Randie W. Malinsky, 64

A philanthropist who supported several Jewish organizations and developed a niche market for her family’s supermarket franchise, Lawrence native Randie W. Malinsky died at her home on Oct. 18 of lung cancer. She was 64.
Parents, Bernice and Ira Waldbaum, provided their daughter with an environment where she learned family values, a commitment to Jewish learning and had a quest for knowledge at an early age, according to her family.
After earning a master’s in business administration from Hofstra University, she worked in marketing for American Home Products. After awhile the family business, Waldbaum’s Supermarkets, beckoned. As the buyer of ethnic and kosher foods, Malinsky had them delivered straight to the stores, bypassing the warehouse. She also introduced and promoted a broad range of ethnic items, and developed marketing campaigns focused on the products, which included food festivals, competitions and holiday calendars. This niche market was imitated by a few of the more renowned supermarket chains in the world.
Malinsky was a true lover of life, family members said. She lived inside of each moment spontaneously and with great zest. Her intellectual curiosity knew no bounds. She continually strived to learn more history, culture, religion and current events.
She met her husband, Aaron Malinsky, on a blind date and for 44 years they were best friends and a true complement to one another, family members said. They traveled around the globe, explored museums in the U.S. and abroad. Her passions included contemporary art, porcelain painting and jewelry design, along with the theater, ballet and opera.

Her philanthropic activities focused on the Jewish Theological Seminary, where Malinsky served as board member of the Rabbinical School since 1994 and as the board’s chairwoman for the past five years. She supported the development of the Pastoral Care program and formed a connection with JTS and the Hebrew language program at Middlebury College.
The recently created Malinsky Fellowship will provide a living stipend to first-year rabbinical and cantorial students of the Rabbinical School and the H.L. Miller Cantorial School and the College of Jewish Music of JTS.
Several nonprofit organizations that had her service and support were, the Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry, the Eglevsky Ballet, the Auschwitz Jewish Center, the Rhinelander Center of the Children’s Aid Society and the Jewish Lens. Malinsky also served on the Art Collection Committee of the Jewish Museum and provided a grant for continued research to Uniting Against Lung Cancer.
Family members said she treasured her family. Malinsky is survived by her mother Bernice Waldbaum; husband Aaron; children Carolyn, Benjamin and David; daughter-in-law Rebecca and grandchildren Liam and Molly. Siblings, Martin Waldbaum; Arthur and Nadine Waldbaum, Nancy Waldbaum; Linda Malinsky; Debbie and David Orshevsky; five nieces; five nephews and many cousins and beloved friends.
A funeral service was held on Oct. 20 at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan.