from congestive heart failure. She was born July 4, 1928 in the Bronx, NY to Clara and Harry
Rappoport. She attended PS 95, The High School of Music and Art, New York University and CW
Post College. She taught music in the Farmingdale NY public schools for 29 years, and belonged
to numerous organizations including Midway Jewish Center, Or Olam, B’nai B’rith Women,
Hadassah, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, AAUW, The American Red Cross, The New York Choral
Society, and the NYU Alumni Association.
Rita is survived by her sister, Geraldine Weiss and her daughters: Gail (Steven) Gelfand, Carol
Epstein, Myra (Peter) Cole, grandchildren: Nathalie (Geoffroy) Fauquier, Lauren Cole (Peter
Fackler), Ariel (Ben) Trajtenberg and Daniel Cole (Jessica Eisenberg) and 8 great grandchildren:
Eliana Trajtenberg, Sophia Cole, Claire Fauquier, Jeaneva Cole, Sarina Trajtenberg, Emma Fackler, Eva Fauquier, and Henry Fackler.
The funeral will be held at OR Olam – The 55th Street Synagogue at 10:30 am on Wednesday,
December 20, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donation to The New York Choral Society (nychoral.org) would be appreciated
