Annette Birnbaum

Annette (Levine) Birnbaum, age 100 years & eight months, of Croton-On-Hudson, NY, passed away peacefully at the home of her son and daughter in law in Sharon, NH. on April 27, 2023.  She was born in Schenectady, NY on August 22, 1922, the daughter of Louis Levine and Celia (Dworkowitz) Levine.

Annette grew up in Schenectady where her grandparents had settled in 1892. She had two older sisters and a large extended family which included many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was always outgoing, considering close relationships of prime importance. Annette was a graduate of Nott Terrace High School, Schenectady in 1940.

Following high school, she moved to Manhattan to live with her older married sister. She was a student at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and was in classes with young actors such as Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall. She also attended secretarial school in her early twenties. Annette did some voice over radio work later on. After the start of World War 2 she became an administrative assistant in the New York offices of the exiled Free French Government, indirectly under the leadership of General Charles de Gaulle. 

In 1946 she met Fred Birnbaum of Brooklyn, New York, the love of her life and best friend. After the war they moved to Columbia, Missouri where Fred attended University of Missouri School of Journalism and Annette worked in the university’s administrative offices. They eventually settled near Philadelphia until 1967 when they moved to Croton-on-Hudson. They raised two sons in Pennsylvania and Croton. 

Annette has been very involved in Croton’s community life for the past 55 years volunteering at Skyview Nursing Home, the Greater New York Blood Bank, Croton Interfaith Council and as an active member of Temple Israel. She also worked for Albert Real Estate Appraisal for many years. She has been blessed with many close personal relationships in the Croton community for many decades. She and Fred considered Croton to be one of the best places a person could live in due to the strong community spirit.

Annette loved visiting family in southwestern New Hampshire during the past 38 years. She lived the last five months of her life in Sharon, NH. with her son and daughter in law. She is survived by her two sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, great granddaughter, a niece, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and many close friends.

As of this writing there are no immediate plans for a memorial service.

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