Doris Leistner

Doris Kurtz Leistner, 98, (May 3rd,1922 - December 9th, 2020), Doris was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY to Russian immigrants Sadie Selfer and Leybish "Louis" Kurtz. Doris was the youngest of her four siblings: Beatrice, Mildred, and Milton. Doris was a graduate of James Madison High School. In 1942, Doris met her future husband, Sol Leistner while playing miniature golf with a friend in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. Sol gave her a ride home and that chapter became a book, including the time when Doris became very ill during a date and had emergency surgery to remove her kidney. Sol was undeterred and on February 17th, 1943 the couple married in her parent's living room. The wedding took place on a Thursday morning before everyone went to work and on the next Monday her new husband was drafted into the Army. After his service in the Army, Doris and Sol made their home in Sheepshead Bay and her husband ran the family business, Koenig Ironworks. In 1952, they moved with their two sons Ken and Barry to Lido Beach, Long Island, where her husband owned, built, and operated Malibu Beach Club, which Doris named, until 1969. Doris was the belle of the ball at Malibu where she greeted the guests and the entertainment, including Pearl Bailey, Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra, Alan King, Xavier Cugat, Harry Belafonte, Buddy Hackett and many others. After a year in Malibu, the family moved to Long Beach and then to Woodmere. Widowed at 57, Doris traveled the world from Russia to Ireland with her girlfriends and family. She enjoyed Broadway shows, dining out, current events but, she never remarried. In 2002, Doris moved to the Hewlett Towne House for many years and she enjoyed playing canasta and had many friendships. She was always always ready with a smile and witty remark. As she began her 90's, Doris moved to the Bristal at N. Woodmere where she celebrated many birthdays in style, including her 98th. Her colorful holiday outfits, love of ice cream, red lipstick, a string of pearls, and enthusiasm for song and dance kept her young at heart. She was lovingly attended by her aides: Divina Esporlas, Innocencia Jacobson, Melbene Lupoy, and Ann Marie Singh and the family would like to say thank you for their devotion to Doris. Family and friends were everything to Doris and she loved her sons and spouses, grandchildren, nephews and niece and was loved in return. Her sense of humor and love of life made her appear decades younger, even at 98. Predeceased by her loving husband Sol, son Ken, sisters Beatrice and Mildred, brother Milton. Surviving: son Barry, his wife Dawn (Boudreaux), Ken's wife, Kathy (Tuite), grandchildren - Sol, Bariann (Smith), husband, Eric Smith, nephews - Gary Elman and wife Harriet, Leon Elman and wife Arlene, and RIchard Kurtz, nieces - Ronnie Gibstein, and Joan Rosen, husband Marty. There will be a graveside service on Friday December 11th at12:00PM at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, N.Y. In lieu of flowers contributions to Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Curealz.org/giving/donate/ or Lakeview Youth Federation, P.O. Box 525, West Hempstead, N.Y. 11552

Doris Leistner

December 9, 2020