Gathering in Gratitude to Celebrate Yvette Siegel-Herzog’s Life and Legacy

Posted on Thursday, January 16th, 2025

On the evening of January 13, nearly 400 members of the Stephen Gaynor School community streamed through the doors of the New York Historical to honor Gaynor Co-Founder Yvette Siegel-Herzog’s life and legacy. Yvette died at the age of 100 on October 1, 2024.

The attendees mingling in the venue’s Robert H. and Clarice Smith New York Gallery of American History represented decades of the school’s history and longstanding personal relationships with Yvette. From the moment they arrived in the gallery, they were greeted with a montage of photos highlighting Yvette’s impact on the school and the students she loved. Quotes from Yvette, who was eminently quotable, graced the columns ringing the gallery. Alumni and alumni parents from as far back as the 1970s and 80s reminisced about Yvette with current and past trustees, parents, and friends of the school. Whether someone had known Yvette for 50 years or 5 years, her singular personality shone through. In modern parlance, it was Yvette’s “Eras Tour.”

STORIES OF A LIFETIME

The formal program took place in the Robert H. Smith Auditorium, where a packed audience laughed, cried, and nodded along to those invited to share their memories of Yvette. The speeches were heartfelt (and often hilarious) tributes highlighting Yvette’s profound impact as an educator, mentor, and friend. Speakers shared stories of her remarkable intuition, humor, and love for children, as well as her dedication to Stephen Gaynor School’s mission. Yvette’s legacy as a trailblazer in education for children with learning differences was palpable to all in the room.

Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor welcomed everyone in the room as well as the over 250 attendees watching via livestream saying, “I think we all know how much an event like this would mean to Yvette, and I couldn’t think of a better place than The New York Historical to honor her. She loved New York, and she’s a piece of history.”

In particular, Dr. Gaynor spoke directly to alumni from throughout the school’s history, saying, “To our alumni: You hold a uniquely special place in our hearts. You are the living testament to Yvette’s life’s work, her passion, and her unwavering belief in the potential of every child.”

Dr. Gaynor then introduced Wendy Leavin, Yvette’s daughter, and Avi Goch, Yvette’s grandson. Wendy spoke of the love shared among many of those in the room saying, “That you are all here now is a testament to how much my mom could love. If you are in this audience, if you have loved my mother, you can be sure that she loved you, too, in at least equal measure and depth.” 

After Yvette’s death, Wendy found the speech her mother had prepared to give on the night of March 12, 2020, the year that the Stephen Gaynor School’s Gala planned to honor Yvette. Wendy said, “Just two days prior to this great event, the COVID pandemic lockdown went into effect and her words never reached your ears.”

Wendy then read the speech that her mother had prepared, which true to Yvette’s personality, began immediately with warmth and humor. The speech started with, “It’s one thing to have my children, my friends, and my grandchildren hug me and tell me I’m the best. But it’s another thing entirely when all of you gather to honor me.” At which point, Wendy shook her head and said with a wistful smile, “You can’t make this stuff up, can you?”

Yvette’s speech concluded with, “Our mission is never completed, but this family that we created together has brought us to this point, a moment filled with power and a vision for a future that lives on beyond us. I pray that our school will share in the eternity of the universe, [and] that we come to understand that our individual uniqueness is also the most precious gift we can leave the world. Thank you for listening to me.” And Wendy added, “To both of us.”

Yvette’s grandson Avi spoke of his grandmother saying, “Omi was an intellect, a poet, a teacher, a leader, a role model, an advocate, a philosopher, and a heroine. Remarkable doesn’t quite do her justice. She was just so much more.” 

After regaling the audience with a few vignettes, he concluded, “She was beautiful, elegant, regal, refined, incredibly charismatic and larger than life. She loved her family fiercely in her own way and loved the pursuit of ambition almost more than the achievement itself. She poured her heart and soul into Gaynor and relished in the successes of her students, and never wavered in her support or faith that they would succeed.”

GAYNOR FACULTY REMEMBER YVETTE

Yvette’s family were succeeded by veteran Gaynor faculty members, who spoke of Yvette’s mentorship, her sharp wit, her vibrant personality, and her love for dinners out, often involving a glass of wine and a lot of laughs. Fittingly, those speaking on behalf of the school represented over 100 years of collective service to Gaynor.

