Sophie (Jaffe) Banasiak

Sophie Jaffe Banasiak of Kensington passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2005 from dementia. She was 91 and had been a lifelong resident of Kensington and New Britain. Educated in New Britain public schools, she was a graduate of Teachers College of Connecticut (now CCSU) and completed graduate studies at Boston University. She was a teacher in the New Britain public schools for over 40 years. Active in teachers’ union affairs for 55 years, she was a leader in the establishment of teachers’ unions in a number of Connecticut cities including New Britain. Her other teachers’ union activities included a national vice presidency in the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO), and the presidency of the Connecticut Federation of Teachers. Her many civic activities included being secretary of United Way of New Britain for many years. She is survived by her husband John, her sister Freda Bernstein of West Hartford, her brother Morton Jaffe of New York, NY, and her nephews Joel Jaffe of Meriden, Allan Hartstein of Chappaqua, NY, David Hartstein of West Hartford, Marc Hartstein of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Jonathan Hartstein of Boulder, CO. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 29, 2005, at 12:30 PM with burial in the Beth Alom Cemetery, New Britain. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 96 Oak St., Hartford 06106, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Mrs. Banasiak with her family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.