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Sylvia Aranow

Sylvia Aranow (née Small), 86, longtime resident of Edgewater, New Jersey and more recently a resident of Clinton and Guilford, passed away on Oct. 31, 2024, in the company of her family. Sylvia was born on Aug. 15, 1938, to Leo and Fannie in Binghamton, New York. She spent her childhood with her brothers, Mel and Ronnie, on a farm in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Sylvia earned a master’s degree in psychiatric casework at Columbia University, specializing in child psychology. As an undergraduate, she attended Brandeis University, where she met the love of her life, Martin Aranow. The homecoming queen and basketball star married in August of 1962, and spent ten wonderful years together until Marty’s untimely death to cancer. They moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, where they raised their two sons, Jonathan and Andrew.

Together, Sylvia and Marty co-founded the New Jersey Tenants Organization which drafted and lobbied into law the Tenants Bill of Rights. Over 13 bills she and Marty drafted were accepted into law and served as reference for other states to emulate. Together, their grassroots efforts led to nationwide revisions in real estate law. Their activism was recognized by the Nixon administration and served as the basis for federal guidelines in landlord and tenant relationships. They ultimately won the National Volunteer Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Organization. Her activism was also rewarded by a gubernatorial appointment to the New Jersey Ethics Committee. During Marty’s final year, they also founded the New Jersey Seniors Organization which created legislation for reduced bus fares, prescriptions, theater tickets and more. After Marty’s death, she continued with her community volunteerism with the non-profit Senior Housing Council.

Sylvia’s experience with housing led to employment opportunities in real estate. First, in the conversions to condo/co-ops and ultimately to starting her own brokerage, SAS Realty. During this phase of her life, she became an avid (and very high level) tennis player and met her second husband, and tennis partner, Arthur Sanquiche. They eloped in 1977, but the marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 2004.

Sylvia’s greatest passion has always been her children who “grew into wonderful, handsome and very bright young men.” Sylvia has always been Andrew’s closest friend and confidant. Andrew likes to say he was the Gracie to her George. They worked together for many years in SAS Realty and traveled together across the US and Europe with their favorite trips being aboard the QE2 and Queen Mary. Jonathan married Karen, aka “the best daughter-in-law in the world” and they gave Grandma “the most beautiful, wonderful grandchildren ever,” Matthew and Catherine. Sylvia’s love for her family was debatably surpassed by her love for her puppies, JoJo and Jazz.

Sylvia was surrounded by love to ease her passing with Jonathan and Karen at the bedside and Andrew, Catherine, and Matthew there on speakerphone and in spirit. She was a lady of style and fashion, kindness and consideration, love and laughter, and we will miss her terribly.

Sylvia was laid to rest alongside Marty on Nov. 5 in Riverside Cemetery, Rochelle Park, New Jersey. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Sylvia’s name to Middlesex Hospital Office of Development, Middlesex Health, 29 Crescent Street, Middletown CT, 06457 or online at midhosp.org/donate. Maiorano Funeral Home has been entrusted with all arrangements. For more information, to sign the online guestbook or to leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com.