Obituary: Laura Osborne Altshul, 82, Of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — (From Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home): Laura Osborne Altshul, 82, most recently of Hamden, sadly left us on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

Beloved by all, Laura was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 30, 1941, to the late Charles and Frances Zuckerman. Laura graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College in 1963, where she nurtured her life-long passion for literature and the written word. In the mid-1960s, she moved from Greenwich Village to New Haven, where over many decades she became a vital part of the fabric of the New Haven community. She later received a Master’s degree from the University of New Haven.

She began her career in 1970 as a Kindergarten teacher at the Foote School, a position she held for the next 23 years. During this period, she started the Foote Summer Program, which exists today as Horizons at Foote, and affected the lives of hundreds of young learners. In 1993 she became the Director of Admissions at Foote, a position she held until her retirement in 2013.

Laura is survived by her devoted husband of 39 years, Victor Altshul, a brother, Marc Zuckerman (Jan) of Hokitika, New Zealand; three loving sons, Matthew Osborne of New Haven, Mark Osborne of Brooklyn, and Seth Osborne of New Haven; four stepchildren, Michael Altshul (Stephanie) of Willimantic, Peter Altshul also of Willimantic, Jonathan Altshul of West Chester, PA, and Katherine Darci (Eric) of Boston. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Njambi, Maya, Yana, Zeke, Sydney, Samuel, Ethan, Zachary, Alice, George and Stuart. Finally, she is also survived by her former daughter-in-law Yollanda London, whose dedication to Laura and her family has been exemplary.

Laura will be remembered for many things: as an indefatigable jogger on the sidewalks of the East Rock neighborhood every morning at the crack of dawn; as an intrepid traveler flying off to New Zealand to visit her beloved brother and family on the South Island; as an educator, mentor and leader at Foote and throughout the New Haven nonprofit community; as a published poet giving readings in bookstores throughout Connecticut; and, of course, as a mother, grandmother, colleague and friend to so many. Most of all, she enjoyed spending long summer days with Vic at their second home in Weston, Vermont, entertaining old friends, taking long runs, and devouring great fiction.

Laura battled her cancer with the same tenacity and fearlessness with which she lived her life. Cancer would knock her down, but every time it did, she’d stand back up more determined than ever. After three and a half years the disease had progressed too far, but she remained cheerful, warm and hopeful until the end.

Laura was passionate about many causes and served on the boards of many local organizations. She was the co-founder and founding Board Chair of Horizons at Foote, a summer learning program for New Haven youths of all backgrounds, focused on developing early literacy, math and STEAM skills. She also served on the board of Music Haven, a tuition-free music program for area youths with a passion for playing and performing classical music. She was also a board member of the New Haven Road Race, in which she participated for many years.

A service honoring her life will be held at Beecher and Bennett Funeral Service, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27.

In lieu of flowers, Laura has asked that donations in her honor be made to Horizons at Foote School, 50 Loomis Place, New Haven, CT 06511.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.