Born on June 6, 1920, Sylvia Ginsburg spent her youth in Michigan, Oregon and California. Home was a rather tumultuous place. Her father and mother acted more like disgruntled roommates than spouses. Her older sister Minnie was lost in books, later becoming a college professor.  Her brother Ed was an entrepreneur, always searching for the big break, and her other brother, Barney, was a merchant marine and jack-of-all-trades. The family was not close, but stayed in periodic contact.  

After graduating John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, Sylvia attended a business college which prepared her for office managerial and secretarial work. Following an old beau who was in the service, she soon found herself in Chicago, driving a truck for a meat packing company and running numbers on the side.

In the windy city, she met her future husband, Ben Cohen, who followed her when she returned to her family in California. 

They married and had Sheree in 1945 and Dan in 1947 while living in Santa Monica. Seven years later, Bob joined the family, having landed from the Planet Xenox. Sylvia worked for the Veteran’s Administration; then took some time to be a stay-at-home mom.  When her children were grown (except for Bob who, it was deemed, would never grow up), she began working as a medical office manager where she flourished for several years. 

The long years of rather frugal living finally paid off. When she and Ben retired in 1976, it wasn’t long before they found the perfect retirement oasis, Sun City, Arizona. For over 15 years, they thrived while playing tennis, swimming, golfing, socializing and taking long walks. 

Ben developed heart issues, and after two major surgeries, they moved closer to family in California. When Ben passed away in 2001, Sylvia resided with her son Bob and daughter, Sylvia; then at Leisure Village in Camarillo and finally at Seacrest Retirement Village in Encinitas. 

Over the next several years, Sylvia moved from independent living to assisted living to nursing, as one year was eclipsed by the next. She slowly declined as her age progressed and her capabilities diminished. She passed into eternity on February 27, 2017. At 96 years of age, she was the oldest of the Ginsburg clan and – remarkably – never suffered a serious illness or injury in her life. She is survived by her daughter Sheree and her two sons, Dan and Bob.  She was also extremely proud of her children’s spouses (whom she considered her kids), seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Sylvia will be remembered for her fierce loyalty to family, the deep love she had for her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and her zest for life.

If we look down the road closely, we can still see her behind the wheel of her Cadillac, doubling the posted speed limit, singing to oldies at the top of her lungs and looking forward to her next adventure.  She will forever be loved and missed.