Sylvia Deutsch

Mrs. Deutsch retired in 1990 after serving as Chair of the New York City Planning Commission and Director of City Planning, the first woman to ever do so. Previously, she was the Chair of the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals and a member of the City Planning Commission. Prior to that she was tapped by the Mayor in 1970 to organize and lead the first-ever proportional representation elections for city school boards, and served for many years in several leadership roles with the American Jewish Congress. She began her career as a local PTA President, a leader of the United Parent-Teachers Association, and as a community and public education activist. She was a force of nature, rising quickly to leadership positions in every organization she volunteered for.

Sylvia graduated Brooklyn College in 1946, where she met her husband of 73 years, Leon. She was born in Brooklyn, where she resided until retiring to New Jersey in 2010. Having been raised by immigrant parents in a Jewish household, but having no formal Jewish trainings as a little girl, she and Leon took classes together in Hebrew so she could participate more actively in Shabbat and holiday services, and also joined Young Judea to support the formation and defense of the State of Israel. She was active in Jewish causes her entire adult life. Sylvia was a lover of natural beauty and history, and cherished (and, of course, planned and organized) her travels all over the world with Leon, keeping meticulous diaries of every trip they ever took, starting in 1963. Even before that, she organized regular family weekend car trips all over the Northeast to tour historic sights and notable attractions. She enjoyed classical music, show tunes, Broadway, ballet, and opera.

Sylvia Deutsch is survived by her sons Jack, of Staten Island New York (Michelle Deutsch), Nathaniel, of Washington, D.C., and Jeremy of Bayside, New York (Wendy Goldman), and her beloved grandchildren, Steven, Lauren, Alexander (Madeline), Jason, and Russell. May her memory be a blessing.