Isabel Taylor Lopatin, 64, of Cold Spring, died on March 11, 2018, after a 14-year battle against a rare bone-marrow cancer known as myelofibrosis.
At the time of her death, Isabel was the director of administration at Glynwood Farm, where she had worked since 2006.
Isabel was born on Dec. 28, 1953, in Gambier, Ohio, where her father, Paul Schwartz, was a professor of music at Kenyon College. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Bard College, Isabel earned an MBA from SUNY Binghamton and a certificate in database programming and design from Columbia University, as well as numerous other certificates and professional qualifications in accounting, computer technology and telecommunications.
She completed a master’s thesis in Islamic architecture at Hunter College and traveled widely in Europe and Asia. She was extremely knowledgeable about subjects ranging from biology and botany to European, Islamic and Asian history.
Before joining Glynwood, Isabel was a senior-level database programmer and had managed programming teams at several Fortune 500 corporations. She also had taught courses in database design and programming.
In addition to her work at Glynwood, to which she was extremely devoted, Isabel was a member and chairperson of the Philipstown Wetlands Committee until her health forced her resignation.
She also was an active member of the Mid-Hudson Orchid Society and served as its president. Despite her failing health, she continued to serve as editor of its newsletter. She was a medalist at the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden, as well as several others. Over the years, including her final one, Isabel delivered many well-received lectures on orchid growing to clubs in New York and other states.
Isabel also was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cold Spring, where she sang in the choir and served on the vestry.
Isabel had the rare ability to elicit the best from people of all kinds. That’s because there was not an ounce of rancor in her, even though she was not blind to others’ (as well as her own) failings. This quality made her an effective and respected leader, both professionally and in the community organizations of which she was a member.
During the long course of her devastating illness, she never once uttered a word of self-pity, fear or anger.
She is survived by her husband, Arthur Lopatin; her mother, Kathryn Carlisle Schwartz; her sisters, Angela Schwartz and Julia Schwartz; and her nieces and nephews, Serena Kunzler, Alma Kunzler, Alex Lopatin and Theodore Lopatin.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Church on Monday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Program at the Mount Sinai Health System, c/o Dr. John Mascarenhas, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1079, New York, NY 10029-6574, and/or St. Mary’s Church (stmaryscoldspring.org).
So sad to learn this news. A lovely person. Condolences to Isabel’s family and friends.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Isabel was a wonderful person and a dear colleague. I will miss her tremendously. My sincere condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.
She was a very kind, sweet lady. So sad to see this.
Isabel was indeed a lovely person. I was fortunate to have met her when we were both commuting to NYC, then found out we were neighbors to boot. She will be missed. Condolences to Arthur and family.
Isabel was lovely. My condolences to Arthur.
I always enjoyed chatting with Isabel as we walked our various dogs around the neighborhood. I am so sad to hear this. I loved seeing her beautiful garden as well. Condolences to Arthur … and Caro.
I had the pleasure to work with Isabel as a consultant to Glynwood. I always appreciated her very dry sense of humor. She kept me (and many others) grounded. She will be sorely missed and my sincere condolences to her family.
What a lovely person; what a tragic loss. I will miss her. Deep condolences to all who loved her.