Barbara “Bobbi” Hulnick
Barbara “Bobbi” Hulnick died peacefully on November 2, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She was born on April 5, 1933, the daughter of Martin and Leila Orner and younger sister of Ruth Joy Orner. She was raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y. before heading to Tufts University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1954. Bobbi later received a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Lehman College.
In 1953, Bobbi married the love of her life Donald Hulnick (her “boy from the Bronx”) in the back yard of her parent’s house.
After Bobbi finished college (honoring a pledge she made to her father) and Don completed his military service, the couple moved to Albany N.Y. where Don entered Albany Law School and Bobbi started her teaching career at West Albany Elementary School.
Bobbi would teach for over 20 years, first as an elementary school teacher and later as a remedial reading teaching when she and Don relocated to Irvington, N.Y. Her love of reading continued into retirement, volunteering at local elementary schools in Tupper Lake and Poughkeepsie as well as a Literacy Volunteer and as an ESL Instructor in Westchester (NY).
-And Bobbi’s involvement in her local communities extended beyond reading, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and the Lord’s Pantry (both in Westchester).
She and Don spent most of every summer since 1968 at Silver Birches, their Adirondacks home on the shore of Tupper Lake. While there, Bobbi was actively involved in the local library and was a founding member of the Wild Center.
Bobbi is survived by her three daughters (and husbands): Betsy Brown (Chris Brown (Z”l) and Steven Voldman), Andrea Ciminello (Paul) and Janet Hulnick (Felipe Sipowicz), her six grandchildren: Michael Brown, Lauren Ciminello, Danielle Brown, Adam Ciminello, Elisa Tavella, and Martin Sipowicz; and her three great-grandchildren: Eliana and Donny Jen and Violet King.
Don and Bobbi were married for 65 years. Don passed way in September 2018 at Silver Birches.
Bobbi will be remembered for her love of progressive causes (she was an ardent supporter of Planned Parenthood and a lifetime supporter of the Democratic Party), for her love of reading and the theater (starting at Tufts in “Pen Paint, and Pretzels” and continuing to Broadway shows), and for her deep and enduring love of family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at Vassar Temple on November 3, 2024 at 4p.m. and a graveside service will be held at the Beth Joseph Cemetery in Tupper Lake. Donations in memory of Barbara Hulnick can be made to Planned Parenthood, Hudson Valley Hospice or Tupper Lake Public Library.