Gail Ann Mazin

Gail Ann Mazin (1965-2025) was a proud and enthusiastic New Yorker who loved travel, languages, children and interesting adults, animals (but not bugs), photography, beaches, skiing, tennis, laughter, and all the good things New York has to offer, especially museums, Central Park, The Botanical Gardens and Bronx Zoo, Broadway musicals, shopping, bagels, deli, and dessert. For several years she was a devoted caregiver to her mother and loved helping -- and hanging out with -- the elderly residents of their building. 

 Gail was born in Manhattan to Estelle (Melter) and William Mazin, grew up in the Bronx, and lived in Manhattan until the Covid-19 pandemic and then moved to Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. 

 Gail graduated from The Bronx High School of Science and the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. She worked in public relations and marketing for many years and especially enjoyed the travel associated with positions at Princess Hotels and the Italian airline Alitalia. 

 In 2000, Gail took her creativity and skills as a writer, organizer, and "people person" to the nonprofit sector. She had successful tenures as Associate Director of Corporate Development at the American Museum of Natural History and then Director Corporate Relations at The New-York Historical Society. Her intelligence, curiosity, interest in people, and ability to converse about a broad range of topics were evident as she interacted with current and potential donors, scientists, historians, honorees, and other guests of the organizations, including Michele Obama, Bill Clinton, Queen Rania of Jordan, and several Tuskegee Airmen. 

 Always ready for an adventure, Gail traveled extensively: the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. She formally studied several languages and taught herself a little of others so she could greet and thank people in their language. She and her mother were excellent travel companions and Gail particularly enjoyed their trips to Kenya and China. 

 Gail had a great sense of humor and an expressive, smiling face – but did killer imitations of people who annoyed her. She was a doting aunt, devoted daughter and sister, and loyal friend. Gail is survived by her mother Estelle Mazin; sister Susan Prinz and brother-in-law George Prinz; brother Laurence Mazin and sister-in-law Mary Russell; nephew and niece Robert Prinz and Felicia Bargman Prinz and their children Caleb and Spencer; nephew Daniel Mazin; niece Anna Mazin; and cousins, including Jodi and Peter Sandler and their daughters, sons-in-law, and granddaughter. She was predeceased by her father William Mazin and cousins Blair and Anita Mazin. 

 The family is deeply grateful to Gail’s friends for visiting, calling, writing to, and expressing concern for Gail after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and throughout the cruel progression of the disease; to the nurses, aides, and other caregivers of Serenity Hospice and Artis Senior Living who provided compassionate and dedicated care to Gail; and to the employees and residents of the buildings Gail lived in in Manhattan and Riverdale whose ongoing help allowed Gail to live independently as long as she did. 

 Gail’s funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 10:45 in the Sanctuary of Abraham and Sarah at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey. Interment will follow. 

 Gail was always concerned for children and for people experiencing homelessness and hunger. She was proud to have been an early supporter of CorpsAfrica, which one of her longtime friends founded with a mission of providing an opportunity for Africans to serve like Peace Corps volunteers in their own countries. So in lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, https://www.kipsbay.org/; Coalition For The Homeless, https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/; or CorpsAfrica, www.corpsafrica.org.