IN MEMORIAM: Esther K. Elfenbein, 89;
SUNY Oneonta Award-Winning Instructor
ONEONTA – Esther K. Elfenbein, 89, a highly regarded instructor of speech, costume design and construction, stage makeup and other courses at SUNY Oneonta, passed away late Sunday evening, Aug. 2, 2015 after a very brief illness.
Esther was born Dec. 22, 1925 in Denver, Colo. A lover of art from an early age, Esther studied art and costume design, earning a BFA from the University of Iowa (and remained a life-long fan of Hawkeye football and basketball). At Iowa she met her future husband, Josef. She then obtained a master’s from Denver University.
Esther then joined the teaching staff of Stanford’s Speech & Drama Department. Upon wedding Josef on Sept. 3, 1950, the couple settled in Oneonta, with Josef teaching speech and theatre, and Esther becoming an instructor in the department until her retirement at age 80. She also served as the costumer for several seasons of the Glimmerglass Opera.
In November 1993 Esther’s passion for teaching won her the respected Esther suny oneonta, oneonta news, IN MEMORIAM: Esther K. Elfenbein, 89; SUNY Oneonta Award-Winning InstructorHubbard Whitaker Award for outstanding dedication to students within and outside of the classroom. For years, she was also teacher and principal of the Sunday School at Temple Beth El.
