Obituary for Rosanna Cox Zuckerman
Block Association Founder Rosanna Cox Zuckerman
With great sadness, we report the passing of long-time 22nd Street resident Rosanna Zuckerman on October 21. She celebrated her 98th birthday just a few days before her death. Rosie, as she was known by friends, lived all her life in the same house to which her parents brought her home from the hospital after her birth. Three generations before her lived and passed in the house in the years since her great-grandfather journeyed from Ireland. He and his brothers ventured to the Gold Rush and brought a bag of gold dust back that was used to buy the house. Rosie’s grandchildren are the sixth generation to live there.
Rosanna went to local schools Guardian Angel and Textile High on 18th St and was a graduate of NYU where she obtained her B.S. and Master’s Degree in social work. A psychotherapist, she worked many years for the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in the Hawthorne, NY; Riverdale, and Coney Island Treatment Centers. Her avocation was theater and dance. An accomplished singer and dancer, she performed on many stages and was the leading lady of the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, NH for almost 50 years. She was also president of the Dance Teachers’ Guild.
Predeceasing Rosanna was her husband Gabriel Zuckerman, whom she assisted in starting the West 400 Block Association: 21st, 22nd, 23rd Streets along with Beatrice and Dero Saunders in 1952. During what son Richard calls the “wild ‘50s” she hosted many meetings in her living room on subjects from fundraising to Campfire Girls to subjects that determined the future of Chelsea, such as the rail line that became the High Line. She remained interested in community activities all her life. She recited “The Night Before Christmas” for the holiday neighborhood gathering in Clement Clarke Moore Park several times. She is survived by her son Richard Cox, his wife Sarah Boucher Cox, and grandchildren Tyler and Willow Cox. Rosanna’s long-standing contributions to our community and her kindness and sunny disposition will be missed by all who knew her
With great sadness, we report the passing of long-time 22nd Street resident Rosanna Zuckerman on October 21. She celebrated her 98th birthday just a few days before her death. Rosie, as she was known by friends, lived all her life in the same house to which her parents brought her home from the hospital after her birth. Three generations before her lived and passed in the house in the years since her great-grandfather journeyed from Ireland. He and his brothers ventured to the Gold Rush and brought a bag of gold dust back that was used to buy the house. Rosie’s grandchildren are the sixth generation to live there.
Rosanna went to local schools Guardian Angel and Textile High on 18th St and was a graduate of NYU where she obtained her B.S. and Master’s Degree in social work. A psychotherapist, she worked many years for the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in the Hawthorne, NY; Riverdale, and Coney Island Treatment Centers. Her avocation was theater and dance. An accomplished singer and dancer, she performed on many stages and was the leading lady of the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, NH for almost 50 years. She was also president of the Dance Teachers’ Guild.
Predeceasing Rosanna was her husband Gabriel Zuckerman, whom she assisted in starting the West 400 Block Association: 21st, 22nd, 23rd Streets along with Beatrice and Dero Saunders in 1952. During what son Richard calls the “wild ‘50s” she hosted many meetings in her living room on subjects from fundraising to Campfire Girls to subjects that determined the future of Chelsea, such as the rail line that became the High Line. She remained interested in community activities all her life. She recited “The Night Before Christmas” for the holiday neighborhood gathering in Clement Clarke Moore Park several times. She is survived by her son Richard Cox, his wife Sarah Boucher Cox, and grandchildren Tyler and Willow Cox. Rosanna’s long-standing contributions to our community and her kindness and sunny disposition will be missed by all who knew her