South Midwood Mourns

South Midwood mourns the loss of Toby Sanchez, former president of SMRA as well as the East Midwood Jewish Center. Toby was heart and soul of our neighborhood, hosting many meetings at her Glenwood Road home and encouraging new neighbors to assume leadership roles. As stated by SMRA member John Webber, Toby “was one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. The sound of her pleasant voice could make the sun come out.” Among her many achievements, she founded our community garden, located on the grounds of Brooklyn College. While president of EMJC she organized interfaith Thanksgiving services, bringing our Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities together.

            Toby was raised by a single mom, a strong, brilliant and capable woman who rose to become a vice president at bookseller Brentano’s. She inherited her mom’s love of literature, becoming a librarian and an archivist. She always looked for ways to improve her own life, and the lives of others, even as she endured the loss of her husband Ramon and the untimely loss of her son Soren. She served on the Community Board and as executive director of Junction College Development Corporation, among other leadership roles. She volunteered at a battered women’s shelter, sleeping there a couple of times a month. Wherever she went, her energy, dignity, wisdom and humility were remarkable.

Those of us who follow could find no better a model.

With thanks to Rabbi Sam Levine of East Midwood Jewish Center