Sophie (Barron) Bialeck

Sophie Bialeck, wife of the late Raymond L Bialeck and daughter of the late Harry and Anna (Tevlin) Barron, died March 13, 2020, in West Hartford. She was born on May 26, 1914 and was predeceased by her brothers George and Milton Barron. She attended Derby, Connecticut, schools and graduated from Southern State Teachers College. As a student she was active in student government and athletics. She taught in the Milford school system and after taking a brief time to raise a family. Sophie returned to teaching in the Hartford school system where she taught first and second grades at the West Middle School and took an active interest in monitoring the development of her students. Sophie was an active athlete and was an excellent swimmer and a good basketball player. She also had a green thumb and could often be found during her retirement years in her garden in the spring and summer. She was also very active in the community. Sophie was active in the Hartford Federation of Teachers, the Jewish Association for Community Living, the Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens, Hadassah and the Jewish Historical Society. She loved to knit and her sweaters were legendary; in her later years she knitted baby clothes as a volunteer. Her sense of humor was second to no one. Sophie is survived by her children Janet Bialeck, Alan Bialeck and Richard Bialeck and his wife, Margery Bialeck; her granddaughter, Alison, and her husband Craig Rawlinson and their children Emily and Max, and her grandson Hal Bialeck and his three sons Ryan, Grant and Zach; and many relatives and friends. Sophie lived through two world wars, the rise and fall of communism in Russia, the industrial revolution, the great depression, the great recession, the atomic age, and the turbulent ’60’s, the birth and evolution of women’s rights and the rise of Israel from the depths of the Holocaust. And all this while she cared for the less fortunate and the handicapped without wavering. It is her efforts in this area, where she worked tirelessly for the right of the handicapped to be integrated into the community, for which she would want to be remembered and for which she will be remembered. Her compassion for the less fortunate is her legacy. The family would like to express special thanks to Lynette and Marge and to two special friends, Sue and Judy. Donations in remembrance of Sophie may be made to the Jewish Association for Community Living (JCL) (info@jcl-ct.org). As a special remembrance, I would like to leave with this: I use to stay with my mother before she retired for the evening. When I was leaving I would say good night mommy…and she would reply good night Allie. One final time…goodnight mommy!! Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105.

A graveside service is to be held at United Synagogues of Greater Hartford, Jordan Ln, Wethersfield, CT 06109 (opposite Stop & Shop) on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 11:00. For further information, direction, or to sign a guest book for Sophie Bialeck, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm

Donations in remembrance of Sophie may be made to the Jewish Association for Community Living (JCL) (info@jcl-ct.org).