Renee Minsky

Renee Michelson Minsky died peacefully at the age of 94 on March 11, 2026, at her home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She was surrounded by family and her devoted caregivers, Deb Longo and Danielle Megno, whose skilled and loving care brought comfort and joy to her final years.

Born on July 21, 1931, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Renee was the only child of Goldie and David Michelson. Her childhood was steeped in literature, art, music, and theater. Her father built a small theater in their basement, and from an early age she performed in neighborhood productions directed by her mother. She attended the Bancroft School and began acting professionally at thirteen, becoming an Equity performer who shared the stage with many notable actors of the era. She went on to graduate from Harvard University and worked in publishing as a proofreader.

Renee met the love of her life, Leonard Minsky, and together they built a rich and generous life in Bangor, Maine, for 65 years. After Leonard’s passing in 2022, she moved to Fort Walton Beach to be closer to family. With her dear friend Arlene Keith, Renee co-created a children’s theater program in Bangor that flourished for more than thirty years, touching the lives of countless young people. She also taught French at the Bangor Jewish Community Center’s Hebrew Day School, volunteered as a literacy tutor for ESL students, and served on the boards of the Collins Center for the Arts and the Hudson Museum, where she was a docent for fifteen years.

Together with Leonard, Renee became a steadfast supporter of education, the arts, and civic life. Their philanthropy left a lasting mark at the University of Maine, where they endowed the Minsky Recital Hall and the Minsky Gallery at the Hudson Museum, as well as at Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Bangor Public Library, and the Maine Community Foundation. Avid travelers who visited 97 countries, they cherished summers at their home in Roque Bluffs, Maine, and winters on Sanibel Island, where they were active members of Chavurat Shalom. They were also longtime members of Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor.

Renee is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Melton, and her husband Dennis; granddaughters Dani Minsky and her husband Hatim Azly, and Maya Melton and her partner Austin Reed; her brother-in-law Norman Minsky; and four great-grandchildren, Emma, Sara, Josie, and Tyler. A devoted reader, dedicated New York Times crossword solver, and unapologetic chocoholic, Renee found her greatest joy in her family. She leaves behind a legacy of warmth, service, and extraordinary generosity.