Many thanks to Dick EASTMAN for apprising us of the passing of one of NYC's genealogical giants, Steve SIEGEL, on January 21, 2012. Source: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/01/steve-siegel-rip.html You've probably read Steve's posts on Rootweb's lists, a bit less frequently recently. But, when Steve posted, readers were assured that this man knew his facts and could substantiate all that he wrote. His knowledge of NYC History always impressed me. I only had the pleasure of speaking with Steve once, and exchanging a few emails. We were at the October 2005 Family History Fair at my alma mater, CCNY Graduate Center. Steve was the primary organizer for this annual event, representing the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York. The Fair ran for fifteen years, until 2005, when there was no longer deemed an affo rdable venue. Besides a crowd of metro area researchers, book sellers, genealogical and historical groups participating, we met the crème de la crème of NYC genealogists: Steve SIEGEL, Joy RICH, Jim GARRITY, the incomparable entertainer John MARTINO of IGG, Don ECKERLY of GGG, and Lauren MAHERLIN. As for Steve SIEGEL, succumbing to his battle with cancer, Steve's curriculum vitae is inspirational and thicker than Grandma's handmade, down quilt. * Genealogist for 40 + years dedicated to Jewish genealogy & archival sources, and local NYC history: * Jewish Genealogical Society---founding member, past president * Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York---past president * Jewish Historical Society of New York---president; * 92nd Street YM-YWHA, NY, NY--31 years, as archivist and library director; Steve SIEGEL's work lives on in all of his contribtions to Jewish culture and history, the City of New York, and the reference book he compiled: *Jewish Immigrants of the Nazi Period in the USA * (1978) which is researchable in several NYC universities. With deep thanks to his family, for sharing Steve with us, but for a brief flame in time: Eleanor Simon SIEGEL and the late Morris SIEGEL, brother Jerry SIEGEL, sister, Connie SIEGEL DENNIS, and nieces, Jessica and Katelyn DENNIS. Barb Metro NYC Researcher