After a brief illness, Helen Fabi Smagorinsky passed away on April 11, 2020.
She is predeceased by her parents, Connie and Joe Fabi, and her adored grandchild, Nicole Sidoti. She is survived by her life-partner of over 65 years, and the love of her life, Mel, and her wonderful children: Susan Kubik and husband Mick Kubik, Sandra Sidoti, and David Smagorinsky. She has been graced with six terrific grandchildren: Shaina Sidoti and her partner Michael Zazzaro, Emma Kubik, Jackson Kubik, Noah Smagorinsky, Ari Smagorinsky, and two great-grandchildren: Zoe Zazzaro and Michael Zazzaro, sister Joyce Gollel and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Helen was born in Rochester, NY, in 1933. After graduating from SUNY Brockport in 1955, Helen became an elementary school teacher, teaching on Long Island, NY, Lansing, Michigan, and in Hilton, NY. She then had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, living in a wonderful neighborhood of friends. By age 50, her third career blossomed. She became a folk artist and was represented by New York City, Rochester, and East coast galleries, as well as being included in numerous books, calendars and magazines. Her paintings appeared in the PBS documentary by Ken Burns titled “Baseball” and have been exhibited in Japan and Switzerland, as well as in England at the American Museum in Bath. Her work has also been shown at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY; The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., and at home, in Brockport, as a billboard you can see as you enter the village. Her art was included in a very special project with friend and poet Bill Heyen. Bill asked Helen to create very small paintings for cards for which he then created poems. These small paintings and poems can be found at the Yale University Beinecke Library.
Helen was fortunate to be able to travel extensively with her husband and family – living in England and experiencing amazing places including Greece, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
She has amazing friends including Charles and Jeanne Clevenger, Alicia and Herb Fink, Gary and Lori Skoog, Deanna and Harry Shifton, Jack and Gladys Wolsky, as well as her birthday group of 10 very special women who have been gathering for almost 45 years and who have contributed thousands of dollars for charities. This group includes Donna Ray Evans, Joan Fenton, Linda Knab, Nancy Ackles, Carol Bott, Leah Johnson, Joanne Tandler, Prue Peccorella, Patricia Molnar, and is supported by their wonderful husbands.
Thanks to Dr. George Plain for the excellent care throughout the years.
Helen’s advice is to “keep laughing, hug your family, support your community, schools and teachers, read to your children, protect the environment, and VOTE BLUE! I had a wonderful life. Peace!”
There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.
Contributions can be made to The Brockport Foundation, SUNY Brockport, or The Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY.