Obituary of Elinore H. Posner

SLINGERLANDS, NY--- Elinore Holland Posner, 90, died on Tuesday at The Beverwyck, Village Green, after a brief illness. Mrs. Posner was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and graduated as the Salutatorian of the class of 1938 from Saratoga Springs High School, where she was a recipient of the Yaddo Medal of Achievement. She was the daughter of the late Kathryn Ryan Holland, Edward Haight Holland, and stepmother, Eleanor Durfee Holland. Mrs. Posner was an alumna (1942) of Wells College, Aurora, NY. She resided in Albany for almost seventy years. Mrs. Posner held the post of Assistant to the Dean of General Studies at The State University at Albany from 1970-80 and was involved in many community and volunteer activities. She was a board member of The Junior League of Albany, Planned Parenthood, and the American Red Cross. She served as President of The Albany YWCA and was Vice-Chairwoman of the Albany County Republican Party. Mrs. Posner was a member of the SUNY Albany Foundation Board for many years and was a director emerita at the time of her death. As founder of The Center Square Association, urban renewal became her passion and thus, she created a plan of preservation and restoration for downtown Albany. Subsequently, Governor Rockefeller led the initiative for the South Mall Project. Both Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Mayor Erastus Corning knew they had a "force to be reckoned with" in Ellie. Mrs. Posner was pre-deceased by her husband of thirty two years, Marvin Posner, M.D. as well as the late George W. Hemstead II, M.D. and Charles Taber. She is survived by her daughter, Trudy Hemstead Calabrese, (Thomas J. Calabrese, Jr.), and son, George W Hemstead III, (Elizabeth Mueller Hemstead), and stepsons: Joshua Posner (Eileen), Bruce Posner (Betsy) and David Posner (Helen), as well as thirteen grandchildren and three great grand children. Mrs. Posner was a parishioner of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, a member of The Friday Morning Club and The Schuyler Meadows Club. A private interment will be held at Albany Rural Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Saturday, February 18, at 11:00 a.m. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, please make contributions to The Restoration Fund of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 107 State Street, Albany, New York 12207.