Marcia S. Presser

Marcia Sondra Presser age 87, a long-time resident of Hartsdale, NY, died peacefully on November 26, 2021 at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, NY after a courageous battle with cancer.

Marcia was born in Bronx, NY on May 31, 1934 to Ann and Irving Udoff and had two younger sisters, Roberta and Jill. Marcia attended the High School of Music & Art in New York City and graduated from The Cooper Union in Manhattan. Marcia found the love of her life in Richard Presser whom she married on October 24, 1954 in Manhattan. The couple adopted two children, Anderson and Ramia, and lived in their Hartsdale home together with a wide assortment of animal pets and recues over the years.

Marcia is survived by her loving daughter Ramia Aleschin, her son-in-law George, and grandson Brett; sister Roberta Ashkenase, brother-in-law Elliott, sister Jill Newhouse, brother-in-law Richard, sister-in-law Ingrid Presser, nephews and nieces Susan Presser Matus, James Presser, David Ashkenase (and wife Wendy), Jonathan Ashkenase (and wife Judit), Corey Newhouse (and wife Suzanne), Danielle Doller (and husband James), and Jamian Newhouse (and wife Carly), grand nephews and nieces Chandler Ashkenase, Emily Ashkenase, Jordan Matus, Owen Matus, Reede Newhouse, Brooke Ashkenase, Jack Newhouse, Tessa Ashkenase, Jordan Doller, Kata Ashkenase, Austin Ashkenase, Chase Doller, Nate Newhouse, Myla Ashkenase, Felicity Ashkenase, and Blake Newhouse, and beloved godson Richard SantaColoma. Marcia is predeceased by her husband Richard who passed in 2005 and son Anderson whom the couple lost in 1986, as well as brother-in-law Stanley Presser who passed in 2009.

Marcia was a beloved piano teacher to numerous children and adults. She volunteered as a music teacher for preschoolers at The Children’s School in Hawthorne, NY. She has held many other volunteer positions at local organizations such as the Greenburgh Nature Center (where Marcia served on the Board of Directors), WARC, and the Greenburgh Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. She and Richard were active advocates for saving open space and helped to preserve over 600 acres of park land in Westchester, including Webb Field in Hartsdale which was named Richard Presser Park in their honor. Marcia was a naturalist and lover of animals. She nurtured and rehabilitated all sorts of wildlife and had an extensive collection of artifacts and specimens which have been donated to the Greenburgh Nature Center for all to enjoy. In 2003, the Westchester County Board of Legislature proclaimed May 4, 2003 as Marcia and Richard Presser Day in Westchester County in recognition of their dedication and involvement with the Greenburgh Nature Center. In addition to her love of animals and nature, Marcia enjoyed reading and all sorts of puzzles. She was always seeking knowledge and loved to engage with people and share her love of learning. An artist, Marcia enjoyed painting and sketching. She and her family and friends enjoyed the outdoors and camped annually in Martha’s Vineyard for decades.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Marcia’s life on Thursday December 2, 2021 anytime from 4–8 PM at the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home located at 2 Maple Ave. White Plains, NY 10601. The funeral service will be held Friday December 3, 2021 from 11 AM–12 PM followed by burial at White Plains Rural Cemetery located at 365 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603. For more information call 914-949-0566. In lieu flowers, the family requests donations be made in Marcia’s name to the Greenburgh Nature Center ( https://greenburghnaturecenter.org/ ). For a virtual view of both services, use link: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/64394 .

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Calvary Hospital for all of their loving care. They helped make Marcia’s final days as comfortable as possible. Marcia wasn’t one for fussy or fancy things, and she would want us to remember to stay positive and replace the tears with smiles and make each day a new adventure. She lives on in all of us and will never be forgotten.