Obituary of Judith Kaskel

Judith A. Kaskel , age 71 passed away on Wednesday afternoon, January 21, 2009 at Albany Medical Center, with her son Michael, nephew Dean, and caring nurse Beth, by her side. Judith was born in NYC in 1937, to the late Milton and Sylvia Altmark. Judith graduated from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, and then attended Syracuse University. After graduation she returned to NYC where she became a fabric designer for Cohn Hall Marx and Boris Kroll Fabrics. In 1962, Judith moved to Albany, as she married the late Dr. David Kaskel, and began her art teaching career at Mohonasen Central School. She volunteered with the Albany Jewish Community Center's Senior Citizens members. Later, she taught for the Albany City Schools in schools, 18, 19, 20, 23, & 26. She was the recipient of Albany High School's PTA Distinguished Service Award and was nominated to their National Life Membership, as well as receiving several other educational and art awards. She also taught at the Albany Institute of History and Art as well as several area day camps. Judith was a member of Congregation Beth Emeth where she continued to teach Religious School for over 26 years. She had been a member of several service organization and spent many years coordinating the volunteers for the Beth Emeth Partnership Soup Kitchen as well as helping them with the annual garage sale. Her love of the community had taken her into several area nursing homes as a volunteer lay chaplain working with the United Jewish Federation. Her membership in the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) was one of the highlights in her life. She was the co-chair of their Healing/Spirituality network for 11 years. In her "spare" time she spent countless hours on her hobbies...gardening and recycling for a better environment. After 9 1/2 years of battling breast, bladder, and 4 times of lung cancer, she met many wonderful survivors and their caretakers and was a very strong advocate for the Lung Cancer Alliance. Judith was a member of Gilda's Club in the Capital Region and Abigail Lodge # 3 United Order of True Sisters in Albany. Judith was predeceased by her husband, Dr. David L. Kaskel. She is survived by her son, Michael, as well as her sister Lucille(Dr. Roger Berg) of New Jersey and their children Lauren(Rich), Eileen(Ken), Myles(Samantha), and Brian(Janine), as well as her brother-in-law, Dr. Stewart Kaskel of Glenmont, NY( late Marylinne) and their children Rick(Melissa), Ira, Dean(Lorrie). We are most grateful to the Doctors and nurses at, St. Peters, & Albany Medical Centers, NY Oncology Hematology, Prime Care Physicians, and Pulmonary and Critical Care, and the various Cardiology groups. Services at Congregation Beth Emeth:100 Academy Rd., Albany, on Sun. Jan. 25, at 1:30 PM, followed by interment in the Beth Emeth Cemetery on Turner Lane in Loudonville, NY. To celebrate Judith's life, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Beth Emeth's Soup Kitchen Fund, or the Religious School Fund , 100 Academy Rd:Albany, NY 12208 or to the Lung Cancer Alliance, care of Warren St Albany, NY 12208. The period of mourning will be observed at the Kaskel residence on Sunday following the service of interment through 6:00pm and commencing again on Monday from 5-8pm.