Obituary for Phoebe Carter
Phoebe Faith Carter, nee Nortman, 98, died on Wednesday, December 16, at Phelps Memorial Hospital from complications of Heart Disease.
She was born on March 19, 1922 in the Bronx, as she would love to say, “One block from Yankee Stadium” to Claire Miller Nortman and Harry L. Nortman. Although an only child, she was surrounded by a loving family of 12 aunts, 12 uncles and 14 cousins, as well as her grandparents.
She graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1938, and from Hunter College four years later at the young age of 20 with a BA in Sociology. In 2018, she proudly attended her 75th Hunter College Reunion.
Two days after her final exam, she married the love of her life, Second Lieutenant Jerome Chaikin . They later changed the family name to Carter. Although her plan was to be a psychological social worker, she now was an Army wife and travelled all over the country with her spouse during World War II. When he was deployed to France as a paratrooper, she returned to the home of her parents and worked as a case worker in New York City. She was then accepted to NY school of Social Work, but life veered course again.
The war ended, her husband returned and it was time to start a family. Her sons Philip Scott Jensen-Carter and Clifford Jay Carter were born in New York City. They moved to Briarcliff Manor in 1957, where she continued to reside for the remainder of her life. She was an integral part of the community. She was a member in the sisterhood of Temple Beth El in Chappaqua and was very active in all of their activities.
In 1959, Phoebe resumed her education, obtaining a Master’s degree from Teacher’s College of Columbia University in childhood education. She then began a new career as First Grade teacher of the Scarborough School for the next 20 years and also taught ESL to the foreign wives of IBMers. Many of her students still remember her as a beloved teacher.
Ms Carter had many interests including theatre, literature, dance, art, and music. She was an avid reader and loved discussing books. Her two passions were tennis, which she played into her 80’s and bridge, which only ended play due to the pandemic. Her wisdom, grace, and elegance provided an exemplary role model for
her children and grandchildren.
Family was of the upmost importance to Phoebe. She is survived by her two loving sons, her daughter-in-laws, whom she considered to be like daughters: Denise Rubin-Carter and Rosemarie Raffa, as well as five adoring granddaughters: Allegra, Sasha and Layla Carter, Abbie Reba, Emily Charde and her great grandson, Luca Marrone. She was predeceased in death by her spouse of 50 years in 1994.
Phoebe will be loved and missed by her many friends and family. Her greatest gift to the world is how she made anyone who entered her orbit feel special. Her humble inner strength inspired strength for others. She had “joie de vivre.” Enjoying all the
wonderful things that life presented to her.
A private family interment to take place at Sharon Gardens. A celebration of Phoebe’s life will be planned for a later date in 2021. Messages of condolence may be left on the Memorial page of Beecher & Flooks Funeral Home.
She was born on March 19, 1922 in the Bronx, as she would love to say, “One block from Yankee Stadium” to Claire Miller Nortman and Harry L. Nortman. Although an only child, she was surrounded by a loving family of 12 aunts, 12 uncles and 14 cousins, as well as her grandparents.
She graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1938, and from Hunter College four years later at the young age of 20 with a BA in Sociology. In 2018, she proudly attended her 75th Hunter College Reunion.
Two days after her final exam, she married the love of her life, Second Lieutenant Jerome Chaikin . They later changed the family name to Carter. Although her plan was to be a psychological social worker, she now was an Army wife and travelled all over the country with her spouse during World War II. When he was deployed to France as a paratrooper, she returned to the home of her parents and worked as a case worker in New York City. She was then accepted to NY school of Social Work, but life veered course again.
The war ended, her husband returned and it was time to start a family. Her sons Philip Scott Jensen-Carter and Clifford Jay Carter were born in New York City. They moved to Briarcliff Manor in 1957, where she continued to reside for the remainder of her life. She was an integral part of the community. She was a member in the sisterhood of Temple Beth El in Chappaqua and was very active in all of their activities.
In 1959, Phoebe resumed her education, obtaining a Master’s degree from Teacher’s College of Columbia University in childhood education. She then began a new career as First Grade teacher of the Scarborough School for the next 20 years and also taught ESL to the foreign wives of IBMers. Many of her students still remember her as a beloved teacher.
Ms Carter had many interests including theatre, literature, dance, art, and music. She was an avid reader and loved discussing books. Her two passions were tennis, which she played into her 80’s and bridge, which only ended play due to the pandemic. Her wisdom, grace, and elegance provided an exemplary role model for
her children and grandchildren.
Family was of the upmost importance to Phoebe. She is survived by her two loving sons, her daughter-in-laws, whom she considered to be like daughters: Denise Rubin-Carter and Rosemarie Raffa, as well as five adoring granddaughters: Allegra, Sasha and Layla Carter, Abbie Reba, Emily Charde and her great grandson, Luca Marrone. She was predeceased in death by her spouse of 50 years in 1994.
Phoebe will be loved and missed by her many friends and family. Her greatest gift to the world is how she made anyone who entered her orbit feel special. Her humble inner strength inspired strength for others. She had “joie de vivre.” Enjoying all the
wonderful things that life presented to her.
A private family interment to take place at Sharon Gardens. A celebration of Phoebe’s life will be planned for a later date in 2021. Messages of condolence may be left on the Memorial page of Beecher & Flooks Funeral Home.