- Date Of Birth: March 20, 1936
- Date Of Death: October 26, 2022
- State: Arizona
The incomparable Sybil Yastrow, 86, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was taken from us on October 26, 2022. Sybil was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on March 20,1936. A graduate of Northwestern University (1956), Sybil then earned a Master’s Degree in educational administration from the National College of Education, and a PhD from Loyola University in Chicago in 1989 where she went on to design a doctoral program for future students.
She was the Illinois Regional Superintendent of Schools for Lake County, Illinois for two terms, having won two general and two primary elections, leading the ticket in all four elections. Sybil’s first role in education was as a first-grade teacher. She then did homebound teaching and later was the founder and president of two renowned national educational organizations, Reading Recovery of North America for at risk children and the National Staff Development Council (Learning Forward). She was also the Director of Development for Lake Forest Academy and The Ferry Hall School, two private high schools in Lake Forest, Illinois. After retiring as a public and private education administrator, Sybil became the president of a national recruiting firm for the placement of school principals and superintendents.
Sybil’s lifelong effort to benefit charities is best exemplified by her tireless work to fight multiple sclerosis, an effort that resulted in her being one of the country’s leading fundraisers in the battle against that terrible disease and being a trustee of the Arizona chapter of the national MS Society. In 2012 Sybil was honored as the MS Woman of the Year.
On top of her educational and charitable achievements, Sybil excelled in her hobbies of weaving, needlepoint, and cooking, although her most precious times were spent with family and her countless friends. She enjoyed her travels throughout the world.
Sybil is survived by her husband of 66 years, Shelby; by her children Steve (Arna) of Chicago, Illinois, Phil of Lake Osage, Missouri and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sara Silver (Bob) of Phoenix, Arizona and Ethel Pickar (Paul) of Libertyville, Illinois; eleven grandchildren, Nurit Friedberg (Aaron), Levi Yastrow (Carly), Noah Yastrow (Veronica), Erin Silver (David), Jacob Yastrow, Adam Silver (Arielle), Jeffrey Silver, Peter Pickar, Philip Pickar, John Pickar and Mark Pickar; and three great-grandchildren, Adina, Zalman and Miriam Friedberg.
Sybil was the quintessential family matriarch, successfully ensuring strong bonds of love and support among all family members, regardless of the distance between them. She will be missed and always remembered with love and admiration by everyone fortunate to have been touched by her.
