(Courtesy of the Landerer family) Faculty, administrators and family gathered at RYNJ to honor Gail Landerer, a”h, a beloved first-grade teacher who taught at the school for over 30 years. In her memory, her family dedicated a plaque in the first-grade wing of the school.
Her daughter, Jennifer Mallin, a proud RYNJ graduate and parent of a current RYNJ student and three RYNJ alumni spoke at the dedication:
Thank you all for coming to honor my dear mother, Gail Landerer, a”h. Your presence and support mean so much to me. I would like to specifically thank Rabbi Price, Ariella Schmutter and Avraham Simcha Adler for making this possible.
My mother and I began our journey at RYNJ the same year, 1987. She became a first grade boys’ teacher and I started in pre-k. She truly loved going to work every day and was often one of the first to arrive, getting to the school by 7:30 a.m. and staying late. She was deeply committed to the importance of educating Jewish children.
My mother had a special way with the first grade students she taught. Over her career, she impacted hundreds of students, teaching them to read and write and equipping them with the skills they needed to succeed. She was also my reading teacher in first grade, and her influence helped foster my love of reading. She cared deeply for each student, treating them like her own children. Even after they left her class, she would continue to ask about them and take pride in their accomplishments.
She was a first grade boys’ English teacher at RYNJ for 30 years and took on the role of the Hebrew permanent morning substitute a few years after starting. While primarily teaching boys, she also worked with girls during reading groups and substituted in their classes, making her well-known throughout the school. The teachers would often request her as a substitute, knowing their students would be in good hands—though I’m not sure if the students always felt the same way as they still had to learn! She considered the faculty like family and loved chatting with them during breaks in the teachers’ room.
At her levaya, my mother was described as a “legend” at RYNJ. During shiva, many people, some of whom I didn’t even know, shared how special and impactful she was as a teacher for their children—many of whom are now adults with families of their own. I had the privilege of working as her assistant on Fridays nearly 20 years ago when I was in graduate school. Each week, I looked forward to her warmth and enthusiasm. I came to understand that teaching wasn’t just a job for her; it was her true passion. She took great pride in being an alumna of RYNJ, having attended Yeshiva of Hudson County and Rogosin High School. Now, my own children are third generation RYNJ students and alumni.
One of the greatest joys for my mother was when my own children started attending RYNJ. She was always so excited to see them, waving to them and their friends in the hallways, greeting them with a big hello, and giving them extra snacks. I even started packing fewer snacks knowing she’d have extras for them. She also had the chance to sub in their classes, and it was a special experience to see them in action. As they got older, they may have been a little embarrassed when she was their substitute—just as I was when she subbed for me when I was in RYNJ—but deep down, we all felt pride.
It was a very difficult decision for my mother to retire from RYNJ when the pandemic hit. She spent the summer of 2020 going back and forth on whether to continue working, especially since she was cautious about her health.
The last time we were all together was at my daughter Esti’s graduation from RYNJ in June 2022. My mother was thrilled to be back at RYNJ, as she hadn’t been there since March 2020 when COVID hit. At the graduation, she was honored as a graduate herself, having graduated from Yeshiva of Hudson County. We celebrated together that day and we have beautiful pictures to remember it by. She was looking forward to the next family gathering, but sadly that was not meant to be. Just a few weeks later, she quickly took a turn for the worse and passed away on July 17, 2022.
My mother’s contagious and radiant smile touched everyone who knew her. Her kindness, warmth and ability to truly care for others and share in their simchas continue to inspire me every day. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a dedicated educator who shaped the lives of countless children in the community.
Since my mother’s passing, I have wanted to do something meaningful in her memory. I believe it fitting to dedicate a plaque in her name in the first-grade wing at RYNJ, where she worked for so many years. For nearly half of her life, it was truly her home away from home. The name “Mrs. Landerer” was well-known and respected throughout the school for decades. Even though my youngest is now in sixth grade and my time at RYNJ is coming to a close, I will always be grateful to RYNJ for providing my mother with so many happy and fulfilling years. May the neshama of Golda bas Simcha have an aliyah.
