Sidney Bender

Beloved Husband of Marilyn Bender, devoted father of Fern Bender Mullins, Janine Bender Phillips, and Risa Bender (Benjamin Klubes), brother of the late Bernard Bender, Lou Bender and Nettie Petrofsky, cherished “Zayde” to Morgan Mullins (Jared Leader), Juliet Mullins, Jake Phillips (Shana), Landon Phillips, Sophia Klubes, Joshua Klubes, and great grandfather to Rory Bender Leader and Sienna Jade Phillips, passed away comfortably in his home.

Sidney was born on June 8, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from Baltimore City College (High School) in 1945, Sid joined the United States Navy, and then he used the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Maryland for his undergraduate and law degrees as well as becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He then went on to obtain his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University Law School.

The big story actually started when, as a counselor at Camp Kittatinny, Sidney met the love of his life, Marilyn Spirgel, when he asked her to dance on July 1, 1949; he recounted that story until the day he passed. During their 74-year marriage, they made a home and life in New York where they raised three daughters. Since then, they were blessed with six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Sidney practiced law in New York for more than 50 years at a premier boutique plaintiffs’ securities litigation firm. His tenacity and optimism as a litigator made him a force. He often regaled his family with tales of his “Banana case” against United Fruit Company and the 32 year-long litigation against General Motors. No challenge deterred him, and he had the honor of arguing twice in the United States Supreme Court.

Most importantly, nothing meant more to Sidney than his family. Vacations with his grandchildren always had a special place in his heart. He was each of his daughters (and their friends), son-in-law and grand-children’s biggest, proudest and most supportive fan for every success, milestone and accomplishment and, of course, he was proud of their character and values for which he provided a shining inspiration and model.

Sid cared deeply about people. He was a fierce yet compassionate advocate and very involved in the Jewish community, while engaging in many causes and organizations over the years.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, April 7, 2025 at Parkside Memorial Chapel, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY followed by a family internment at Mount Hebron Cemetery, 130-04 Horace Harding Expy, Kew Garden Hills, NY 11367.

Contributions may be made in memory of Sidney Bender to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center https://giving.mskcc.org/

and to the Jewish National Fund https://my.jnf.org/memorial/SidneyBender

A Funeral Service will be held at Parkside Memorial Chapels, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375, US, on April 7, 2026, at 12:00 pm, with a live stream available at https://fweb.tv/250664

A Committal Service will follow at Mount Hebron Cemetery, 130-04 Horace Harding Expy, Flushing, NY 11367, US, on April 7, 2026, at 1:30 pm.