Saratoga Springs, NY – Reina L. Horwitz, died Thursday, January 12, 2012, at home in Prestwick Chase.
Born October 22, 1916, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Sarah Nunes Frankort. Reina graduated from New Utrecht High School where at age 13 she is said to have been the youngest girl to ever play first clarinet in Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony which the school orchestra presented at the Brooklyn Museum. Following high school, Reina was awarded a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
On February 14, 1937, she married Charles Wolf Horwitz. They took up residence in Gloversville where they began their family. Reina and Charles resided here for several years before moving to Saratoga Springs and then on to Manhattan and Middletown, CT.
While in Gloversville, she was the director of activities at the Gloversville Jewish Community Center where she directed, produced and performed in plays and original musicals, including "Kiwanis Kapers.” Reina co-owned a production company at the Rustic Theater in Sacandaga Park where she produced a series of plays with top-name performers. Her professional career with nonprofit organizations began as the executive director of the Fulton County Tuberculosis and Heart Association. She retired from the Cancer Care of Greater NYC.
Following her retirement, Reina began a career in modeling in New York City, and was involved in Off-Broadway, TV and movie productions and print media, highlighted by an appearance on the cover of the February 1988 edition of Time magazine.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by a sister, Constance Madnick and one grandson, Theodore C. Horwitz
Survivors include her two sons, Richard (Sandra) and Theodore (Crystal) Horwitz ; sister, Anne (Edward) Barron; grandchildren, Anne Cox, Stacey Horwitz, Marc (Lisa) Horwitz, Reina (Stephen) Selby and Anya (Patrick) Lyons; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, January 18, 2012, in Congress Hall at Prestwick Chase, 105 Saratoga Blvd. in the town of Greenfield.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205 or Wilton Emergency Squad, 1 Harran Lane, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, (518) 584-5373.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
