Page created by: The Citrin Family

Miriam Friedenthal Citrin, 95, passed away on December 28, 2019, following a long but courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. She was born in the Bronx, NY on October 15, 1924 to her beloved parents, the late Bernard and Rose Friedenthal. Miriam was an always engaged and brilliant woman who was ahead of her time. She tenaciously pursued a career in Internal Medicine when few women were following this path, while simultaneously running a household full of warmth and happiness, directed by her respect for education and equality.

She attended New Utrecht High School, Brooklyn College, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a major in Biology. She went on to study medicine at The Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Upon achieving her MD, she interned at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, and went on to complete her residency at The Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and her pulmonary fellowship at Maimondes Hospital in Brooklyn. It was at the VA that she met the love of her life and husband of 67 years, Dr. Lester Citrin. They were married on April 11, 1952, and after completing their respective residencies, they left Brooklyn for Albany, NY. Theirs was a partnership marked by mutual respect, joy of family, shared responsibility, and love until the last moments of Miriam's long life.

From this partnership came three daughters, Joan, Myra, and Beth. Miriam was a devoted mother, and always made sure that her work allowed sufficient family time to raise her children. She worked for many years at Glenridge Hospital as the Director of the Cardiopulmonary Division. When that hospital closed its doors, she began working as an attending physician in Internal Medicine at Albany Medical Center, retiring in 1989. Her students and patients remember her fondly as a talented mentor and compassionate caregiver.

In her free time, Miriam was a passionate tennis player, lover of the arts, and a lifelong learner. She was a passionate downhill skier as long as the mountains were flat. Aside from her husband, nothing brought her more joy than her three children, their partners, and her nine grandchildren. Photos and videos of her one great grandchild and singing the songs she taught her own children were among the few things that brought a smile in the last months of her life. She was the proverbial wise woman, and her listening ear and thoughtful advice was sought by her children, their friends, and her grandchildren. She will be remembered by all for her no nonsense authenticity, her brilliant counsel, and her willingness to go to the ends of the earth for those she loved.

Miriam is survived by her husband Lester Citrin MD, her sister Irma Frank, her daughters Joan Citrin Goddard MD (Moses Goddard MD), Myra Citrin MD (Robert Millstein MD), Beth Citrin (Skip West) and her grandchildren Jesse Goddard MD and Benjamin Goddard (Elaina Atherton), Daniel Millstein (Rachel Millstein), Jonathan Millstein, Julia Citrin, and Rebecca Millstein; Robert West, Sara West, and Ross West; and great grandson Benjamin Millstein.