Muriel Pearl "Micki" Weidenfeld's Obituary
Muriel (Micki) Pearl Weidenfeld, 91, was at home when she passed away peacefully and surrounded with love on October 8, 2024. Her husband of 71 years, Gil, and her family were with her.
Micki was born in New York City on July 1, 1933. She lived there until her young teenage years when her parents, Ethel and Max Pogarsky and brother Alan Pogarsky moved to a chicken farm in Freehold, NJ. Shortly after, they met their neighbors, The Weidenfelds at the chicken farm across the street. The Pogarskys and The Weidenfelds became fast friends. That was how Micki met Gil. They went to high school together and later began to date. On May 2, 1953, Gil and Micki got married.
In the years that followed, they continued to live in NJ and Gil began college and Micki worked at Bendix to support them. Gil graduated from college and they eventually started a family. They had two daughters, Sharon Weidenfeld Robinson and Ellen Vesey. In 1965, the family moved to Greenbelt, Maryland.
Gil went to work at the US Patent and Trademark Office and attended law school. Micki stayed home to manage the family and soon became involved in the PTA, civic associations, Democratic clubs and politics and numerous other organizations and charities. She was never one to say no when help was needed for a school spaghetti dinner, collecting money for the March of Dimes, raising an orphaned baby squirrel, organizing a neighborhood pizza party, helping with the annual Greenbelt Labor Day Festival, being on the Board of the local savings and loan or being the Greenbelt chair for Steny Hoyer as he first ran for Congress in 1981. Micki also cherished the many friendships she made in Greenbelt.
As their love for Greenbelt grew, Gil decided to run for City Council. Micki was his unofficial campaign manager, organizer and Chief of Staff throughout his 18 years as a City Councilman and Mayor. Micki was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Human Relations Commission and later to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners where she eventually became Chairperson.
Micki also enjoyed her extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and nieces and nephews. She attended many weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, Thanksgiving and Passover dinners and other events over the years. She was always excited to see everyone and catch up with what they were doing in life.
No matter how busy she was, Micki always had time for her daughters. As Sharon began a career as a private investigator she loved to hear about all of her cases and adventures. Ellen moved to Pennsylvania, got married and had children and Micki was there to help with her three grandchildren, Justin, Jordan and Jillian. She and Gil would travel to Pennsylvania often so they could visit, watch soccer games, take the kids on outings, celebrate birthdays and holidays and attend graduations. She also loved nothing better than to have her whole family at her home as she hosted delicious Thanksgiving dinners and other family gatherings.
Gil and Micki loved to travel and as their family was growing up, they always made sure to take trips to NJ, Ocean City, Maryland, Jekyll Island, Georgia, Disney World and Jamaica. Later in life, one of their favorite places to relax was the beach in Mexico. And then they discovered cruises and there was no stopping them as they cruised as often as possible for as long as possible.
In 2005, they began a new chapter as they left Greenbelt and moved to Heritage Harbour in Annapolis. They continued their hobby of cruising. And in between cruises, Micki continued being active in Heritage Harbour. She was an integral part of the Jewish Community, the Democratic Club, the hospitality committee for their condo building and wherever else she could help out. She made some wonderful new friends in her new community. And her love for her family continued as she was always interested and involved in the lives of her daughters and grandchildren.
In 2021, Gil and Micki moved to Bay Village Assisted Living in Annapolis. Though she was in her late 80's, that didn’t stop Micki. She immediately made new friends and became involved with the Jewish Club, the Resident Council and other groups. It was almost impossible to reach Micki by phone because she was always off doing something, visiting with someone or sitting outside enjoying the sunshine with Gil and her friends. During this time, Micki and Gil got to meet their grandson’s girlfriend, Yeimi. Micki quickly welcomed her as their fourth grandchild. At the end of 2023, Gil and Micki got to meet Sharon’s fiancé, Garnett (Sean) Robinson, who immigrated from Jamaica. Micki always looked forward to Sean’s frequent visits with Sharon to spend time with her and Gil.
In March, 2024, Micki and Gil were overjoyed as they attended the wedding of Sharon and Sean. After that, Micki made sure to let everyone at Bay Village know Sean was her son-in-law. In June, Justin and Yeimi got married and Micki couldn’t have been happier that they would spend their lives together.
With all that Micki did for everyone else, she never stopped being totally devoted to her beloved husband, Gil. From their early years when she worked to put him through college to their last days when she didn’t want to go to sleep until she knew he was back from dinner and safely in their apartment, she loved him beyond measure. And Gil loved Micki in the same way and did everything he could to show that love. One of the last things he said to her was, “I couldn’t have found a better person.” That sums it up for all who knew Micki.
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