Amy Syd Israeloff Babcock

Amy Syd Israeloff Babcock, died June 6, 2026, from complications related to cancer. At the end, she was with her two children, Julie Sarah Babcock Labedz and Aaron Israeloff Babcock (Saib), and her husband Phil Babcock. She also had visits from siblings and siblings-in-law.

Amy was born in Eastchester, NY, and moved to White Plains, NY at age 7. She grew up surrounded with love from her parents Phyllis and Al Israeloff, and sisters Seena, Sherry, Leslie and Nora.

From an early age Amy was delighted with music and acting, with musical theater capturing her heart. Amy was a prolific performer and creator throughout her life. She had a continual string of voice, piano, flute and acting training as she grew up. She attended the Westchester Music and Arts Camp in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, for many summers, focusing on acting in dramas and musicals, and playing flute in the band. In Junior and Senior High School Amy was a member of the Westchester Philharmonic Choral Society. In her junior and senior years in High School she attended the Pre-College Program at The Julliard School in NYC. She studied voice, flute, piccolo and piano, and was a member of the pre-college orchestra. It was in the White Plains High School band that Amy met Phil, and their life-long romance began.

Amy attended the State University of New York at Fredonia and received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts. While there, in addition to having supporting roles in other shows, she starred in three dramas, two musicals and an operetta. She also helped create a student project related to the Odessey, where she composed music in addition to being a lead.

In 1979 she starred in a commercial for a computer school (yes, there was once such a thing) which aired for a while on TV and became a poster seen on the NYC subways for years. She got recognized a few times in public from the posters.

While living in Berkeley, CA, Amy worked at Bank of America in San Francisco in various roles, including creating and publishing the corporate, world-wide directory. She also continued her involvement in acting, taking classes at the Jean Shelton Acting Company and starring in two community theater productions.

After moving to North Andover, MA, Amy and Phil settled in Westford, MA, where they raised their daughter and son. She was a caring and compassionate stay-at-home mom who got involved in public schools by creating a costumed character called Zeronimo Rabbit who taught elementary school students to celebrate the 10th, 20th, etc. school days with number songs she composed. Acting and music still remained in her life as she starred in more community productions and co-directed several children’s musicals.

She also began giving private lessons to school children (and some adults) in piano, voice, and acting. Through this, she discovered her love of and skill at teaching. Her interactions with the students gave her great joy. Over her more than 30 years of private teaching, she influenced the lives of more than 500 students.

Amy published two CDs of original songs. She was the primary performer on the CDs, singing and playing guitar, piano and even some flute. She was also involved in the production and packaging of the CDs. Amy published two books. One is a collection of song lyrics and poetry. The second, illustrated by a friend, is a story to teach elementary-school-age kids how to deal with bullies in a positive way, using principles of the philosophy of Law of Attraction.

Along the way, she was also a member of Toastmasters, rising to the position of president of the local chapter.

Amy’s great pride was her children. She remained close friends with them as they grew into adults. She also took great joy in her granddaughters, Morgan and Maggie (Julie and her husband Alf’s children) and treasured the fact that she could be a continuous presence in their lives. They will always remember her special baked goods, reading books in the car, music lessons, and make believe.

The center of her life was her husband, Phil, who she started dating 54 years ago when they were in High School. They were married for 45 years and were best friends throughout.

Amy and Phil visited interesting places like New Zealand, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Bermuda, and all of the Canadian provinces from Ontario though to Newfoundland, and they travelled across the country many times by car. She was also a good enough sport to go along with Phil on his veritable flotilla of boats. But Amy’s heart was always back at home – where she could read her romance books, go walking with friends, get together with family, plan out new ways to infuse a love of music and theater in her students, and be with Phil in the house they designed.

Amy was an independent thinker (something her husband valued greatly) and had her own views of how the world worked. She believed that we all come from pure positive energy and we return to it. She also believed in the Law of Attraction – that we bring into our lives what we focus on. She always chose to look for the best in everyone, and this created a special ability to connect in a unique way with the people around her.

Amy, the talented and creative artist, teacher, friend, mother, grandmother, and wife will be missed by all who came to know her.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the State University of New York at Fredonia’s Theater and Dance Department, www.fredonia.edu/give/TADA , in memory of Amy Syd (Israeloff) Babcock ’78.