Isabella A. Mitnick

West Sand Lake - Isabella Mitnick, 53, of West Sand Lake passed away on July 7, 2006 at home after a 21 month battle with brain cancer. Isabel was born in Philadelphia and graduated from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in 1973. She then worked in the Surgical/Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for twelve years working her way up to charge nurse. Issy was an exemplary nurse with qualities of selfless dedication to patient care, compassionate to patients and their families, loved the hectic pace and the need for multitasking and delivering cutting edge medicine with the attendings and residents. Neil and Issy met in 1976 when he was assigned clinical research responsibilities in her unit. They started to date in 1977 shortly before Neil was accepted to medical school and thus started the eight year long distance relationship. Neil proposed to Issy at the Teton National Park after back country hiking to a secluded lake. They married at their "castle for the day", the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Sinkler Estate. When Neil and Issy moved to Albany in 1987 she wanted to volunteer her time for the happiness of others. She achieved therapy dog certification for Coco, Raisin, and Rosie and volunteered her time unremittingly to improve the quality of people's lives at the Hospice Inn, the rehabilitation floor, nursing homes, and schools to name a few. She treasured the friendships she made with the other "dog people" including her best friend Chris Danker. Even during her illness, with her friends and health providers, Issy always had time to problem solve other dog owners issues and provide personalized suggestions for their care and training. Issy loved family, the outdoors and nature. She was an avid gardener, loved music and dance, walks on the beach, and cross country hiking in national parks. Issy happily assumed the role of surrogate mother for the family medicine residents when Neil became residency program director. Issy was always available to the residents for advice, assistance, or a shoulder to cry on. The residents and students loved her for how she openly, calmly, and caringly embraced them during their years of training. Issy was the beloved wife of 20 years to Neil Mitnick. She was the devoted daughter to Gilbert (Jane) Robinson, and the late Isabella Robinson. She was the older sister to James (Terri) Robinson and loving Aunt to Jamie and Molly Robinson. She was the "buddy" to her loving brother in law Michael (Audrey) Mitnick. She was the therapy dog owner/instructor for the late Labrador Retriever Coco and Raisin, the current therapy dog Rosie and, of course, Willie. Her passing leaves a huge void and great sadness in our lives. She will be immeasurably missed.

Neil and Issy want to express their deepest appreciation for all the love, caring, help and support during Issy's illness to so many people. People who went above and beyond include the Family Medicine Faculty, the support staff of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and the Albany Family Practice Group, current and graduated Family Medicine Residents and AMC medical students, Community Care Physicians, Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, Chris and the rest of the "dog group", Sean Roche and Bob Kleinbauer, our families, J.B., Rich Wilson, Paul Levin, Scott Kaneff, and Evan Ashkin. Special thanks to Mary Smith who has a heart of gold and without her loving friendship we could not have done this. Dr. Frank Thomas and his radiation therapy nurses and staff were kind and considerate to Isabel and always had a smile or good CD to help her through her treatments. Words cannot adequately describe the gratitude we have for Dr. Susan Weaver. She exemplifies all of the qualities a physician should have. She has a national reputation and has cutting edge medical information. She treats each patient with honesty and hope. She is totally committed to her patients and would come in whenever necessary. She made Issy feel beautiful even when her hair was falling out. She had the ability to function as Issy's neuro-oncologist sub-specialist as well as Issy's dedicated family physician. Thank you and your nurses and staff for making Issy feel so human and so special during these 21 months instead of feeling like a diseased organ system. Dr. Mitnick would also like to thank his patients during these last 21 months for their understanding of cancelled sessions and their sincere concern about Isabel's well-being. I am proud to be your Family Physician. Finally, to give credit where it is really due, it was Isabel who took charge of her life and her death. She wanted to be remembered as a fighter to the end. Issy outlived the medical statistics of her tumor because of her positive attitude, unbreakable spirit for life, and the strength she felt from the love and support of her family and friends.

There will be a celebration of Isabel's life for friends and family at a date and location to be announced. Donations can be made to the two things Issy loved – Labrador Retrievers and Family Medicine Residency Education: LAB Rescue of the Hudson Valley, 3539 Route 32, Saugerties, NY 12477 or Capital Region Medical Research Foundation, c/o Family Medicine Educational Fund, 711 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Latham, NY 12110. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.newcomerfamily.com