Louis Worby

On February 1, Lou Worby passed away peacefully at home, with the light of his life and wife of sixty-nine years, Dr. Diana Zacharia Worby, at his side.

Louis Lincoln Worby was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn on February 12th (Lincoln's birthday), in 1919, the son of Itzchak (Irving) and Jane, and brother of Cecile, who currently resides in Florida. He attended James Madison High and later earned his AB degree from Brooklyn College. Lou served his country with distinction during World War II in the Pacific theater, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant with the 111th Infantry, and was awarded the Bronze Star.

Lou married Diana in 1947 and they moved to Rockland County in 1948, first to Nyack and later to Monsey, where they raised three children, Rachael, David, and Joshua. In 1974 Diana and Lou moved to their current home in Pomona, NY.

Lou was the co-owner of Hold-All Manufacturing Co., a maker of small hardware/houseware items, which began in 1964 and which soon grew out of its Spring Valley plant and moved to Suffern, NY, where Lou led the company to national distribution success. Later acquired by American Tack and Hardware in Monsey, Lou remained with the firm until his voluntary retirement at the age of 87.

With a lifetime passion for music, after his retirement he volunteered at senior facilities to play piano and sing. He also volunteered at the local Small Business Administration, guiding and mentoring young people, and at a local library where he was a tax preparer for senior citizens. He was an ardent golfer, and played regularly until his 94th year.

Lou was a fierce and tireless advocate for civil rights throughout his life, and in the 1950s he co-founded the Rockland County Brotherhood Festival, organizing civil rights rallies around the county. Always active in local politics, during the 1960s, he was elected to the Board of Education of what was then known as the Ramapo Central School District No. 2, and was eventually elected as President, where he fought for the needs and opportunities of all school children throughout the district.

In addition to his wife, children, and sister, Lou is survived by loving daughters-in-law Rory and Melanie; and adoring grandchildren Diana Louisa, Jess, Rebecca, Samuel, Andrea, and Hannah.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, February 4, at 11:00 am, at The Reform Temple of Rockland (Spring Valley Campus; formerly Temple Beth-El), 415 Viola Road, Spring Valley, NY, 10970. Interment will follow at the Frederick Loescher Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, on nearby Brick Church Road. Afterward, the family will receive visitors at the Worby home on 21 Camp Hill Road, Pomona, NY, until 4:30 pm; and in Westchester on Friday, February 5, at the home of David and Melanie Worby, 249 Bedford Center Road, Bedford Hills, NY, from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to not-for-profit organizations in the performing arts or to those which fight for civil rights and justice are apt expressions in honor of Lou Worby's legacy.