After graduating from Syracuse University and then attending Adelphi University to gain her master’s degree, Donna began her teaching career as an English teacher at her alma mater, Westbury High School, in Westbury, NY. She continued teaching in Los Angeles, CA and later in Deerfield Beach, FL.
Donna also had a career as a writer, primarily for children’s educational television programming, including Nick Jr.’s Allegra’s Window, Cartoon Network’s Big Bag and The Learning Channel’s Salty’s Lighthouse. She was a member of the Writers Guild of America, West.
She also co-founded a children’s theatrical workshop which produced plays and taught acting. As a volunteer, she worked for her local library and Stand With Us, an organization supporting Israel and fighting anti-Semitism.
In 1969, Donna married her high school sweetheart Martin Blinder, who co-founded Martin Lawrence Galleries, which still sells fine art nationwide. Although the couple divorced fifteen years later, Donna played a large part in the company’s early success, convincing many of the wary world-renowned artists to allow their work to be represented by the new and untested concern.
Donna is survived by her brother Barry Harman and his husband, Jay Hering of Pompano Beach, FL; her brother Rick Harman and his wife Alice Kupferberg of Irvington, NY and her niece Emma Harman of Brooklyn, NY. Cherished for her warmth, kindness and sense of humor, Donna also leaves behind a wide circle of long-time, caring and devoted friends.
For those wishing to make donations we suggest The City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center https://www.cityofhope.org/giving
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