Long-time Howard Beach resident to be remembered

Esther Rotkel, long-time resident of Howard Beach, passed away on February14 following a brief stay in the hospital. She was 79 years old.
Rotkel was a New York City educator whose exceptional talent had enabled her to graduate from Hunter College at the age of 17, still too young to be employed as a full-time teacher.
Once she turned 18, she was employed as a permanent teacher and later worked training other educators.
Because of her age, friends say, she was often mistaken for a student.
Following her retirement, Rotkel devoted more of her time to community work, serving as president of both the Howard Beach and Queens branches of Americans for Israel and Torah (AMIT) Women Inc., a fund-raising group for children in Israel. Concurrently, Rotkel also served as secretary for the Howard Beach branch of AMIT.
According to those who knew her, Rotkel worked for others — especially the elderly who had come to rely on her for transportation — tirelessly.
“When Esther was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, February 10, her only thought was for the people she had promised rides to on Tuesday and Wednesday,” said long-time friend and attorney Frank E. Allan.
Amit Women Inc. has arranged for a memorial service for Rotkel. The service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 18 at the Rockwood Park Jewish Center, located at 156-45 84th Street in Howard Beach.