Lillian Alpert

Lillian was born in New York City on December 17, 1917 to Isadore (Harry) Stettner and Anna Goldberg. Her family moved from Washington Heights in Manhattan to Brooklyn when she was a baby, so she grew up as a proud Brooklynite. After graduating from high school, she worked for a printing company and then enrolled as a Nurse Cadet during World War II. Because war ended before she graduated, she was never deployed but worked as a hospital nurse until her children were born. Once her last child entered Kindergarten, Lillian resumed her career by becoming a School Nurse, so her work responsibilities did not conflict with her devotion to her growing family.

She met her future husband Peter Alpert through mutual friends. They got married on June 19, 1945, and remained together until his death in 1999. Lil and Pete were the proudest parents of three children (Bert [Irene], Allen [Susan], and Elaine [Bill Marsh]), seven grandchildren (Jennifer [Michael Wong], Jordan [Arlene Stevens], Ben [Yael Benstock], Megan [Michael Bordes], Sarah [Francisco Lopez], Dan [Lauren Grilli], and Steve), and twelve great grandchildren ranging in age from 14 months to 15 years (Zachary, Ari, Jonah, Isabella, Max, Cody, Ida, Joss, Diego, Riley, Logan, and Lucero). She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends and “chosen family,” especially staff and friends at her senior residence, Atria Park of Great Neck.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents Harry and Anna, her three siblings Max, Mae, and Jack, and her beloved youngest grandson Steve Glidden.

In addition to raising a large, loving, and devoted family, Lillian and Pete were part of an extended social network of over 40 friends that they affectionately called “the gang.” She outlived all but one member of her circle of friends, including her dearest friend Leonora Chertoff. Lillian was an avid lifelong self-directed learner and was active in Brooklyn College’s educational activities for retired alumni and community members. She loved attending lectures, opera, orchestral, and theater productions both in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Lillian’s thirst for learning and embracing every possible new experience enabled her to travel domestically with various members of “the gang” on Elder Hostel (now called Road Scholar) trips throughout the United States, and internationally with family to Great Britain, France, Monaco, and Canada.

Lillian’s wordplay, wit, and sense of humor were legendary. She did Wordle every day (yes she was technologically quite adept) and loved playing Scrabble both as a board game and online. She won her last Scrabble game fair and square just a few weeks ago. Her last smile, just a day before she passed, was in response to her son-in-law telling her a groaner joke! In addition, family and friends were frequent recipients of her marvelous talent with poetry to recognize birthdays, anniversaries, and other meaningful events. Her quick wit kept all on their toes – laughter, as she knew, was “good medicine.”

Lillian also was civically active, and devoted substantial effort to a number of philanthropic organizations. In the 1980s, Lillian co-founded and co-directed a small local organization called Stop Nuclear Arms Proliferation (SNAP). After her grandson Steve’s death in 2001, she served as a Trustee of the Steve Glidden Foundation, a charitable organization created in his memory.

Lillian valued, respected, and cared about virtually everyone she met, and received bountiful love in return. In her later years, she was a trusted mentor and confidante not only of family members and her many friends, but also of innumerable staff members at her senior residence.

A small graveside service will be held for immediate biological and chosen family. A Celebration of Life is in the planning stages. In lieu of flowers, the family donations can be made to the Steve Glidden Foundation (www.stevegliddenfoundation.org) or to a charity of your choice.

Lillian’s gifts to the world are immeasurable. May her memory be a blessing.