Isabel R Schmerler

Mrs. Schmerler was born in 1942 in New York, the daughter of Alex and Ida Schwartz. She graduated magna cum laude from Brooklyn College, where she studied Romance languages and art. After graduation, she worked for NBC News. She later became managing director of production and finance for ABC News. She retired in 1999 to devote herself full-time to her artwork. Her watercolors of Maine and France were exhibited last year in a one-woman show. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, David Schmerler, a retired NBC television news executive; brother Laurence Schwartz; sisters-in-law Gladys Demick and Ruth Schwartz; nieces Barbara Demick, Diane Bindler and Ellen Schwartz; and nephew Steven Schwartz. Funeral services will be held Sunday, Sept. 16 at 10.30 a.m. at Gutterman and Muiscant Jewish Funeral Directors. 402 Park Street Hackensack, N.J. Tel. 1-800-522-0588. (www.guttermanandmusicant.com.) Burial will follow at the Cedar Park Cemetery, Paramus, N.J. In place of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Villa Marie Claire Hospice of Saddle River, N.J. where Mrs. Schmerler spent the last days of her life in tranquility. http://www.villamarieclaire.org/support.asp