Obituary of Mildred Levine Sokol

She was the daughter of Abraham and Ida Brown Levine and the wife of deceased most beloved husband Eli, whom she married on June 20, 1937. She is survived by her son, Robert Sokol, M.D. (Roberta), her daughter, Randa Gregory Williams. seven grandchildren, Melissa Sokol-Keith, M.D. (Samuel), Eric R. Sokol, M.D. (Nikki) and Andrew I. Sokol, M.D. (Alicia), Trisa A. Nickerson (Jay), Emme L. Bader-Gregory (Lynne), Thomas A. Gregory (Angela) and James E. Gregory (Bethany), as well as twenty great grandchildren and a wonderful brother, William Levine. She leaves many nieces and nephews and many, many wonderful and caring friends. Mildred Sokol was in the arts. She studied piano at the Eastman School of Music and took ballet and interpretive dancing for many years, until she married. She studied oil painting with Fritz Trautman at the Memorial Art Gallery and did well at it. She was a member of the Temple B’rith Kodesh Sisterhood for 60 years, the Jewish Home of Rochester Sisterhood, Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women, as well as the University Club and Irondequoit Country Club. Eli and Mildred had a wonderful life together, traveled to 35 countries and renewed their marriage vows to each other five times in various countries and in Rochester. She and her husband were very kind and generous people, supporting many philanthropies. They built the "Eli and Mildred Sokol Solarium and Porch" for the old folks to enjoy at the Jewish Home of Rochester. In support of the Rochester Public Library, they founded an annual Prose and Poetry competition called "The Sokol High School Literary Awards" and established it in perpetuity in 1986. High school students throughout Monroe County are eligible. The Sokols maintained a long term and close relationship with the University of Rochester and its leadership. They established and endowed "Sokol Emergency Student Loan Fund" at the U. of R. in 1984 -- it is used by approximately 1400 students annually. This is in addition to an annual Sokol Sophomore prize at the University for the outstanding performing student and a Cardiology Research Fund at the U. of R. Medical School in 1978. More recently, they endowed a series of "Sokol Bridges" and also a "Sokol Walkway" at the Strong Memorial Medical Center, helping to physically integrate this very large facility. A service will be held at Temple B’rith Kodesh (CLICK FOR A MAP), 2131 Elmwood Ave., Sunday, February 12, 2011 at 1 PM, during which family and friends are invited to share their memories of Mildred. A reception will follow at the Del Monte Lodge (CLICK TO OBTAIN DIRECTIONS). Private entombment will be at White Haven Memorial Park, Oakwood Court Building.There will be no visitation. Donations may be made to the Eli and Mildred Sokol Emergency Student Loan Fund, c/o Rebecca Quarm, University of Rochester, Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14642, the Sokol High School Literary Award, Friends of the Rochester Public Library, 115 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14604 or a charity of your choice. Home Rochester, New York Birthplace Rochester, New York Donations Donations may be made to the Eli and Mildred Sokol Emergency Student Loan Fund, c/o Rebecca Quarm, University of Rochester, Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14642, The Sokol High School Literary Award, Friends of the Rochester Public Library, 115 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14604 A charity of your choice.