|
Light a Candle
With profound sadness the family of Fryda L Ossias announces that she has passed away peacefully at her home in Miami Beach at the age of 98. A woman of towering intellect, friendship and generosity, Fryda lived a long and fulfilling life and will be remembered for her achievements in economics, social justice, real estate, and education. Born to a prominent family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fryda was a devoted New Yorker who proudly identified her New Yorkness even after moving to Miami Beach, FL in recent years. With her husband of 55 years, C. Matthew Ossias, Fryda was a teacher of economics and a longstanding board member of the Henry George School of Social Science in New York. For over 70 years she promoted the social and economic philosophy expressed by Henry George - the 19th century thinker and author of Progress and Poverty - who sought to redress the imbalances of society with an innovative approach to taxation and wealth distribution based on land value rather than income. As Treasurer of the Board, she was instrumental in stabilizing its investments and executing a real estate transaction that modernized the School and helped preserve its financial security for the future. Fryda was a leader in whatever community she joined, from the Kew Gardens Improvement Association - where she organized an annual Bazaar - to presidency of her apartment building’s tenant association, to the various leadership roles she held in boards-of-directors, parents' associations, condo boards and other associations. In parallel to her work at the HGSSS, Fryda also also worked in the New York fashion industry in the apparel fasteners division of Scovill Corp, where she enjoyed some of her closest friendships. She was an active member of the Reform Jewish community and Temple Isaiah of Forest Hills in particular, where she was a founding participant and regular contributor to "Food-for-Thought"; a weekly discussion group where topics of religious and social significance, inspired by the weeks Torah readings, were explored over pot-luck brunches immediately following sabbath services. Fryda raised a family in Kew Gardens, NY where she taught French to neighbourhood friends of her sons, Robert and Stanley and maintained deep friendships with many neighbours that lasted for decades. Later in life, after the passing of her husband Matthew, Fryda shared her apartment in Miami Beach with Benjamin DuPuy with whom she shared a warm friendship despite opposing political beliefs. Monsieur DuPuy is crushed by her loss as are her two sons Bobby and Stan Ossias. Fryda will be sorely missed by Bobby and Stan, her daughters-in-law Madeline and Mable and her three grandchildren, Emily, Harrison and Julian. Please join us in celebrating a unique and wonderful person, our lovely mother and inspiration, Fryda Lafond Ossias. Funeral services will be held for her at 10:30a on Sunday, Jan 15 at the Henry George School, 149 E38th St. in Manhattan and will be streamed live for remote attendance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81658691593?pwd=T0JOSGNYUWlEcGd3Z29rZ2JVY2F4Zz09, Meeting ID: 816 5869 1593, Passcode: 822284
