Family members of the late Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank are making sure students at Marble Hill Nursery School, where the late community leader spent decades as an educator, an assistant director and director, continue to enrich themselves with a well-stocked library. Sons, Jeffrey and Gary Axelbank, the latter a longtime BronxNet TV host, presented a check for $1,800 to the school on June 9, on behalf of the family.

 

School director, David Bleecker-Adams, expressed his gratitude for the donation from Mickey’s three sons. [Arthur Axelbank was unable to attend the presentation]. “It’s a very pleasurable duty to thank you on behalf of the families and the children and the staff at Marble Hill Nursery School, all of whom use this library and benefit from it.” said Bleecker-Adams.

 

The non-profit, parent cooperative nursery school, founded in 1953, is located within the Marble Hill Houses complex and serves an average of 55 children each year, according to information posted on the school’s website. After their mom’s passing last year, the three Axelbank brothers reached out to the school, knowing that they wanted to do something to honor her legacy and help the students in a tangible way. They said helping with the school’s library seemed like a natural fit.

 

In addition to the check, the three brothers also donated some books that held special meaning for them as children. Gary Axelbank donated “Caps for Sale,” by Esphyr Slobodkina. Holding up the book inside the library where the presentation took place, Gary shared some fond memories. “This was my choice; she used to read it to me,” he said. “It’s kind of a cute little tale, but the bottom line is the seller of the caps did the right thing… and something really good happened to him at the end of it, and there’s a little bit of a lesson in that.”

 

Mickey Axelbank died in April 2020. In her obituary, published in the Norwood News, she was described as “an exceptional woman with a big heart that touched everyone around her.” She served as the school’s director from 1977 to 1985.

Karen Worchel first got to know Mickey while bringing her eldest daughter to the school at a time when Mickey was serving as the assistant director. According to Worchel, those were some of the darkest days in New York City’s history, when it was often described as being “broke,” such was the extent of the apparent lack of funding. “[I didn’t realize] what a burden it was for her to take over that job,” Worchel said. “She did it with such grace and such resilience, that when I think about it, it’s just astonishing to me.” Worchel went on to work with Mickey as the administrative director at the school for eight years.

 

“She was a role model for me, actually. … I don’t ever remember her being unpleasant or rude to anybody.  She got what she needed by being kind and knowing what she wanted. I really loved her,” Worchel said. “It was my honor to work with her.”

 

The legacy of how Mickey led the school during the early days continues to resonate with the school’s current director also. “Mickey is mainly an inspiration in that she weathered really difficult times, as well,” Bleecker-Adams said.

 

Meanwhile, Mickey’s son, Jeffrey, a psychologist based in New Jersey, told the Norwood News, “The gift to this school is meant to replenish their library with both newer copies of the classics, and to buy new books that reflect the diversity of the children here.”

 

In 1973, Mickey earned her master’s degree in early childhood education. Jeffrey remembers her dedication to students and fellow educators at Marble Hill. “I remember picking her up at the end of the day, and there was always a problem getting her out of here,” he said. “She was just immersed in working with children, or working with parents, or working with teachers. … She just loved this place.”