Marcia Siegler dies at 95

Former Woodmere resident Marcia Siegler, was passionate about helping her husband in his professional work life. In her free time, she spent her time helping those in her community doing volunteer work. Siegler died on Dec. 12 after a battle with bladder cancer. She was 95.

Born on Dec. 13, 1926, in the Bronx, Marcia Malawista spent her childhood growing up on the Grand Concourse. She attended Walton High School, and at 16, in 1943, was doing so well academically that she graduated and went to the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a biology degree in 1947. Initially, she interned at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and worked in a biology lab. 

She met her soon-to-be husband, Dr. Alvin Siegler, on a double date, and the two of them at the time were with different partners. Her son, Dr. S. Lewis Siegler, said his father’s friend, who was dating his mother then, lost interest in her. His father then swooped in, and the two began dating around 1947. They got married on Nov. 30, 1947, and spent time in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and then settled in Woodmere in 1957 for more than 20 years. Her daughter, Dr. Judith Siegler, said that the South Shore Record was her paper of choice to get her most up-to-date news in the Five Towns. 

Her husband was an OBGYN physician and had an office in Brooklyn. She helped her husband in every way possible to be the best he could be. “They were partners in everything,” Judith said.

Marcia worked in her husband’s Brooklyn office, working to help organize her husband’s medical files, traveling with him and editing his medical books he wrote while being a professor at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn.

Helping out was her passion, regardless of who it was. “She is somebody who tried to connect with people and expressed an interest in them,” S. Lewis said. “It didn’t matter their background; her heart was open for everyone.”

He recalls when he was a teenager in the mid-1960s, Marcia returned to school and attained a master's degree in education at Hofstra University. She applied her newly earned education as an English second language volunteer teacher with National Council of Jewish Women.

“She and my dad were very fortunate, and because he was a physician, they were privileged,” Judith said. “She was all about giving back and helping people who didn’t have the kind of education and opportunity she had.” While at NCJW, she served as president from 1979 to 1981 and was NCJW's representative to the United Nations. 

In the late 1990s, Marcia and Alvin retired to Florida for retirement. Alvin died in 2013. Marcia was living  at Maplewood at Danbury, a senior living facility in Connecticut, when she died.

Friends of Marcia shared their love for their  friend on tributearchive.com.  Donna Ritchie wrote:, “She has touched so many people in her long life and will be missed.” Rick, Debbie, and Doris Litt wrote:, “She was always kind, sweet and extremely generous and hospitable.”

Services were held  at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home in Woodbury, Connecticut on Dec. 21. She was interred at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Queens a day later.

Siegler is survived by her daughter Dr. Judith Siegler and son Dr. S. Lewis Siegler.