Harriet Lefkowitz's Obituary
LEFKOWITZ
HARRIET, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and artist, died on August 14, 2013, at the age of 95. She was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, then moved to New York where she first met the love of her life, Morty, who she married in 1938. She spent the earlier days of her marriage focusing on building and nurturing her family, then as her children grew, she deepened her study of art at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. In 1952, she, Morty and their two children moved to Miami Beach, eventually settling in Miami Shores, her home for the next 46 years. In Miami she studied art at the University of Miami with Eugene Massin, and then privately with James Billmyer and Nieves Billmyer, who had studied with Hans Hofmann. In the late 1950’s, she was one of 9 female artists joined by a common interest in abstract art and a shared vision of forming a cooperative art gallery. They established the Continuum Gallery of Miami Beach, FL. Among the famous artists that the Continuum brought to South Florida to teach were Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, Peter Kahn, and famed photographer Roman Vishniac. The Continuum Gallery, located in a downstairs space on Lincoln Road, foreshadowed the rebirth of that area. During the next 40 years she flourished as a painter, exhibiting in several galleries, teaching as an adjunct professor at Florida International University and teaching privately, winning several awards for her work. Celebrated Miami artist Eugene Massin wrote about her in 1986:
“as a teacher, she creates an excitement and an awareness of the inner feelings and sensitivities in the classroom environs…. Her superior talent and discipline embody the background of her personal and scholastic experiences. Her integrity and creativity have led her to make significant contributions, not only in working with her students, but her involvement in community affairs in relation to the arts.” Harriet was predeceased by her beloved Morty, who died in 1987. She is survived by her children, Judy (Julian) and Paul (Joan), her five grandchildren: Abram Kreeger (Julie), David Kreeger (Karen) and Daniel Kreeger (Caitlyn), and Jeffrey Lefkowitz (Melissa) and Samuel Lefkowitz, and six great-grandchildren. The family wishes to express special thanks to her devoted caregiver, Maisie Owen, who helped make Harriet’s final years more comfortable. Memorial Service, Sunday, August 18th at 10:15 a.m. at Temple Sinai of Hollywood, 1400 N. 46th Avenue, Hollywood.
BLASBERG-RUBIN-ZILBERT
(305) 538-6371
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