HomeNOVEMBER_2024News & Jews- In Memoriam Estelle Zuhn Nitikman (1929-2024)

News & Jews- In Memoriam Estelle Zuhn Nitikman (1929-2024)

    Estelle Nitikman, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on September 28, 2024, at the venerable age of 95. She is survived by her children Pam Young, Leslie Sokolow (Jeffrey Sokolow), and Jay Nitikman (Lisa Bunin); granddaughters Esther Sokolow (Scott Murphy) and Miriam Portman (Eli Portman); and 2-year-old great-granddaughter Aviva Portman.
    Estelle was born in 1929 in the prairie town of Greeley, Colorado, to immigrants Peyser and Lillian Zuhn. Estelle was the youngest of three sisters. She grew up during the Great Depression.  Her father was a chicken reseller who bought chickens from local farmers and sold them live at markets in Denver. As an adult, Estelle frequently joked that she had eaten enough chicken to last a lifetime and refused to eat any more, although she gamely cooked the bird for her family.
    At age 24, Estelle arrived in Los Angeles looking for adventure. She married the love of her life, Arthur Nitikman, in 1954 and raised a family with him in Los Alamitos. Following Art’s retirement, they traveled the world, adventuring in far-flung places. After 53 loving years of marriage, Art passed away in 2007. As a widow, Estelle continued to enjoy life with her family and an ever-expanding group of friends. She spent years living in Laguna Woods and then finally settled at the Heritage Pointe in Mission Viejo. To the end, she retained her wits and sense of humor, making her a favorite among both residents and staff.
    Estelle was the beloved matriarch in her family’s lives. She was an animated storyteller of family history. She was famed for her 50s-style unique Easy Cheesy casserole, now the signature dish of three generations. A recent joy to Estelle was attending her granddaughter Esther’s wedding to Scott 4 months ago in Los Angeles.  

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