A Tribute to Marcia Posner: Author, Playwright, Scholar, Educator, Librarian
Linda Burghardt | Jan. 4, 2024
A Tribute to Marcia Posner: Author, Playwright, Scholar, Educator, Librarian
The Louis Posner Memorial Library was founded on principles that were sacred to Marcia Posner, who created and then curated the unique collection of Holocaust-related works at the HMTC for 25 years. “What you have to always remember is that it is books that carry civilization; without books, there is no science, no history, no literature, no creative thought,” she said. “A library like ours is alive with voices; you just have to know how to free them.”
When we lost Marcia on December 15, we lost a multi-faceted “woman of valor” whose vision guided the library’s development as it grew along with the Center. Marcia was 93, and her accomplishments were as varied as the many creative ideas that kept her energy flowing for so many years. She believed in the concept of sharing knowledge with all people, and melded the Jewish values embedded in tikkun olam – the repairing and improving the world – with the cherished ideals of literate societies that strive to encourage access to scholarship.
Marcia established the library in 1994, one year after the Center opened its doors. She designed the space, funded the project, selected the books, and served as director. She named it in honor of her husband, Louis, who she said was deeply intellectually curious. When new books came out, she purchased them and had them cataloged and added to the shelves.
“Meeting Marcia was akin to meeting a force of nature: passionate, methodical, decisive, and charming,” said Mireille Taub, a Survivor and educator at the Center. “Her passion and dedication in developing the HMTC library to serve scholars of all ages was undeniable. She was a mentor, teacher, and role model to so many of us. Generosity could have been her middle name; she was always eager to share and contribute to making HMTC a prime Long Island teaching institution, supporting our mission of learning about the Holocaust and the dangers of intolerance.”
With an interest in helping to shape the future of the Center, Marcia served as a member of its board of directors for many years. Chairman of the Board at HMTC Alan Mindel recalls her with affection. “My memories were that during board meetings she always had a kind review of a book a Survivor had written. She was familiar with all of them and would give us a synopsis of the story.”
Marcia Weiss Posner grew up in Queens and earned a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in library science. Eleanor Blackman, one of several volunteers who continue to work at the HMTC library, had Marcia as an instructor when she went to library school at Queens College. “She was a devoted teacher and I really liked her. Imagine my surprise when I decided to volunteer at the Center and found my beloved teacher again! It gave me such joy to work with her.”
In addition to her library work, Marcia wrote plays, short stories, poetry, and book reviews for the Jewish Book Council. Some of her plays came to life at the Center, with staff members and volunteers comprising the cast. She authored two books: one a history of the HMTC, which she titled “Zachor,” meaning “you shall remember” in Hebrew, and the other a charming memoir called “My Life in Post-Its.”
“When Marcia reviewed new children’s books, with stories about religious experiences, she always told me about them, since she knew I was observant,” recalled Judi Eisenman, who volunteered in the library. “She always gave from her heart and I will always remember her fondly.” Honey Kern, a docent at the Center, remembered that Marcia helped her pick out a book to donate to the library in honor of her mother, who loved art. “She was so kind and patient,” she said. “Having that book in the library always makes me feel so connected.”
Carol Ragione, who worked at the HMTC as an administrator for 20 years, knew Marcia both professionally and personally and considered her a close friend. “Marcia was a loving and kind person,” she said. “She was always available to help those in need. We always had a great time at the Center, especially during our lively lunch hours and on our many trips abroad together. She loved volunteering at the Center and considered it her second family.”
Gloria Jackel served as Marcia’s main assistant in the library and once said that Marcia was “tiptop at helping visitors find exactly what they were looking for, whether it was the name of a shtetl in Poland where their grandparents lived or some tiny aspect of Jewish heritage. It made her happiest to lend a helping hand.”
Ever curious, and always chasing the next intellectual challenge, Marcia interwove her responsibilities as head librarian with researching the life and work of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of refugees seeking to escape Nazi terror during World War II. She was shaping her voluminous notes into a book when her strength began to fail her and she was ultimately forced to withdraw from one activity after another.
She will always be remembered for her professional skills, her wry sense of humor, and the positive attitude she brought to all her endeavors. Her legacy is ours to continue, and those of us whose lives she touched will flourish by honoring her ideals: the promotion of knowledge, punctuated by good works, good times, and good fellowship.
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Jan. 21, 2024
A Celebration of Marcia Posner and the Posner Library
My mother Vivian passed away when she was 97 years old. She was quite a woman: youngest of 7 children, she never had the chance to finish high school but had to go to work to help her family. She was a very good bookkeeper.
She loved education and learning and got her high school equivalency diploma when she was in her middle age. Always, after she helped her daughters attend college, she said she wanted to go to college, too.
And, she did. She worked, went to school, and graduated from Nassau Community College. We all went to her graduation at the Nassau Coliseum! While in college, mom found out that she especially loved art: painting and sculpture, and she was good at it.
After she died, I went to see Marcia Posner in her Posner library at the Center. I told Marcia all about my mother and that my family and I wanted to donate a book to the library in my mother's memory.
Marcia listened intently, asked questions, lovingly smiled, and said she had just the book in mind! She suggested A Celebration of Judaism in Art by Irene Korn. Marcia ordered the book and put the memorial label inside. How happy my family is!
Marcia Posner loved her library. She welcomed everyone to it. She was enthusiastic and would show the visitors the latest additions, and the latest research. She invited visitors to sit down, chat, peruse the bookshelves, use the computers, and learn about Holocaust education.
As much as she loved her library, that's how much we loved her. Quite a woman.
Respectfully,
Honey Kern
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If you would like to offer a memory of Marcia, please send it to Linda Burghardt, Scholar-in-Residence, lindaburghardt@hmtcli.org, and we will add it to our tribute to her.