Carol Robin Imhoff, 70
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Carol Robin Imhoff, 70, of Prospect Street died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at her home after a 30-year battle with cancer.
Born in New York City on Feb. 7, 1929, to Frank and Goldie Chotzinoff Goodrich, she lived in various states and attended several colleges, graduating from the College of New Rochelle, N.Y. She later completed her master's degree at Columbia University while heading the Westchester (N.Y.) Historic Preservation Society. Her family purchased property in the Berkshires in 1978.
An community and civic activist, Mrs. Imhoff was involved in Jewish, Christian and Interfaith dialogues. She promoted racial harmony, directing the Ossining, N.Y., Interfaith Council for Action and helping provide low-income housing, for which she received an award.
Her family described her as a sophisticated and intrepid lady, a voracious reader and critical thinker, appropriately feisty and humorous, was compassionate to persons in need, sharing her deepest love with her family. She once danced with Pete Seeger; when receiving a humanitarian commendation in the White House's Rose Garden, President Carter accidentally brushed her cheek.
Mrs. Imhoff, whose father was an NBC Symphony Orchestra violinist under Arturo Toscanini, was an accomplished musician and music teacher, and sang in choral groups. She stressed the arts in her family and was a volunteer at Tanglewood. She also was a quilter, choir member and church lector.
She treasured "all things bright and beautiful" in nature and in human community, once writing "we are born, we live and die within the arms of our loving God."
She and her husband, the Rev. Roger Imhoff, were married June 23, 1979.
Besides her husband, she leaves three daughters and sons-in-law, Laurie and Jon Werner of Pittsfield, and Susanna and Peter Sweeney and Lisa and Ron Cohen, all of the Philadelphia area; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Kathleen Moroz of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Andrew and Lois Moroz of Philadelphia, and eight grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her brother, Paul Goodrich.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Following cremation, the community is invited to a memorial service with Eucharist for Mrs. Imhoff. The service celebrating her life will be conducted at First Congregational Church, 251 Main St., Great Barrington, on Wednesday, June 3, at 2 by the Rev. Annie Ryder. Rabbi Deborah Zecher and pastor George Meyer will also participate.
There will be a reception immediately following the service.
Memorial donations may be made to Christ Church Episcopal, Trinity Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society through Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230, which is handling arrangements.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth, says the Spirit, shall they rest from their Labors."