Helene was born on December 6, 1928 to Isidore and Dorothy Streisfeld in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from Hunter High School, she went on to earn an undergraduate degree from New York University and a master's degree in psychology from Syracuse University.
Shortly after earning her master's degree, she married and focused on raising her five children. Helene then went on to law school at Case Western Reserve University and graduated with a law degree in 1978. Helene practiced primarily domestic relations law in Cleveland.
Helene was very active in civic affairs, participating in the League of Women Voters and the ACLU. She served as president of the LOWV in Paramus, New Jersey and on the Board of Directors in Shaker Heights. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio ACLU.
In addition to her civic activities, Helene was a skilled duplicate bridge player, attaining Silver Life Master status. She enjoyed playing competitively with friends for more than three decades and cherished her time at the bridge table. Helene was also a very competitive tennis player and made many lifelong friends who she met on the tennis court.
In addition to interest in bridge and tennis, Helene was a devoted bird watcher and traveled all over the world to pursue that passion. Helene was also an avid reader and actively participated in the same book club that she originally joined in 1965.
Although Helene lived in apartments the last few decades of her life, she greatly enjoyed gardening and under her green thumb, plants flourished on her patios or ground floor terraces.
Helene and her family moved from the East Coast to Cleveland in 1965. Although Helene had left New York, “New York” never left Helene, who was well known for her direct and honest demeanor. She was a tough opponent, whether it was in the court room, a tennis court, or at the bridge table.
Although Helene led an incredibly accomplished life, she often boasted that her greatest achievement was the raising of her five children.
Helene was predeceased by her son, Michael and brother, Fred Streisfeld. She is survived by her children Jeff (Lisa), Steve (Lorrayne), David (Christine) and Susan (Dean Grosshandler), as well as six grandchildren, Annie Singer (Andrew), John (Emma Burdekin), Jake, Daniel, Ben and Ellie.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Jeffrey and Lisa Weiss, 7490 Hunters Hollow Trail in Novelty, OH on Tuesday, July 23 from 3 PM to 7 PM.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the ACLU of Ohio or to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.bkbmc.com for the Weiss family.
Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel (216) 932-7900.
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