SARATOGA SPRINGS — Reisa Gould-Donath, 78, died Saturday, July 22 in the early morning hours at home, surrounded by her loving family. Reisa was born in New York City on March 15, 1945 to Jeanette and Robert Silverstein, and grew up with older brother Eric, who predeceased her.
A true child of New York City, she left home to attend college at Antioch in Ohio, where she met future husband Peter Gould, also of New York City. They married in the late 1960s and had two children, Rachel, born in 1971, and Gabriel, born in 1974. The family moved to Saratoga Springs in 1974, which would remain Reisa’s home for the rest of her life. Reisa and Peter divorced in 1977, and soon thereafter she met Charles Donath of Burlington, Vermont. Reisa and Charles were married in 1982 in Madison, Connecticut.
Reisa’s career as a nurse started with nursing school for her RN at Adirondack Community College. Later she did her Nurse Practitioner certification and began a long and fulfilling career with Planned Parenthood, culminating in her position as Clinic Coordinator at the Saratoga Springs branch. She continued her education in the mid-1990s, completing her MS in Nursing at Russell Sage College. She strongly believed in women’s health care and was an important part of the health and well-being of many Saratoga-area women.
Reisa loved animals, and she and Charles founded a local animal rights organization which was active throughout the early 1990s. She was devoted to many beloved pets, most recently her dog Cody, and filled her home with pictures and sculptures of animals. Reisa and Charles enjoyed seeing live music at Caffe Lena, walking in Spa Park, taking drives around Saratoga Lake, and listening to music together.
Reisa is survived by her husband Charles, 70, daughter Rachel, 52, of Ithaca, NY, son Gabriel, 49, of Huntingdon, PA, and grandchildren Elliot, 15, and Silas, 14. She is also survived by her father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Joan “Ducky” Donath, sisters-in-law Amy Carretto and Emilie Donath-Crawford, and Emilie’s husband Robert Crawford, all of Burlington, VT.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Saratoga Regional YMCA, where Reisa was a longtime member, or the Humane Society of the United States, which she supported for many years.
A private Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com
