Renate Zeitlin

“I find that one's life is made up of blips of memory that seem to pop up out of nowhere. The challenge is to complete the puzzle into a meaningful portrait”. ~ Renate Zeitlin

Renate Zeitlin of Englewood, NJ passed away on December 30, 2021. She is survived by her three children Marc, Susan and Diane and her three grandchildren Zachary, Jason, and Hailey.

Just a few weeks prior to her death, Renate was a vibrant, strong, healthy, independent woman who appeared at least 15 years younger than her 90 years. She was still adding new destinations to her list of world travels she took in her golden years. Her genuine respect for people, their cultures, ethnicities and differences, guided her principals and shaped her legacy.

As a Jewish Russian immigrant, she narrowly escaped the horrors of the Holocaust, though many of her relatives did not. Still facing anti-Semitism in America, her family held no bitterness, just a love of NY and a thankfulness for what a new life and US citizenship offered them. Renate was passionate about politics, justice, and equality, always setting her sights on hope for a better future for the world. Whenever hurt or pain overwhelmed her, she kept in mind her favorite quote by Nelson Mandela: “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies”.

So unexpected, Renate was diagnosed in mid-December with pancreatic cancer. She passed away in her home with what was most important to her by her side, her family. Her memories and ideals live on.

Thanks for sharing your sympathies and respect. As an active contributor to many charitable causes, in lieu of flowers, Renate would have appreciated donations to any of the following organizations:

Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org

Equal Justice Initiative https://eji.org/

World Resource Institute https://www.wri.org/donate

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://www.pancan.org/

To honor her memory and reminisce, a gathering will be held outdoors for her in the Spring. Details to follow.

We invite you to share your sentiments with the Zeitlin family by clicking on the "Add a Memory" link below.