In Loving Memory of Lola Finkelstein, President Emeritus of The Bellevue Association
From Beth Farber, President of the Bellevue Association
It is with profound sadness that I write to inform you that our esteemed and beloved President Emeritus of The Bellevue Association, Lola Finkelstein, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at her home in Manhattan.
Lola was a remarkable force of nature and an extremely accomplished person in many different realms of life. She had a wonderful family, with whom she was very close: children, grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Her family were as devoted to her as she was to them and they took wonderful care of her these last few years when Lola needed extra support.
On a personal note, Lola was a loyal and devoted friend to both my parents, my mother Doris, and my father, Dr. Saul J. Farber. Lola also nominated me to be the president of The Bellevue Association and mentored and help me in any every possible way. She was a great teacher and a constant source of inspiration. She was a passionate advocate for Bellevue Hospital and the ideals it represents.
Lola dedicated a great deal of her life to civic causes in her beloved New York City. She gave of her time and expertise to many volunteer organizations. As the president of The Bellevue Association from 1990-2017, Lola was a dynamic and effective leader who advocated for Bellevue Hospital on vital issues in the public forum and spearheaded many extraordinary projects within the hospital.
I will let you read about Lola’s tenure at Bellevue in her own words:
“I started at Bellevue Hospital in the 1960’s when Ruth Messinger was Manhattan Borough President. I was a member of Community Board 5 (CB5) and she asked for a volunteer to be a representative to the public hospitals. Bellevue was in CB5 and although I started at the Community Advisory Board, Dr. Saul Farber suggested that I join The Bellevue Association as a member.
Senator Jacob Javits was President of The Bellevue Association then and at that time, the city was trying to sell the land between Bellevue and NYU for market rate housing. Together with William Constantine, Dr. Noel Cohen, and Dr Irwin Freedberg, we lobbied local city officials as well as commissioning the Boston Consulting Group to conduct a public health needs assessment report.
Success came with the change of the real estate market and the land was kept by the city. Part of it is now leased by the Alexandria Science Center.
Over the more than 50 years I have been involved with Bellevue, I have worked with The Bellevue Association, Bellevue administrators, and HHC to help improve patient care at Bellevue. We have been involved in projects in every department and innovations throughout the hospital. We were instrumental in creating the front garden facing First Avenue; purchasing the first MRI for a city hospital; renovating the Emergency Department; funding a Birthing Center; financing the Saul J. Farber Auditorium on the ground floor of the hospital; sponsoring the annual Farber Student Lecture series as well as many other programs to benefit all patients, regardless of need, to receive high quality health care for themselves and their families.”
In addition to the incredible work Lola did for Bellevue Hospital and the Bellevue Association, she was very active and involved in many other civic organizations and projects.
As Lola explained:
“When I moved to New York City from Great Neck in the 1960’s, I used to take a daily walk from my East Midtown apartment. I would see garbage on the street that the sanitation workers had left behind after their pickups. I took photographs and called the Sanitation Department as well as the Borough President’s office where I spoke with Maggie Payton. She told me how to get things done by joining my local community board, which I did. And I’ve been involved ever since.”
Lola was recognized for her contributions to New York City through the many awards she won, including:
2017: New York City Health and Hospitals Corporations, Marjorie Mathews Community Advocate Recognition Award to Lola Finkelstein, President of the Bellevue Association, for her support of public health centers, long term care facilities, and patient care.
March 10, 2016: “Lola Finkelstein Appreciation Day For Her Many Contributions To New York City.” Issued by Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President
2014: Women’s Herstory Month Celebration, New York City Council Citation to Lola Finkelstein as an “Outstanding Woman” of New York City.
2002: Common Ground Honor for Lola Finkelstein’s “dedication to our mission of ending homelessness.”
2000: Honored by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields for her dedication to New York City.
In addition to her long tenure as the President of The Bellevue Association, Lola was also the Chair of Community Board 5 for three terms and a member for 30 years, as well as a Contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Lola’s reporting on the Camp David Peace Talks was called the “best reporting on Camp David” by the noted journalist Joseph Kraft.
In these troubling and difficult days, when we might feel like one person cannot make a difference, let us look to the example that Lola Finkelstein set for us and use our talents, our energy and our creativity to make a difference and fight for our community and for the causes and the institutions that represent our highest and most noble ideals.
Our condolences go out to her many family members. Lola will be greatly missed. May Lola’s memory be an inspiration and a blessing.
Beth Farber,
President of The Bellevue Association