Jen Cohen, Speech and Language Chair, spoke of one very memorable dinner out, in the middle of a hurricane. She said, “I hope when I’m 100 I’m still going out to dinner every night with a full face of makeup, dressed to perfection, and drinking a glass of wine with people I love.”

Jackie Glazer, Writing Chair and Middle School Literacy Chair, spoke of Yvette’s singular ability to see the true essence of a person. She said, “Through her, I learned that sometimes the most important things you can learn about a person, particularly a child, are hidden in plain sight, revealed only to those who take the time to truly see… To be seen by Yvette was a gift. She didn’t just see the surface. She saw your essence, your potential, your truth.”

Yosefa Kizelnik, Speech and Language Pathologist, also shared a story about a memorable dinner, one that could best be described as a comedy of errors, but that marked the start of a longstanding friendship with Yvette. She remembered, “Yvette was nothing short of extraordinary. She was brilliant, a leader in education for children, of learning differences, a woman who not only transformed the lives of so many students but also empowered them to reach their fullest potential. She approached everything with grace, a lively spirit, and a sharp wit, finding humor in even the most unexpected moments.”

Chris Meyer, Head Teacher in the Blue Cluster, remembered Yvette’s mentorship which was mixed with often bawdy humor, saying “Brilliant, human, and utterly unforgettable, [Yvette] was the kind of person who could make you feel seen, supported, and loved, all the while keeping you on your toes. What I learned from Yvette is that leadership isn’t just about being the voice of authority. It’s about being a voice of encouragement.”

Sloan Shapiro, Reading Chair, wrapped up the faculty speeches with a humorous but blush-worthy story. Sloan concluded by saying, “I learned that day that this brilliant woman with the grace and sophistication of the most elegant New York socialite, had a potty mouth that would make Amy Schumer blush.” 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Dr. Gaynor then introduced Gaynor alumna Zia Uehling, Class of 2019, who is now pursuing a professional music career. While a student at Stephen Gaynor School she played Dorothy in the middle school production of “The Wizard of Oz.” She reprised Dorothy’s signature song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” with a beautiful and emotional acoustic version that had the audience wiping away tears.

THE GIFT OF DIFFERENCE

Gaynor alumni parents Richie Jackson, Jordan Roth, and BD Wong, Parents of Jackson Wong, Class of 2014, had the unenviable task of following Zia’s performance. However, from his opening remark, Jordan had the audience roaring with laughter and hanging on their every word.

Jordan described the family’s first meeting with Yvette, saying, “From that first moment Yvette whisked us up in her wise and wonderful embrace as she guided Jackson to a million victories of his own design. He was special. Just as she knew every student at Gaynor was special.”

BD followed Jordan, describing how welcomed they felt as a family at Gaynor. “That this is a huge part of our son’s success, not just his incredible ability to overcome his differences, but the fact that our differences as a family were part of the Code of Yvette, the idea that differences are actually positive. Differences are only made negative by the rest of the world… [Yvette] spent decades, years, hours toiling over celebrating difference and turning the gift of difference into self empowerment.”

Riche rounded out the trio with a heartfelt remembrance that many in the audience could relate to. He said, “Most parents and students met Yvette in crisis. Our kids were frustrated and sad and we were scared. We had been shooed away from other schools, told the challenges were too great. But where others saw only obstacles, Yvette saw opportunities. And when Yvette unlocked our children’s potential, she released our anxiety. And it is in this way that Yvette was a healer.”

He continued, “While we are honored to be here today, there are thousands of parents who could be here and they would have told you the same story. And isn’t that remarkable that our special experience with Yvette was not extraordinary but the norm?”

Dr. Gaynor concluded the evening by saying, “Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate Yvette. She was a trailblazer, a mentor and a friend who left an indelible mark on everyone she touched. Let us carry forward the lessons she so generously shared, ensuring her vision continues to shine brightly in the lives of every student, teacher and family at Stephen Gaynor School. We all carry a piece of Yvette with us. Let us honor her by continuing the journey she began and keeping her spirit alive in all we do, Yvette, we love you.”

Photos: Brett Deutch Photography