Joyce Baumgarten

Funeral Services for Joyce will be on Friday August 2, 2024 10:00AM, at the Westchester Reform Temple (Center For Jewish Learning) 255 Mamaroneck Road Scarsdale, New York 10583. Following Services, Burial will be at the Sharon Gardens Cemetery 275 Lakeview Avenue Valhalla, New York. For any additional information, please contact The Riverside Memorial Chapel at 914-664-6800.

Joyce Baumgarten, a beacon of light, optimism, and love, a cherished mother, grandmother, soon-to-be great-grandmother, aunt, colleague, and friend, passed away on July 27, 2024. She was the youngest of four daughters, born in New York City on May 17, 1934, to Bessie Berger Reingold and Philip Reingold.

Joyce graduated from The Dalton School, NYC, NY, in 1952 and went on to attend Endicott College in Beverly, MA, where she earned her Associate Degree.

Joyce married her beloved husband, Malcolm Bernard Baumgarten, of blessed memory, on January 23, 1958. They were married for 52 years.

Joyce was exceptionally generous, thoughtful, compassionate, kind, loving, and wise.

She was a role model and inspiration to her children and grandchildren, whom she adored and who treasured her with all of their hearts. She dropped anything she was doing when any of them called or needed her, and her eyes lit up with joy when any of them walked into a room. Joyce made each child feel uniquely special and so very loved. Nothing in her life ever took precedence over spending time with her family.

Joyce was uniquely dedicated to her grandchildren and never missed a camp visiting day, birthday party, soccer, basketball, or volleyball game, band or chorus concert, or school play. Never!

Joyce was a dog lover, and she loved her loyal friends, Brody, Jack, and Sawyer - her “furry grandchildren” - with all of her heart, and they “woofed” her in return

Joyce had an incredibly infectious laugh and boundless energy. She could often be found baking, reading, watching the news, and catching up on her shows way past midnight.

She loved sports and, in her heyday, was a Club Ladies Singles Tennis Champion Joyce enjoyed playing golf and was a diehard NY sports fan!

She lived her life with passion and gratitude, always counting her blessings, with an awareness of those less fortunate and in need. She focused her charitable efforts towards St. Jude’s Hospital, The MS Society, Make A Wish Foundation, Covenant House, UJA, Feeding Westchester, and the ASPCA.

Joyce loved her country and believed strongly in protecting our Democracand women’s rights, together with all of the freedoms and rights afforded to every American under our Constitution and the Rule of Law. Her political activism began in the 1960s, working on the presidential campaign s for both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.

She was the first woman elected to the position of Chairperson for the Democratic Party in the Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, NY, where she served for seven years. As Chairperson, Joyce spearheaded both the successful election in 1971 of the Honorable George Bland, the first Black man elected to the Greenburgh Town Council Greenburgh, as well as the election of Tony Veteran, the first Democrat to be elected as Greenburgh Town Supervisor in over 75 years, holding position for the next 18 years. Before Joyce became Chairperson, there was not a single Democrat holding office in the Town of Greenburgh. By the time she left office seven years later, all elected officials were Democrats.

Serving as Vice Chairperson of the Westchester Democratic Committee, Joyce successfully worked on the election of Alfred DelBello to Westchester County Executive and continued her support for DelBello in an Executive role when he was elected Lieutenant Governor, under Governor Mario Cuomo.

Joyce worked at the the New York public affairs firm Geto & de Milly, Inc. for more than 30 years, handling community, government and public relations. The role showcased her talent for bringing people together to find common ground, and her work with the firm is visible today across the City. She was most proud to help ensure the successful development of Brooklyn’s Metrotech Center, completed in 2004, which led to the transformation of Downtown Brooklyn into the epicenter of commerce and culture it is today. She was also thrilled to work on community and government approvals for the design and construction of The New York Times Headquarters building in 2007 and Barclays Center, the famed Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment Arena in 2012.

Additionally, Joyce served on the Board of Directors for Metropolis Country Club for six years.

The world is a much better place because Joyce Baumgarten was here, and it will not be the same without her!

Rest in peace beautiful Nanny. We will all hold you in our hearts forever and one day we know we will meet again.

HKL!

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Beth Warren; her son, Douglas Baumgarten; her son-in-law, Scott Warren; her daughter-in-“love,” Lauren Baumgarten; her four cherished granddaughters, Jennifer Warren, Jamie Brett, Amy Baumgarten, Kimmy Baumgarten and her two grandsons-in-law, Jordan Brett and Robbie Patterson.

Donations can be made to The Autoimmune Association, Calvary Hospital, St. Jude’s, or Feeding Westchester.

Shiva is as Follows:

Friday August 2, 2024 4PM - 7PM

Saturday August 3, 2024 4PM - 8PM

Both Days at the Warren Residence:

105 Walworth Avenue

Scarsdale, New York 10583

914-907-6726

Join the service live stream at the Westchester Reform Temple website --> https://wrtemple.org/live-stream/ (Scroll down to "funerals")