Hadassah Paul

Hadassah Paul passed away unexpectedly early Wednesday morning October 28, 2015 with her daughter and son-in-law at her side. Born in Jerusalem’s Batei Ungarin neighborhood to Pnina and Yehoshua Nagler, she was one of six children. With a childhood shaped by the Israel War of Independence, Hadassah worked her way through high school, proudly served in the Israel Defense Forces and then earned her B.A. in Psychology at Hebrew University.

Hadassah travelled to the U.S. on a Fulbright Scholarship and earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at Wayne State University where she also met her husband. The young couple moved to Long Island, NY, and there Elahna was born.

Hadassah was Professor of Psychology at Hofstra University for several decades where she took great joy in nurturing the developing careers of young professionals. She lived most of her life in Rockville Centre, NY where she cultivated a magical garden when she wasn’t off playing in the city or exploring the world. More recently she resided in Canton, MA with a bevy of new friends at Orchard Cove.

A voracious reader of history and The New York Times, Hadassah was always eager to debate world affairs past, present and future, endlessly puzzling over ways to make the world a fair and peaceful place for people of all creeds and nations.

Hadassah is survived by her daughter Elahna Paul and son-in-law Hal LaCroix of Somerville, MA, her step granddaughter Kelsey LaCroix of Pittsburgh, PA, her brother Itzhak Nagler and his wife Benyamina of Timrat, Israel, her sister Miriam Sofer of Jerusalem, Israel, and a cascade of much loved nieces and nephews scattered throughout Israel and beyond.

Friday October 30, 2015, at 12 noon Hadassah will be buried in the garden arboretum of Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge amidst trees as tall, strong and beautiful as she once was. Remembrances may be made to the Jewish National Fund, 77 Franklin Street, Boston, 02110 or a charity of your choice. Memorial observance at the home of Elahna and Hal following the service and continuing Sunday and Monday, 1-4:00 and 7-9:00pm.