Friday, October 30, 2026
Sydelle Wolfsohn, a longtime Merrick resident, educator and mental health advocate who dedicated decades to helping families affected by mental illness, died Sept. 14 at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital of kidney failure. She was 94.
Born Aug. 5, 1932, in Brooklyn, Wolfsohn, née Jacobson, grew up in Brownsville. Independent from a young age, she moved out at 18 and later helped her parents relocate to a safer neighborhood, providing financial support along the way.
She attended Hunter College High School and later earned two master's degrees, one in education and another in interior design.
Wolfsohn married her husband, Milton, and the couple moved to Merrick in 1960 with their children. She taught kindergarten at P.S. 273 in Brooklyn for 25 years and also worked as an interior designer.
Her son's experiences with mental health difficulties inspired her to become an advocate for individuals and families facing similar challenges.
In the 1990s, she founded NAMI LAMP, a local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and spent decades advocating for expanded mental health services, housing opportunities and patients' rights.
She regularly traveled to Albany to meet with legislators and fellow advocates, pushing for greater access to treatment and increased understanding of mental illness. She also became a certified counselor and supported families through Families Anonymous at South Oaks Hospital.
"She was a force to be reckoned with," her family recalled. "She would set her mind to do something, and she would get it done."
Despite her determination, Wolfsohn was described by her family as reserved, gentle and nurturing. Her daughter, Francesca, and granddaughter, Rei, said she encouraged them to approach the world with compassion, curiosity and an open mind.
Faith was another important part of Wolfsohn's life. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, she had been unable to participate in the same religious traditions as boys during her childhood.
Determined to change that, she spent approximately five years studying before celebrating her bat mitzvah at age 50 at Temple Beth Am in Merrick, where she remained active in the sisterhood.
Wolfsohn was also an accomplished artist who enjoyed painting, embroidery and quilting. She frequently attended library programs, community bingo games and enjoyed swimming at Lido Beach.
During her final decade, she lived with her daughter and granddaughter, sharing everyday moments, watching challenging television game shows and passing along her wisdom.
Her commitment to learning never faded. At 85, she became a licensed insurance broker to better understand the industry and help her daughter, who worked as an investment adviser.
"Never stop learning," her family said when asked about her legacy.
Wolfsohn was predeceased by her husband, Milton, who died in 2003, and her son Eric, who died in 2026.
She is survived by her daughter, Francesca; son, Jonathan; granddaughter, Rei; grandsons, Eli and David; and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers or food, the family requests donations to Brain & Behavior in her memory.
