Janice (Newman) Esman

Janice Newman Esman was born December 26,1919 in New York City. Her father, Otto

Newman an immigrant from Prague and mother Carrie nee Bernhart lived on East 87 th street,

part of a large Jewish family and members of Central Synagogue. Her father Otto was a

successful businessman but was adversely impacted by the depression. She attended New

York University. After several short-term jobs in NYC, she moved to Washington DC and

worked at the Civil Service Commission where she met Milton Esman, a fellow US Government

employee who would become her husband. They married in 1949 and had three children,

Michael, Oliver and Judith. After short stints in Vietnam and Malaysia, Janice and Milton moved

to Ithaca, NY in 1969 as part of the Cornell community. During the next 54 years Janice became

a long-term leader of the non-profit, Upstairs Gallery and Treasurer for the Tompkins Country

Democrats. Janice loved Ithaca and her many friends. She had many interests including

gardening, contemporary art, politics, travel and literature. She and Milton cherished their family

pets, most recently Louie the mini poodle. Her husband Milton predeceased her in 2015. She

moved to Kendal at Ithaca in late 2015 where she had many loving caregivers and friends.

Janice is survived by their three children, Michael (Julie Hogeland), Oliver (Carolyn Miller) and

Judith (David Goldman), four grandchildren, Liz Wetzel (Dustin Wetzel), Emily Esman, Daniel

Finegold (Sarah Cohen), and Sarah Finegold (Brett Berman) and three great grandchildren,

August Wetzel, Lillie Wetzel and Leo Wetzel. Her brothers, Sanford and William predeceased

her. The family would like to thank everyone at Kendal Ithaca for making her last home so warm

and comfortable and a special thank you to the staff at the Owasco neighborhood. Graveside

services will be held at Lake View Cemetery on Monday April 29, 2024, at 10:00 am. In lieu of

flowers, donations may be made to the Employees’ Appreciation Fund at Kendal Ithaca.

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