ROCHESTER — Sara Gainer Haimowitz — born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; raised in Altamont, New York; and a resident of the Rochester, New York area — died unexpectedly on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. She was 39.

She attended the Capital Region BOCES Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, graduated from the New York State School for the Deaf in Rome, New York, and studied at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

“She enjoyed working at various retail and culinary establishments in Rochester,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Sara found a home and community that she loved at the Rochester View Apartments operated by DePaul Services.

“Sara was a proud member of the deaf community, and lived with some challenging disabilities. She had a unique way of connecting with the world around her, and was very observant of people and places she encountered.

“At age 6, Sara was delighted to sit with Governor Mario Cuomo when he signed a law expanding the provision of American Sign Language interpreters to help hearing and deaf individuals communicate effectively. She did, however, feel a responsibility to advise him that his handwriting needed work. When the Governor passed away in 2015, Sara was interviewed by a reporter for Rochester’s NBC TV affiliate and described Mario as a caring man and a strong advocate for people with disabilities.

“Family meant everything to Sara. We loved her for her spirit, which was warm, funny, stubborn, generous, independent, loyal, and thoughtful. Sara kept in touch with many people, no matter how far, through social media. She was always the first to send birthday, holiday, and other well wishes.

“Sara loved swimming; experiencing nature; being around young children, especially her niece Talia; helping her mom cook; and playing games with family and friends. She was incredibly skilled at word games, as well as devoted to playing other kinds of games with her RVA friends.

“She is so beloved and missed by her parents, Ann Gainer and Stephan Haimowitz; sister, Avi Haimowitz; brother-in-law, Albert Tharpe III; niece, Talia Haimowitz Tharpe; aunts, Esta Cutler and Shelley Silverman; uncles, Jay Silverman, Tom Gainer, and Mark Gainer; and cousins, Stephanie Levin, Jonathan Cutler, Howard Cutler, Sharon Lifschutz, Adam Gainer, and Anna Gainer.

“Plans for a gathering to celebrate Sara's life will be announced within the next month on Avi Haimowitz’s Facebook page.”

Memorial messages may be left at www.altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

Memorial contributions may be made to CSD Unites Community Foundation online at foundation.csd.org/donate or by mail to Post Office Box 206938, Dallas, TX 75320-6938.

Family contact is Stephan Haimowitz

518-860-6513

To leave a special message for the family online please visit NewComerAlbany.com

Nicholas Kimmey
 

Funeral Director In Charge

New Comer Cremations & Funerals

518-456-4442

Fax - 518-456-6609