Beatrice Preisner

Bea Preisner

February 27, 1930 - March 4, 2018

Beatrice Preisner, 88, beloved resident at North Ridge Assisted Living, passed peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of March 4th. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Born in 1930 in Bronx, New York, Bea was the daughter of Carna and Abraham Mandelbaum and is survived by her brothers Lenny and Bernie, her children Francine, Michael and Madeline, grandchildren Ilyse, Deborah, Geoff, Ariana and Emma, and great grandchildren Ben And Lauren. 

Beautiful Beatrice modeled fur coats as a young woman and became a favorite subject for the photography hobby of Sam Preisner, a handsome officer who returned from the Army with a chest full of medals and a shiny white convertible.  They married and moved to Syosset to raise their young family.

Creative projects and learning were always encouraged in the house and Bea was instrumental in creating the first Creative Day School, where she developed an innovative, highly regarded, pre-school curriculum.  “Miss Bea” was an immensely popular teacher.  

Her athleticism led her to Tennis and Bea was a Tennis Pro at the Woodbury Country Club and later at the Town Park of Oyster Bay. She played a tough game and was the only woman in her group of Doubles players.

Bea worked with Sam at their Jewelry business, bookkeeping and working with customers, first in Manhattan and then in Ft. Lauderdale.  Before retiring, Sam & Bea purchased 6 acres in Fox Trail, Florida, up the street from a drive-through Safari Park. An occasional roar could be heard in the evening. They spent the next few years building their home on the weekends.

Sam planted every semi-tropical fruit that could grow in South Florida and they became involved with the Rare Fruit Council, with Bea as Treasurer and Sam grafting young saplings for sale at Club events and the County Fair where they helped at the club's booth.

Bea found a Box Turtle on the road and took it home to keep it safe. Soon another was found and a turtle enclosure built for the growing collection as people brought stray turtles to the "Turtle Lady".  Many turtle babies were born and raised with nurturing from Bea.  Some were also brought to the Preisner Family Re-union, an annual summer week together, a family tradition for almost 30 years.

When 6 acres became too much the couple relocated to Rio Rancho, New Mexico where they had a home near daughter Francine.  Sam passed away in the Summer of 2014.

Bea liked coffee, ice cream, jigsaw puzzles and action movies, free stuff or a really good deal.  She enjoyed and was good at making money but did not enjoy spending it.  She liked to go to the gym every day, and found her friendships there.  She liked feeling strong and feeding dog biscuits to other people’s dogs even though she was afraid of being bitten.  She loved her family above all.  She was fierce, determined, beautiful and made a big impression everywhere she went.

She we will be greatly missed and never forgotten.