Dolores Wine, a 26-year member of Tribeca Synagogue and for the past 20 years its office manager among other duties, died on Aug. 28 at the age of 80. She is survived by her husband, Gordon, their two sons, Jonah and Ezra, and four grandchildren. Ezra Wine, sent the Trib this remembrance.
Born into a family of socialists on the vibrant South Side of Chicago, Dolores's earliest values of justice and equality led her to champion causes that mattered deeply to her. Her love for Jewish history, a passion that became a cornerstone of her life, was matched only by her dedication to fostering creativity and expression within her family and community.
A Socialist, “red diaper baby,” whose father (Ernest Romero) volunteered, fought and was injured in the Spanish Civil War, in its fight against fascism. Dolores and her father were active participants in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, an organization dedicated to the veterans of the war.
Her father’s ideals led her to join a demonstration and boycott in 1961 in front of the Woolworth's Department store in downtown Chicago over their lunch counter seating rules at their then segregated Southern Woolworth’s locations. This activism led her to being arrested and legal troubles; a profile of her in Sepia Magazine in 1961, was titled "White Girl Battles Segregation."
Beginning in 1968, Dolores and her husband, Gordon, an accomplished artist, lived in a series of lofts on The Bowery, Kenmare Street, Leonard Street and, beginning in 1980, on Broome Street. Their Soho loft became a haven for artists, writers and thinkers from all walks of life. Their home, with its open doors and open hearts, became a nurturing ground for the arts, a space where creative minds converged, cross-pollinated, and thrived. With no grocery stores nearby, Dolores along with others, formed a food co-op, buying bulk foods at Hunts Point in the Bronx and distributing the food out of various lofts downtown.
For over 40 years, Dolores worked tirelessly for Isaac Hazan (a women's clothing manufacturer) in the Garment Center. Her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and unwavering integrity earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues and friends alike.
She was also an active member of the PTA at Tribeca's PS 234, where her children went to school from 1979-1993, and was involved in her son's baseball teams at Greenwich Village Little League from the 1980s-90s.
Dolores loved learning and reading but never finished college. She used to say ‘I know a little bit about a lot of things.’ She was an avid reader, loved cook books, always read the New York Times food section and rarely missed the paper's obituaries.
At Tribeca Synagogue, she was not only a member, turned volunteer, but also the office manager, then event coordinator and eventually, the in-house kosher caterer.
Neither Dolores nor her husband grew up in a religious household, but she found a special home at this Orthodox synagogue. She loved the melodies of the songs and prayers. As the caterer, she was a tireless, dedicated worker making sure there was enough food for the congregation on Saturdays and for all events.
Dolores's nurturing spirit and warmth turned acquaintances into lifelong friends, creating a sense of belonging for all who crossed her path. She transformed not only our surroundings but also the hearts of those around her.