BY KRISTEN ANCILLOTTI | On June 25 in the Community Room of Penn South Building 10 (367 W. 28th St.), a joyful gathering was forming. People congregated in groups of twos and threes, laughing and talking. As new members filed into the room, more chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the crowd. Once those seats were filled, people stood in the aisles and along the wall, continuing their animated conversations.

They were there to celebrate the long and storied life of Gloria Sukenick, a longtime resident of Chelsea, an artist, and a political activist who inspired many. Sukenick died on May 30 at the age of 94, but the affectionately recounted, often amusing, stories shared by her friends and fellow activists gave the sense that she is still very much with those who knew her.

“As the room was filling up, I was introduced to some people—relatives of Gloria, longtime friends of Gloria, coworkers of Gloria 40 and 50 years ago, and cooperators in Penn South,” said Jay Schaffner, a member of the Limited Equity and Affordability at Penn South (LEAPS) coordinating committee, who organized the celebration. “All of us have come here together to share our love for this incredible woman.”

Attendees ran the gamut, from family and neighbors to fellow activists and artists, and it is a testament to Sukenick how the relationships she formed across various aspects of her life blossomed into deep and lasting friendships.

Sukenick’s legendary activism began after she retired from a career as an advertising copywriter for Alexander’s department store—but she had a wide variety of life experiences prior to that. Marie Dillon Epstein, Sukenick’s longtime friend, recalled meeting her in the late 1960s, when Epstein was looking for a replacement for her position at Alexander’s.

“She breezed in, with no sign of a resume or anything, and settled in for an hour-long chitchat that kind of started somehow with jazz, and then went to modeling for Montgomery Ward catalogs, waitressing, Bakelite jewelry… She lived life in Bermuda for awhile,” said Epstein. “At some point Gloria said, ‘Well, am I gonna get the job?’ ”

She did, of course. With verve and determination, Sukenick always got the job done.

Many of Sukenick’s friends came to her through her involvement in various causes, like volunteering with the Metropolitan Council on Housing, protesting against Barney’s encroachment on W. 17th St. in the 1980s, or working with the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club.

Jenny Laurie, friend and former executive director of Metropolitan Council on Housing, where Sukenick volunteered, noted her gifts as a writer and an artist who created flyers for campaigns. What she found even more special about Sukenick was how she treated Laurie’s children, and how she managed to bring people together who were no longer working for the Council. “She was the center of the circle that never collapsed,” Laurie recalled.

New York State Senator Brad Hoylman was also in attendance, and he spoke of what a gift Sukenick was for the community. “I’m gonna miss so much about her,” he said. “In particular, the thing that sticks in my mind is the click-clacking of her Bakelite jewelry.”

On a more serious note, Hoylman discussed the passage of The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. “I was there for the finish line, but Gloria and others like her started the race. I want to rename it The GLORIA Act, which stands for—we do this a lot in Albany—Get Landlords Off Renters’ Innocent Asses,” Hoylman deadpanned, and the room erupted in applause and whoops of approval.

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson was unable to attend, but his Chief of Staff, Erik Bottcher, read a letter that said in part, “Ms. Sukenick has left behind an incomparable legacy and a lasting impact on our city.”

Sukenick was also a potter, and an artist, attending the Yale School of Fine Arts for painting. Her friend, Ava McNamee, an instructor at Penn South Ceramics Studio, helped her continue her work even when she became ill, providing her with supplies to make collages and then putting an exhibition together that could be shown at McNamee’s studio.

McNamee said she wants to continue Sukenick’s legacy by inviting artists to her studio to reproduce pieces created by Sukenick, which can then be sold with the proceeds going to the organizations she supported. “I don’t want to let go of the memory of Gloria,” she said. “I don’t want to let go of the memory of her art, and I don’t want to let go of Gloria’s activism.”

While her activism, friendship, and artistic abilities inspired those who knew her, one of the things she will be most remembered for is her distinctive cloud of white curls. Marianne Rosenfeld, Sukenick’s cousin, said, “She always looked fantastic, with the red-framed glasses—and her hair was very important—that white hair.”

“On a sunny day, I would always look for Gloria’s iconic white fro on the street in the park on the Penn South benches, hoping to catch up with her,” said Judith Sokoloff, Sukenick’s neighbor, fellow potter, and friend. “I’m still looking, and probably always will.”

It was Miriam Rabban, an activist and close friend of Sukenick’s, who may have best summed up the crowd’s feelings. After talking about the many reasons why she admired Sukenick, and voicing her hope that Sukenick will continue to be an inspiration, she closed with a lively shout befitting the spirit of the night, and the woman they were honoring: “Viva Gloria!”

Chelsea Community News is made possible with the help of our awesome advertisers, and the support of our readers. If you like what you see, please consider taking part in our GoFundMe campaign (click here). To make a direct donation and/or send feedback about the site, send an email to Scott@chelseacommunitynews.com.