Rita Kaplan Spina, 91, passed away Monday, (04-30-2018).
Ms. Spina was born March 28, 1927 in New York City, NY to Allen and Syd Kastel. She attended Parsons School of Design, graduated from Russell Sage College in NY, and later earned her doctorate in psychology from Hofstra University leading to a private practice and work in the public school system. After various ventures, she retired to Fearrington Village in Chatham County. There, Rita reinvented herself as an abstract artist and community activist. She became involved in health and environmental programs, helping to establish Chatham Citizens for Effective Community (CCEC) and Citizens College, an educational local government program. As a founding member of the Chatham Studio Tour, she participated in this annual tour of artists’ homes for 22 years.
Rita co-authored a psychology book – “Beyond the Traditional Family: Voices of Diversity”.
She is survived by four children, as well as six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
