Obituary of Mona R. Brickman

Mona Ruth Brickman, 60, died on Tuesday, June 8, after a severe asthma attack following a long period of serious medical problems. Born in Albany, Mona attended Albany High School, Elmira College and Syracuse University, then moved to Tucson, Ariz., before returning to the Capital Region in 1976. She worked for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for many years before taking early retirement due to disability. Mona was a lover of music, art, ceramics, jewelry and gemstones, home decorating, and animals. Her former pets included a basenji dog, two Maine coon cats, and several birds, among them two monk parakeets, two Goffin cockatoos, and a sun conure. When she was able, Mona loved to travel, especially to the islands of Aruba and St. Maarten, where she was always quick to make friends. She also loved seltzer, drinking it constantly wherever she went. Her true passions were cooking and gardening, both of which she made into great creative endeavors with spectacular results. In the early years of the Knowledge Network, Mona taught cooking classes in her kitchen on Roosevelt Street, and she cooked recreationally with Dale Miller, one of the area's most celebrated chefs. Survivors include her mother, Dorice Brickman, of Albany; a daughter, Amy Iselin, of Clinton; two sisters, Ellen Brickman and Anna (Ben) Demo, and a brother, David (Karen) Brickman, all of Albany; two nieces, Rita and Leah Demo; and a nephew, Noah Jensen. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Mona's father, Norman Brickman, passed away in September 2008. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 12 noon on Friday, June 11, at the Levine Memorial Chapel, 649 Washington Avenue, Albany. Donations in Mona's memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.