2008.
Starting in 2012 when the first of my two grandchildren arrived, Joyce regularly asked about them and visited each.
When Sue ran for local office a few years ago, Joyce enthusiastically supported her, including going to a Merrick fundraiser.
North Merrick, New York, USA. July 31, 2017. L-R, JOYCE CHINSKY and SUE MOLLER are at Fundraiser for candidate Moller for Town of Hempstead Town Council, District 6, at home of supporters. (© 2017 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)
Bob and Joyce took me with them on day trips out east on L.I. and to enjoy Bob’s photography in exhibitions….
Every lucky group has a Connector – the person who, with love and work, keeps people in touch over the years, often as locations and circumstances change. Joyce was a Connector in so many meaningful ways, including organizing annual “Grand Girls” lunches for retired and active teachers.
Massapequa, NY, U.S. Front row, L-R: ANDREA GWOSDOW and PAT BLOODGOOD; Back row, L-R: JANE KLINE, ANN SULLIVAN, JOYCE CHINSKY and ANN PARRY are at Grand Girls annual reunion at Sergio’s Italian Restaurant. (Thank you, Jane, for sending photo)
Massapequa Park, NY, U.S. Front Row, Grand Girls L-R: MELISSA WILLIAMS, NANCY JACOB, JOYCE CHINKSY, MICHELLE GAGNON and ANN PARRY; Back row, L-R: BARBARA HIRTEN, ROSANNE WALKER, CHRISTINE LATORRE, RITA CALZETTA, MARY ELLEN GASPAREC, KATHY WARD HAGGERTY and JANE KLINE pose for group photo at Asian Moon restaurant during annual reunion lunch.
Since I can’t find words to share how I feel right now, here’s some of what my daughters group-texted when they read Joyce was gone:
LAURIE: “Oh my god I’m so sorry to hear this!!! This is so awfull!!! I’m so sorry…She was suuuuuch a sweet woman….❤️”
SUE: “Oh my gosh. I’m devastated to hear this news. This is so sad Oh my gosh ”
- FEATURE PHOTO – at top: Long Island, New York, U.S. November 14, 2010 L-R, ANN PARRY and JOYCE CHINSKY are at Terrific Tootsies event. (if you know photographer’s name, please contact me)
Joyce was an active volunteer and docent at HMTC in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY, for many years. To learn about, and donate to, that non-profit:
Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center: hmtcli.org
To learn more about pancreatic cancer and donate towards its research:
Lustgarten Foundation: lustgarten.org
- short URL for this post: http://bit.ly/joycechinsky