Miriam Graff, nutritionist and teacher, dies at 93

Miriam Graff, a longtime Merrick resident whose work as nutritionist and home economics teacher supported public health, died on May 28. She was 93.

Graff lived in Merrick for more than 50 years and taught home economics in East Meadow schools for 20 years. Before that, she was a nutritionist for the City of Waterbury, Conn., and the Yonkers TB and Health Association.

Born on Sept. 17, 1922, in Brooklyn, Graff (née Weinrib) grew up there and graduated from Eastern District High School and Brooklyn College. She then earned a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She married Sol Graff in 1945, when he returned home from U.S. Army service in World War II. They had three children: Eva, Vivian and Wayne. The Graffs were members of Temple Israel of South Merrick.

Miriam retired as a teacher in 1984, and she enjoyed traveling with Sol and learning new food recipes. Sol predeceased her in 1999.

She is survived by her daughter, Eva, and son-in-law, Steve Suchow; daughter, Vivian, and son-in-law, Richard Lewis; son, Dr. Wayne Graff, and daughter-in-law, Anne; and grandchildren, Jordan Suchow, Elliot and Gregory Lewis, and Kaitlin and Justin Graff.

Donations in Miriam’s honor can be made to Magen David Adom, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, or a charity of one’s choosing.