Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank, 91, who was beloved by her devoted family and the broader community and well-respected as an early childhood educator, died early Saturday, Apr. 4, 2020. Mickey led a stellar life of more than nine decades and was widely revered as an exceptional woman with a big heart that touched everyone around her.

 

Mickey’s mother immigrated to America alone on a boat at the age of 16. Mickey’s father died when she was just two, and she was raised with her older sister in a building across the street from the George Washington Bridge by her mother and two aunts. They made sure she pursued her education and she graduated from Brooklyn College, something not a lot of women did in the 1940s.

 

She married Eli Axelbank in 1950. They lived for a short time in the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative in the Bronx and ultimately settled and raised three sons, Arthur, Gary, and Jeffrey, and were among the first shareholders in Park Reservoir Housing, the first NYS Mitchell-Lama housing project.

 

She earned a Masters degree in early childhood education and became a teacher in her community at the Amalgamated Workman Circle Nursery School, and ultimately the Director of the Marble Hill Nursery School.

 

Widowed when Eli died of cancer after 32 years of marriage, Mickey continued her profession in education and spent the rest of her long life devoted to her Bronx community and mostly to her six grandchildren and nieces and nephews with whom she shared close personal relationships.

Mickey was active in the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt (KRVC) Development Corporation, in leading events at the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center and with Amalgamated’s Joint Community Activities Council (JCAC), where she helped serve holiday meals and was the leader of a games program for senior citizens.

 

Well-known for caring for sick family, friends, and neighbors, it was not unusual to see Mickey grocery shopping for them and even helping around their homes. After her passing, social media was enthusiastic with comments about her warmth, compassion, kindness, and even her infectious, engaging smile.

 

Mickey lived out her final years in assisted living in the Bronx where she managed to charm both staff and fellow residents with the same magnetism that earned her the title of, “Miss Personality” at George Washington High School many years before.

 

At both her 80^th birthday party and seven years later when she was honored by her synagogue, Mickey brought the house down with her tap dancing. Her given name is Muriel, but she was born the same year as Mickey Mouse and the name stuck.

 

She is survived by her three sons, their wives, Susi Lieff, Suzanne Axelbank, and Lori Freedman, her grandchildren Evan and Haley Axelbank, Shawn Axelbank, Rachel Axelbank, Jacob Axelbank, Ariella Axelbank, and Elan Axelbank, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

 

Donations in memory of Mickey Axelbank can be sent to:

• Amalgamated Nursery School Scholarship Fund: http://www.amalgamatednurseryschool.com/ans-scholarship-fund-donations.html
• Marble Hill Nursery School Scholarship Fund: https://marblehillnurseryschool.org/support/