Deanne Gebell Gitner

Deanne Gebell Gitner, a former resident of Short Hills, NJ, Houston, TX, and Highland Beach, FL, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Monday, May 10, after a long illness. Deanne was born in Lyons, New York, in 1944. She attended Lyons High School, where she was the drum major in the marching band and graduated as class Valedictorian. She was the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Cornell University in 1966 with a degree in English. Post-graduation, Deanne attended SUNY Geneseo teacher's college. Living in Rochester, NY, she met her beloved husband, Gerald (Gerry, a graduate student at the University of Rochester), in the basement laundry room that their dwellings shared. They quickly fell in love, married soon after meeting, and were together for 53 years. Deanne taught junior high and high school English for several years, and then decided to become a full-time mother to her two children, Daniel and Seth. She was fully devoted to both of them. She also gave much time to charitable causes such as the National Council of Jewish Women, becoming a regional president in Texas for that group. Never one to sit still, when Dan and Seth were old enough, she went back to work. She held positions as a national school textbook representative and as a journalist, writing and editing for the Millburn-Short Hills Independent Press. As a result of her passion for storytelling, both of her sons took up an interest in journalism. Dan became editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper and was an active contributor to his college newspaper. During Seth's high school years, he (then a budding photographer) and his mother could be found throughout the town covering spot news, such as car accidents and fires. Indeed, at one point, Deanne, Dan, and Seth all worked for the Independent Press, and their bylines could be found next to each other on the front page. After working as a journalist, Deanne became the Communications Coordinator for the Millburn Public School System in Millburn, New Jersey, where she worked until her retirement. Deanne had a life-long love for her alma mater, Cornell University. She served as a life member of the Cornell Council, chaired various committees, interviewed prospective applicants for admission, and organized alumni events. Deanne loved traveling. She visited all 50 states and 60 foreign countries with her husband Gerry, a former aviation executive. After raising her family, she and Gerry moved to Highland Beach, FL. She loved to talk about her children, and watch her grandkids at the pool 2 and the beach. Deanne felt it important to give back to her community and valued education. Her legacy will live on in perpetuity through the numerous endowed awards and scholarships that she and Gerry bestowed at higher education institutions throughout the country, including Cornell, Boston University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Missouri at St. Louis, and the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. The family would like to express its thanks to Dorothy Thompson, Deanne's long-term care assistant, for the unceasing dedication to her well-being and love she showed Deanne. Deanne is survived by her husband Gerry, son Dan and spouse Meredith of New York, NY, and son Seth and spouse Angela of Manlius, NY, as well as her grandchildren Jake, 14, Sadye, 12, and Madelyn, 11. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Empower Parkinson Inc. of Central New York. (https://www.empowerparkinson.org/

Deanne Gebell Gitner

January 8, 1944 - May 10, 2021