Ethel (Draizen) Blatt

Ethel Blatt, born in Brooklyn on April 29, 1932 to Isadore and Yetta Draizen passed away in Albany, NY on January 15, 2022.  Along with her two sisters, Ina and Eleanor, Ethel attended Camp Mohaph where she met the love of her life Burton Blatt.  At Mohaph, Ina met her future husband Stewart Wein and Elly met her future husband, Stephen Hammerman.  The three couples were not just in-laws, but close, lifelong friends.  Throughout her life, Ina and Elly were Ethel’s closest friends and confidants.

After graduating Adelphi College as a teacher, Ethel’s career was put on hold so she could care for her three children, but eventually she earned a Master's in Education from Syracuse University.  Her favorite course was required for all Special Education undergraduates and was taught by the Dean of the School, her husband Burt, who had the pleasure of signing her diploma.  She began her career as a Special Education Teacher teaching elementary school students while training undergraduate students at SU’s Skytop Psychoeducational Clinic, a collaborative program with Syracuse City School District and later worked in the City School District.  After she moved to Albany, she taught at Albany Hebrew Academy.

Ethel and Burt had a wonderful marriage and were great partners. Ethel was Burt’s most trusted advisor, especially when it came to editing his manuscripts.  She was a devoted mother to her three sons.  In addition to her expertise in knitting, needle point, and cooking, Ethel was an avid reader.  She loved most sports, especially Boston Sports teams, Tiger Woods, and most of all, SU football and basketball.

Ethel was predeceased by her husband Burton, her parents Yetta and Isadore Draizen, and her in-laws Abraham and Jennie Blatt, Marvin and Gloria Blatt, and Eleanor Citron.  She is survived by her sons Edward (Loureen), Steven (Elizabeth), and Michael and her grandchildren Bryan, Michael, Daniel (Meredith), Ethan, Eliana (Riley) Jorgensen, Mia, Zachary, and the most recent joy in her life, her great grandson Andrew Henry Jorgensen; her sisters Ina Wein, and Eleanor (Stephen) Hammerman; and her 14 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York.  Contributions in Ethel’s memory can be made to the Burton Blatt Scholarship at Syracuse University School of Education or to the charity of your choice.

May her memory be a blessing.

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