David Pastiner

David Pastiner of Woodcliff Lake, NJ died on April 4, 2023 following a long illness. He was 85 years old.

David was born in San Cristobal, Cuba on May 26, 1937 to Moises and Judith Pistiner (née Salpeter). He was raised in Havana, Cuba where he attended La Escuela Técnica and was a leader in the Hashomer Hatzair Youth Organization. In his late teens, he moved to Israel, where he served in the Israeli army and lived on a kibbutz as part of the Nahal program. At age 25, he moved to the United States, where he attended City College and ultimately earned two Master’s degrees -- one in education and one in school psychology. He worked for the New York City Board for Education (BOE) for most of his career in the Bronx, first as a Spanish teacher, and later as a school psychologist. When he retired from the BOE, he also worked as an adjunct professor, teaching psychology courses at SUNY Purchase and Mercy College. David was an avid photographer, and his photographs were featured prominently in a book chronicling the history of the Jewish Youth Organization movements in Cuba and Israel.  David also enjoyed jogging , and was proud to have completed two New York City Marathons. 

David is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Finch and her husband, Craig, of Blauvelt, NY; and grandchildren Julia and Nicholas Finch. He is also survived by his brother, Felipe Pistiner and his wife, Donna, of Poughkeepsie, NY; nephew Michael Pistiner of Newton, MA; and niece Janna Ostroff of Plainview, NY.  He was predeceased by his sister, Rita Pistiner, of New York, NY.

Burial will take place at Beth El Cemetery in Paramus, NJ on Friday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made in David’s name to aid Ukrainian Jews via IFCJ.org.

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