Obituary: Esta-Ann Baitler, champion for people with developmental disabilities, community

Esta-Ann Baitler, a champion of the causes she believed in, has died. She demonstrated daily the value and contributions of people with developmental disabilities.

Baitler, a longtime Rockland County resident, died May 5 at age 66.

She was a longtime resident of Kathy Lukens Independent Living Center in Sparkill and before that, the Venture East assisted living facility in New City.

"Esta, from the moment I met her, has demonstrated the ability to provide a voice for people with developmental disabilities, and a voice with empathy," said Mary Jean Marsico, retired chief operating officer of Rockland BOCES, who was working for Camp Venture in the 1970s when she first met Baitler. "She also had an astute political aptitude."

Baitler famously hit up then-Gov. Mario Cuomo to buy raffle tickets in support of Venture Foundation when she was giving Matilda Cuomo an arts award in 1990. The Cuomos invited her to tea.

For years after, the Cuomos bought Venture raffle tickets from Baitler, she told The Journal News/lohud in 1995.

David Dinkins, Ed Koch, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and other top pols would also buy raffle tickets from her.

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'Esta's contribution to Rockland County is innumerable'

Her community advocacy led to the 2017 naming of "Esta's Way," a stretch of sidewalk along Route 340 in Sparkill by the Venture campus, Dominican Convent and St. Thomas Aquinas College. Baitler spent years advocating for safety measure with speeches at Orangetown Town Board meetings, calls to Rockland County and letters to the editor at local publications that always started with, "As a caring consumer ..."

"I have worked in business my entire life, in sales and management in leading technology marketplaces, and I never met a tougher gal than Esta Baitler," said Venture Foundation Chief Executive Director Bill Schule. "She was an indomitable force in a petite package, and maybe that was how she won people over. They usually underestimated her will, her drive, and her fortitude to accomplish what she set out to do."

Susan Baitler, Esta's sister, said the family moved from Long Island to Rockland when Esta was about 9. The family owned a factory in Garnerville, so were familiar with the area. When Esta's learning issues were identified, they decided to move to New City because the schools offered strong special education services.

"Esta never focused on her challenges, she always focused on her abilities to do more," Susan Baitler said. "That took extraordinary strength."

Marsico recalled how when Venture East group home opened in 1980 in New City, neighbors tried to stop Venture from moving in. Marsico was the house manager and Baitler was a resident. Baitler would go out of her way to talk with neighbors, getting to know them and easing the controversy.

"Esta's contribution to Rockland County is innumerable," Marsico said. "I have a love for Esta that will be forever. We all should be as kind, caring and as involved as Esta in our communities."

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Esta Baitler, supporter of people with developmental disabilities, dies