Ivy Golden’s Gift of Life

Ivy Golden was a special and highly regarded resident of East Hills for more than 60 years. She possessed the finest attributes. She is remembered for her love for others, and for her community. After her passing, her daughter, Ellen, fulfilled her wish. She gave to the Village a beautiful spruce tree which Ivy felt would symbolize her admiration for what East Hills stood for and express her appreciation.

At a dedication and transplantation of the special tree, Deputy Mayor Manny Zuckerman represented the Village. He said East Hills will always remember Ivy’s great love for the Park, and her profound love for our community, “Ivy was proud to live here and the gift of the tree will always be appreciated, not only because it is a welcome addition to the Park, but because it comes from such a fine person who was so highly regarded by all.

Over 30 members of her family and friends attended the ceremony. Her friends recalled how Ivy used to enjoy the pool over the summer, and so many of the Senior Activities Committee programs. As Deputy Mayor Zuckerman added, “Ivy loved the senior programs, including book club, trips and dinners. We will all miss her exuberance. She had a certain eloquence. “She was refined and distinguished” Deputy Mayor Zuckerman added.

Ivy was also a richly talented artist. A couple of her artworks are shown, along with this article. Ellen said “her artistic talents were natural. She was born with this remarkable and gifted ability.”

In her remarks Ellen Golden thanked Mayor Michael Koblenz and the Board for “working so hard to provide her mother and her family with such outstanding facilities and programs at this remarkable venue.” She went on to say that her parents “fell in love with East Hills some 60 years ago, and their love affair with this community grew stronger every year.”

Ellen told the story of the tree which began as a seedling. It was a gift to Ivy Golden for Mother’s Day. The seedling was the size of a sprig of dill, hardly resembling a future pine tree. Ivy was determined to help it grow. And so it did from the pot on the deck to a place in her garden. When her mother’s house was sold to make way for construction by the new owners, Ellen discussed saving the tree with her mother by donating it to the East Hills Park. They agreed. Ellen felt the park had been built with great care to preserve and nurture the beauty of the community and as such, would be a great place for the tree with its special memories, love, and history.