Gilda Lee Atkins

ATKINS, Gilda Lee (Grossman) passed away on April 23, 2023.  She was born in the Bronx, New York.  She attended PS 80, Walton High School for Girls, and New York University, earning her bachelor's degree in physical education, health, and elementary education.  Gilda was president of the Women's Physical Education Organization while at NYU.  While attending there, she fenced, played field hockey, and was a member of their All-Star bowling team, the Violets.  Later she earned a master's degree in physical education from the University of Bridgeport.

She married Stanley M. Atkins in 1951, and they lived in Petersburg, Virginia, briefly on Long Island and in Chicago before settling in Port Chester, New York where she resided for 31 years.  She was active in both the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.  She was a founding member of the Port Chester High School Band Association.  Gilda was active at Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel (KTI) in Port Chester in their Sisterhood and Hadassah chapters, holding various leadership posts and founding the Ladies Aid Society.  She was a renowned orchid grower and enjoyed gourmet cooking, knitting, needlepoint, jewelry making, wood carving, playing mahjongg, tennis, and traveling.

Gilda taught Physical Education, Health, and Home Economics at both middle and high school in Port Chester for twenty years.  she coached track and volleyball and later umpired for volleyball.  

In 1992 they retired to Tamarac, Florida.  She made numerous visits to Israel as a Volunteer for Israel.  She remained active in local Hadassah chapters, the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary, and was a member of COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services).  She later relocated to the greater Tampa area to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren.

Gilda is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Stanley.  She is survived by her four children: Michelle Schaefer (William), Rosalynne Miller (Arthur), David (Nancy Kabat), and Brent (Louann Bagnara), and her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be held graveside at Sharon Gardens, Valhalla, New York.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in her memory.  Shiva Services will be held in each of her children's homes in Hopewell Junction, New York (Brentt), Coral Springs, Florida (David), Tampa, Florida (Rosalynne), and Wimauma, Florida (Michelle).

Gilda led an exemplary life and will be greatly missed.