Saundra Siegel

Saundra Muriel Siegel of Livingston, NJ, aged 80, passed away on July 3, 2012 at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, NY. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing. Saundra was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 27, 1931 to Leo and Betty Schwartz. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. After marrying her husband, the late Howard M. Siegel, in 1952, she taught elementary school in Illinois for 4 years before having children. While in Illinois, she also taught Hebrew and Sunday school on a voluntary basis. In 1960 the family moved to Livingston, NJ, where they joined Temple Beth Shalom, and her future was set. She started teaching at the Temple that year and Saundra taught there for more than 51 years, only retiring when health issues forced her to do so at the end of 2011. She taught second grade for 50 years and had also taught first grade. For more than 20 years she taught in the Learning Center at Temple Beth Shalom. She had been the writer/director of the closing excercises graduation program for the second grade for 50 years. Themes for her closing excercises included Tzedakah, Shabbat, Torah, “ Let’s talk about G-d” and “ We are all Jews “. She created scenery and costumes for the closing excercising programs. In addition, during the High Holy Days, Saundra led children’s services. Saundra excelled in storytelling, Jewish tradition, customs and ceremonies, and arts and crafts. She translated Hebrew songs into English and sang them with her students to reinforce their lessons. Saundra also took subjects such as Bible heroes, Israel and Jewish holidays and would write lyrics to well-known tunes, such as fitting The Ten Commandments lesson into “ the Ten Little Indians” melody. Saundra had written scripts for and conducted model seders and Kabalat Shabbat parties, as well as for Religious School special celebrations. She also taught history and haftorah blessings to older students. For several years, when the Temple did not have a music teacher, Saundra taught music to all of the second grade students. She even taught her three children and one of her grandchildren in Hebrew school, although distance prevented her from teaching other grandchildren. Her teaching philosophy was always to teach more, rather than less, enabling her students to absorb all that they can. She always shared ideas and materials with her co-teachers. Her sense of humor was evident as well: When she would hear of her students’ successes as they grew, she would say “ That is because I taught them in the second grade”.

Recalling the first classroom she taught in, Saundra remembered that there were no extra bulletin boards to use for her displays. So early every Sunday morning Saundra, who shared her classroom with other teachers who taught during the week, removed the teachers’ displays, put up her own display and then reversed it after class was over. She taught under the leaderships of seven principals at the Temple and estimated that she had taught approximately 1500 students. She also served as the school photographer, and her photos have appeared in the Temple bulletin, been used in Temple yearbooks, displayed on posters and given to her students. She taught two generations of students in many families, teaching the children of her students. She also taught all of the siblings in many families. In her later years, she worked with autistic children and those with other learning challenges.

Saundra was also a 50 year member of the Temple and its Sisterhood. She served over the years as secretary, vice president and president of B’nai Brith Women’s Northfield chapter. She was a tireless fundraiser for B’nai Brith and was a life member of Livingston Hadassah. She served as photographer for both the Sisterhhood and Hadassah. She also taught Dolls for Democracy, at which time she would go into the local elementary schools and teach about important historical figures. Her hobbies included collecting antiques, travelling, dancing, reading and writing poetry.

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her daughter Melodie P. Teich and her husband, Howard of Orangeburg, NY; her son Scott A. Siegel and his wife Wendy, of Roslyn, NY; her son Lance M. Siegel and his wife Leonora, of Rock Tavern, NY; by her brother Kenneth Schwartz and Dolores Goldstein of Tarzana, CA; her grandchildren: Hayley Teich, Marnie Teich, Evan Siegel, Noah Siegel, Katherine Siegel, Alexandra Siegel, Robert Siegel, Alara Siegel and John Siegel.