Elsbeth Pfeiffer Memorial Event

A celebration of the life and work of Elsbeth Pfeiffer (1916-2008) took place in the Daniel Tabas and Evelyn Rome Tabas Auditorium at Bank Street College of Education on Friday, March 6, 2009.

An esteemed colleague, friend, mentor, and inspiration to many, Elsbeth Pfeiffer was the founder and Chair of the Bank Street Special Education program, as well as founder of both the College's Child Life and Museum Special Education programs. She retired in 1995 after twenty-nine years at Bank Street. Her legacy continues to enrich and enhance the lives and work of faculty, students, staff, children and all who are or have been connected with Bank Street.

The memorial celebration was introduced and moderated by Bank Street Trustee, Margaret L. Stevens, '77, who was an advisee of Elsbeth's. After President Elizabeth D. Dickey spoke in appreciation of Elsbeth and her work, a series of speakers provided personal and professional reminiscences of Elsbeth and detailed the impact she had on their lives. They were Georgi Antar '76, Rosaleen (Rusty) Horn '74, Margaret (Peggy) McNamara '78, Patricia Weiner, Claire Wurtzel '77 (who spoke for Deon Hilger '79), and Jon Snyder, Dean of the Bank Street Graduate School. Music for the program was performed by Bill Wurtzel on guitar.

Over the years, in addition to her career at Bank Street, Elsbeth combined her training in psychology and early childhood to become an effective major advocate for special education in New York City. She worked for Bellevue/NYU Medical Center, New York Association for the Blind, and the New York State Department of Education. She received the Henry Wisner Miller Award from the Manhattan Society for Mental Health and was a member of many important early childhood organizations that focused on orthopsychiatry and mental health.

The outstanding leadership and creativity Elsbeth brought to her work at Bank Street was reflected in the singular honor the Board of Trustees bestowed on her in 2006, when they awarded her the honorary title of "Faculty Emerita."

Earlier, in 1999, the Bank Street College Alumni Association honored Elsbeth with its Recognition Award, given for "outstanding professional achievement and the quality of a life's work, exemplifying both the spirit and philosophy of Bank Street College."

Bank Street is delighted that an endowed scholarship has been founded in Elsbeth's name as a living tribute to her work.

Margaret (Peggy) Stevens '77, a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, who moderated the program.	Bank Street President Elizabeth D. Dickey (right), with Libby Wolf, Elsbeth Pfeiffer's niece, and Libby's son, Alex Wolf.
Left to right: Bank Street Graduate faculty members Katherine (Katy) O'Donnell and Margaret (Peggy) McNamara, with Sheri Katz '78. Peggy was one of the program's speakers.	Right: Claire Wurtzel '77, former Bank Street Graduate Faculty member (who spoke for Deon Hilger '79), with Libby Wolf, Elsbeth Pfeiffer's niece.
Rosaleen (Rusty) Horn '74, one of the speakers, on the podium.	Daniel Wolf, Elsbeth Pfeiffer's nephew.