Mary B. Arnstein

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=159724724

Mary Benjamin Arnstein, a pioneer in women's participation on public and private boards, an advocate for women's advancement and health issues, and a homemaker in Hamden, CT, died September 3, 2012, at age 85. She was the daughter of Helen Weil Benjamin and Robert Morris Benjamin of New York City.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Arnstein attended Friends Seminary '44 and Vassar College '47. In 1947, she married Dr. Robert L. Arnstein of New York City. They moved to New Haven, CT in 1952 where she started her community service in 1955 as the Treasurer of the Vassar Club of New Haven. Over the years she contributed to 29 organizations and received eight awards in appreciation of her contributions.

Mrs. Arnstein was the first recipient of Women's Health Research at Yale's Women of Vision Award; an inaugural founder of the Community Fund for Women & Girls; one of the first women to be honored with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Award; one of the first three special honorees of the YWCA of New Haven's Annual Women in Leadership Award; the first woman to be elected as trustee of the Connecticut Savings Bank; the first woman elected to the board of directors of the New Haven Water Company; and the second woman elected to the board of trustees at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Soon after Yale College began admitting women, Mrs. Arnstein served as Acting Special Assistant to Yale University President Kingman Brewster Jr. and was Chair of the University Committee on the Education of Women. In 1983, she was awarded the Yale Medal, the highest honor the Association of Yale Alumni bestows for outstanding individual service to the university.

Mrs. Arnstein is survived by her children, Katharine Arnstein, of Brighton, MA, Douglas Arnstein, of San Francisco, CA, and Anne Arnstein, of Wallingford, CT. She was pre-deceased by her husband and her daughter Sarah Arnstein. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Elena Arnstein of Astoria, NY and Jason of Los Angeles, CA.