Anita Charlotte Garfinkle
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Anita Charlotte Garfinkle passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on December 25, 2025. She was born in Bangor, Maine on February 21, 1927.
Anita was the daughter of Dora (Cohen) and Harry G. Broder. She was the wife of Charles L. Garfinkle of Mt. Vernon, NY, who predeceased her in 2003, and the mother of Penny Garver of Brookline, MA—a longtime member and board director of Temple Ohabei Shalom—who predeceased her earlier this year.
She is survived by her son Peter Garfinkle and son-in-law Richard Garver; her grandchildren Joshua Garver and wife Bethany, Jennie Garver and partner Jason Lee, Shari Garfinkle, and Elana Titus; and her great-grandchildren Alina and Miralyn Garver, Alexander and Halcyon Garver, and Warren and Ruth Titus. Anita is also survived by many adoring nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Known affectionately as “Nita,” “Teeta,” and later “Grammy” and “Gigi,” she is remembered as an “energetic redhead,” fully engaged with the world around her. Her intelligence, warmth, wit, generosity, and steady encouragement left a lasting mark on those who knew her.
Anita grew up in Bangor in a family deeply involved in creative life. Her mother—whose professional name was Dorothy—was an accomplished pianist, accordionist, director, instructor, and leader of many community and social organizations. Her father, Harry, was a prominent businessman. A 1933 article in the Bangor Daily News described the family as “rehearsing strenuously” as part of their Little Theatre Group, which performed original comedies including The Jewish Word and Counted Out. Performances often featured accordion music, and the family shared their talents with the community. Hospitality was equally valued, with Anita’s parents welcoming people to their summer home at Jewel Point on Pushaw Lake.
At Bangor High School, Anita graduated top of her class and skipped a grade. Her yearbook listed a wide range of activities, including Dramatic Club, Public Affairs Club, Glee Club, YMCA, Latin Club, Debate Club, Girls’ Hockey, and Girls’ Basketball. She served as Literary Editor of the Oracle, participated in junior exhibitions and singing groups, and earned a reputation as a thoughtful leader and lively presence.
Anita graduated in the mid-1940s from Simmons College in Boston and later from the Prince School of Retailing, where she earned the highest honors in her class. At Simmons, she was involved in several campus organizations, including The Academy, an honorary scholastic club, as well as USSA, YMCA, and the Scribunal Club—known for its skits and events that brought together business school students and faculty. Learning was never just a phase for Anita; it was a lifelong pursuit.
In 1947, Anita married Charles Lionel Garfinkle of Mattapan in the Louis XIV Ballroom of the Hotel Somerset in Boston. Together they raised their two children, Penny and Peter, in Newton, Massachusetts, and later moved to Mount Vernon, New York, where Anita resided until her passing. They were married for 56 years, until Charles’s death in 2003 at the age of 79. Family life included stays with children and grandchildren on Block Island, Rhode Island, and later in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
Professionally, Anita devoted years of service to the United States Social Security Administration. She took pride in her work, bringing her sharp mind, attention to detail, and reliability to her role in public service.
Outside of work, Anita was a member of Mensa and a devoted participant in a book club with friends, enjoying thoughtful discussion and shared reading. Music was another lifelong passion. From 1989 through 2009, the Chaminade Music Club of Yonkers played a central role in her life, where she contributed to the club’s long tradition of musical programming. Anita also held affection for Jewish traditions, particularly during Passover—a time she viewed as one of renewal, promise, and enduring hope for those she loved.
In her later years, Anita embraced the pleasures of travel and companionship, exploring many places, including Egypt, Greece, New Orleans, Seattle, Alaska, and Victoria, Canada. She enjoyed being a tourist, discovering new cultures, and trying different foods with good company.
We will forever hear her voice—full of love, humor, and care—saying “Warm wishes go with you wherever you may go,” “You’re just gorgeous!” and, in her final years, “Aging is not for sissies.” Anita’s legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured, the communities she served, and the many hearts she touched.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 31, at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, with Cantor Maayan Silverman officiating. Interment will follow. Shiva will be observed following the burial, with details available from the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston or the Westchester Jewish Community Services.