August 21, 2009
by Polly Kuhn
I knew Marion Sinek for twenty years, mostly in public life, but also later as a personal friend. I will miss her for all the qualities she brought so consistently to all her roles: friendliness, tact, patience, generosity. She worked hard, without making a show of it. She communicated clearly; she was trustworthy, dealing squarely with friends and opponents. She was organized and smart as a whip.
These qualities of hers were known to me by reputation and observation during our mutual association with the League of Women Voters. She was the New York State LWV President, working ably, in particular, on voter registration issues and furthering merit selection of judges. As Chair of the National Nominating Committee for the LWV’s National Board of Directors, she had a lasting and beneficial effect on that organization. Yet when I approached her about exchanging the non-partisan role of a LWV person for the hurly-burly of electoral politics at the town board level, Marion was game. She brought the same zest and attention to detail to her Democratic campaign, won handily, and proceeded to serve with distinction. She rose to town supervisor and served two terms.
From the start, Marion distinguished herself by her hard work, even handedness and independence. She prepared thoroughly, included everyone and remained patient and tactful even under trying circumstances. She was generous in giving credit where credit was due. She seemed to know everyone, not just in local politics, but up and down the line. Marion followed through on her League work as soon as she was elected, when we had to appoint a new town justice. She insisted that we follow the merit selection procedure. It turned out that we had fourteen able applicants to interview for a heretofore relatively obscure post. An unanticipated benefit was finding many fine candidates to fill other town positions.
On a personal level, Marion was as steady and good-humored a doubles partner as she was a committee member. Together we enjoyed concerts and social occasions with her beloved husband Herbert. It was plain they had a lovely and full life of travel, raising a family in which they took great pride and pleasure, classical music and their work.
Somehow, in addition to all this, Marion found time to work on the Westchester Holocaust Committee and the Chappaqua Orchestra Board. I, with many other people, will miss Marion. A consolation is knowing – by having seen – how full her life was.
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