In Memoriam: Marion Sinek

August 21,2009
by Richard Laster

When Marion Sinek approached you on an issue and asked for your support, it was difficult to turn her down. It was a combination of European charm, persuasion and logic that made it easier to say yes and not argue.

So one day when I was minding my own business, Marion raised the subject of my joining her on the town board. A seat had opened up at a time when it was fashionable to introduce business people into politics. Her powers of persuasion started to shake my resolve to stay clear of the political arena. As she sensed my weakening, she moved into an area that made it impossible to further resist. You see, Marion was raised in a part of Czechoslovakia that was well known for its fabulous food. Certain dishes that had become famous throughout Europe also reached Vienna, the town where I had lived as a child. The mere mention of these foods set off eager expectation in me. As the conversation turned to recipes, such as her Cucumber Salad and Semmelknoedel, my fear of long nights spent discussing sewer issues in town board meetings started to fade into the background and the vision of sampling some of her dishes or studying her recipes weighed meaningfully in my saying yes.

Marion was a Democrat with a capital “D” and although I agreed with her most of the time, there were issues where we differed, but always in a civil way.

I felt flattered when Marion appointed me as Deputy Supervisor, which was the peak of my political career. Fortunately for me, and for New Castle, she rarely missed a meeting so I did not have a chance to undo the good that she had done for the town.

Marion had many interests. Very mindful of her roots, she became an outstanding board member of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. She had a love for music and the arts; Lee and I spent many wonderful evenings with her at Caramoor, the New York Philharmonic and other events.

Marion was so well organized that Google could not hold a candle to her files on town and political matters. So, Marion, wherever you are, don’t fact check all of the reminiscences in this piece – it was written with love and respect. We will miss you.