Phyllis Barlia Tracht Arnold, a lover of all things New York, active backer of Israel, devoted wife and mother, and the kind of attentive grandmother everybody should be so lucky to have, died on Jan. 19, 2020. Born Phyllis Spitalnik on Oct. 23, 1935, to Jack and Betty Spitalnik, Phyllis was raised on Grand Concourse in the Bronx and schooled at Taft High School. A graduate of New York University, she worked as an educator in the New York City public school system, then as a fund-raiser for nonprofit causes, both professionally and as a volunteer. The American Friends of the Rabin Medical Center honored her in 2015 for her years of leadership, including service on its board of directors. She was involved as well with the Israel Vocal Arts Institute. Her lifelong devotion to family and Judaism culminated in her bat mitzvah in 2017. She was predeceased by her husbands, David Barlia, Mike Tracht and Alvin Arnold; by her children, Kenny Tracht and Melissa Arnold; and by her sister and brother-in-law, Natalie and Eugene Oberdorfer. Survivors include her sister Barbara Rosenberg; her children Jacki Florin (Joel), Brian Barlia (Joanne), Allen Tracht (Donna), Marshall Tracht, Debbie Tracht (John Laframboise), and Laurence Arnold (Heather); and grandchildren David and Michelle Florin; Joseph, Adrienne, James and Billy Barlia; Michael (Caroline), Diane and Daniel Tracht; Anna and Adam Tracht; Danya and Micah Tracht; and Nadia and Justin Arnold. Service 11:15 a.m. Tuesday at “The Riverside,” 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Donations in Phyllis's memory are directed, with gratitude, to Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, 57 West 57th Street, Suite 904, New York NY, 10019.
