Edith Bandura was a native New Yorker born in the Bronx in 1926. She grew up near Van Cortland Park, in the shadow of Yankee Stadium and eventually moved to Washington Heights because her dad did not want to live across the street and be subjected to the noise of the hundreds of kids attending this new addition to the neighborhood. Growing up with her Mom, Sonia, and Dad, Michael, and her older sister Eva and brother Albert, Edith was the youngest of 3 children. She was also the most feisty and beautiful (inside and out!) of all the children.
They all would eventually travel to Europe to visit their family and friends back in Bialystok, Poland. While traveling the rail trains, one memorable trip in 1937 or 1938 occurred at a railway station stopover in Poland. The Nazi SS and their thugs boarded the train asking for “papers.” Edith’s father (Michael) warned the children not to speak at all and do everything they might be instructed to do. Luckily the family only witnessed the cruelty of the officers, exposing the film of all their cameras to the light of day, thereby erasing cherished family memories. It was a powerful realization of the unprecedented horrors of what life in Europe would soon become.
After WW2, Edith decided to join the New School’s Actors Studio and embark on a life in theater and film. Maybe Hollywood was calling her name or perhaps it was the stage life where she would perfect her new found passion for acting. Well, NYC won, and she never lost sight of her purpose or life’s true calling. And that kid sister, now an adult in Manhattan, proved how street smart she really was when she indirectly denied the likely advances of the handsome talented rising star Marlon Brando. The story goes that her future husband, George Bandura, was studying Method acting at the Actors Studio with his brother Bill. Bill and Marlon were buddies and one conversation in the studio hallways between the 2 of them went something like this… “Hey Bill, see that beautiful girl over there?” Yes Marlon, I see her and happen to know her well. She is quite attractive, funny and a lovely person! Marlon responded… “Bill, please introduce me to her. I think she and I would be great together! Brother Bill responded affirmatively... “That might be true but you will never know!” Why is that Bill? Marlon asked sheepishly. “Because that beautiful girl Edith is dating my brother George and he is about to ask her to marry him!”
Edith married George Bandura in 1946 without the blessings of her mom and dad because she fell in love with her True Love who was not of the Jewish faith. It was not until 7 years later, when their son, Timothy John, was born that a reconciliation occurred. The reason was simple…Aunt Sivee went to Sonia and Michael and scolded them in her own marvelous way leaving no doubt of the mistake they were making! She was right, because although he was not raised Jewish, George was a Mensch and became a lifelong devoted son-in-law to them both.
Edith was a working mom before the term was even coined. She entered the workforce first working as an assistant to Jack Parr on his weekly television broadcast. One of the first of its kind in the industry that would influence the culture of the country’s entertainment and information dissemination. That ultimately led her to change course as she moved on to her climb up the ladder in the cosmetics industry that led to management positions at Revlon. Here she worked with John Revson for several decades. She later found opportunities with a rising star of the accessories business in the likes of Carlos Falchi. He was a revolutionary designer from Brazil who produced some of the most sought after leather goods ever created. As a side note, Edith never imagined that one day she would be Grandmother to a wonderful family of Brazilian children who are now all successful adults with interesting careers.
Edie was a city girl, native New Yorker and a devotee of Manhattan and all it had to offer, especially the theater, museums and restaurants. She loved it so much she combined her love of the arts with group tap dance lessons at the world famous Broadway Dance with established stars teachers and promising young Artists. Eventually moving into her best friend Gloria’s building in a little studio on East 58th street, it was a joy to ride the crosstown bus over to the center. She enjoyed dancing for decades starting at the age of 64 with close friends and new friends kept coming. Keeping her young, engaged and sharp!
Her whole life, Edith loved to travel. From a young age and throughout her adult life, she traveled across the globe. Poland, Paris, Bangkok, to name only a few, and wherever she landed, she reveled in the adventure. But, thanks to Tim, Brazil gave her the gift of a marvelous extended family. She had never quite experienced what any culture was truly like until she was welcomed by Tim’s two marriages, first to Shelia (m. 1988-1992) and then to Val (m. 2003-present). With lots of love, and wonderful children, Tim’s blended family enriched Edith with the blessing of daughters-in-law, grandchildren (Fernanda, Diogo, Bruno, Leticia, Dandara and Bella), and great grandchildren (Rafael and Sarah).
Years later, at the tender age of 90, she would return to Jackson Heights, to be closer to her favorite granddaughter, Bella. In her decision to move back to the old hood, she decided on The Monroe, where she and her husband had raised her Timothy John. She embraced the golden memories of raising her only son with her Wonderful Georgie. Ever the optimist, she knew she would create new memories, and new friends, which she absolutely achieved, always looking on the bright side of life. She told Tim many times during difficult moments… “I felt sorry for myself till I saw the man with no legs!” A lesson about fortitude and resilience that was her mantra for living life to its fullest. Which is exactly what she did. She will forever remain a shining example for all of us, most especially for her grandchildren.
After Gloria, her best lifelong friend passed on to the Great Beyond, as she called it, each morning started from her “penthouse” living room window, waiting to wave to little Bella, her pride and joy, on the way to 6th grade with her Daddy. This would continue through till mid 9th grade when the Great Pandemic got in the way. But tenth grade had returned to in-person classes again on campus, Bella had “grown up” and was now time challenged in the mornings but still managed to look up and wave good morning!
Edith would have turned 97 and a half this April 20th. Up to the end, she loved listening to and telling a good story, belting out a show tune, and she was dedicated to seeing Bella graduate from Smith College. Last June at Bella’s high school graduation, she walked the grounds of Queens Botanical Gardens refusing the safety concerns of her son and got her wish to see Bella move into the next chapter of her young life. Later that night, at the end of the dinner celebration, she rose up from her chair and demonstrated to the dozen of us (always the actress) some tap dance moves! Watching her enthusiastic joy, she proclaimed, without an ounce of alcohol in her body, simply pure optimism and a love of life, that she will bear witness to Bella’s Smith College graduation! A true testament to her indomitable spirit and love of life. She was truly a force of nature right up until her peaceful transition from this material world. We all know that Edith will be here in spirit, always and everywhere we go.
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