BY THE VILLAGE SUN | Updated Oct. 6, ’23, 2:20 p.m.: Laraine “Lori” Kleinman, 76, the treasurer of the Jefferson Market Garden, was fatally struck by an SUV in front of her building on Tuesday and suffered severe head injuries. She died at Bellevue Hospital the following day.
Kleinman’s wife, Robin Felsher, also a Jefferson Market Garden board member, said Kleinman was hit around 6:30 p.m. by a black SUV turning left from W. 10th Street onto Greenwich Avenue and knocked to the roadbed, where she began to bleed profusely from her head from the blunt-force trauma of being struck.
A neighborhood activist and friend, who requested anonymity, said her understanding was Kleinman was crossing with the light — just steps away from the front door of her building, the Saint Germain co-op, at 33 Greenwich Ave. — when she was struck. She called Kleinman’s death “devastating.”
Police did not immediately provide information on Kleinman being struck by a motor vehicle at the location or the fact that she died or if the driver would face any charges. However, Felsher said she had seen the police report and that the driver was interviewed at the scene.
A day after this article’s publication online, the police press department issued a report to the media that said, in part, “…[I]nvestigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, operated by a 56-year-old female, was attempting a left turn onto northbound Greenwich Avenue from eastbound 10th Street, when the female pedestrian was crossing east to west in the vicinity of the north crosswalk within that intersection, and was struck by the front of the vehicle. The vehicle operator remained at the scene and was not injured. There are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.”
Felsher also later added that she saw video of Kleinbaum being hit.
“She was blindsided,” she said.
A local police source said this kind of investigation typically takes time to conclude.
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Kleinman’s building is located kitty-corner to her beloved Jefferson Market Garden.
Elizabeth Butson, the garden’s chairperson, called Kleinman “a loved, key board member of the garden.”
“We are in shock and sorrow,” Butson said.
Lori Kleinman grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Roslyn High School, on Long Island, in 1965. She and her wife, Robin Felsher, were married for 12 years but were together for 23.
Felsher issued the following statement:
Laraine was a beloved wife, friend, sister, aunt, great-aunt and great-great-aunt. She enjoyed gathering with friends and family, cooking for her loved ones, singing show tunes and living life to the fullest every day.
Lori, who was married to her wife, who deeply loved her, for 12 years, was the brightest light that one could ever imagine. Everyone that knew her feels the same way. Her wife feels that Lori was the greatest blessing and gift that she ever received. Lori had the rare gift of being unflappable, grounded and nonjudgemental.
She had a career in heading up paper manufacturing in some of the largest publishing houses and ultimately ended up working for multiple nonprofits before retiring.
Lori served as treasurer on both her co-op board and the board of the Jefferson Market Garden.
She is remembered by her wife, Robin, her niece (Tammy) and nephew (Greg), her great-nieces (Alaina, Alison, Erika, Melissa and Rebecca), and her great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews (Olivia, Mia, Mason, Loren, Owen and Nicholas), as well her friends near and far. She will be greatly missed.
A graveside service will be held at Kensico, in Westchester, New York, on Sun., Oct. 8, at 11 a.m.
I just found about Lori’s tragic and untimely death. Sending condolences to Robin and family and friends. Lori was a lovely woman and she was taken needlessly and way too soon. May her memory always be a blessing. Marina Franchild
Enough is enough, if one doesn’t follow the traffic law it is committing a crime. If someone dies as result of someone else’s rogue driving, it’s murder and should be treated as such
Saw what looked like highway patrol officers where the accident happened about 2 days ago . They had a laser measuring device .I presume this was for the accident .Don’t know if the driver was arrested for this .
Besides the driver’s rogue driving, it was tragic that she took the life of an innocent pedestrian Lori Kleinman, legally going to her safe place, (her home and wife,)
Joanie Watkins
Sad to hear. My condolences to her family.
In 2016 The city brought a proposal to redesign Greenwich Avenue, make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street by narrowing the roadway and forcing drivers to drive slower when making the turn. CB2 Transportation Committee said no.
Thank you, Choresh, for pointing out this history. These horrible tragedies are not “accidents,” but the results of choices made by decision-makers like those on CB2’s Transportation Committee. What will get them to make decisions for safety’s sake? Forcing them to watch the video of this exceptional woman having her life cut short over and over again? I honestly don’t know anymore.
There were 65 other stories like this so far this year. 65 other pedestrians killed by drivers, and hundreds more with life-changing injuries. Why do we accept this kind of danger in our city?
My heart goes out to Robin and Lori’s family. She was truly special and our world is now empty due to this tragedy.
Will always remember her remarkable laugh.
Lori was a lovely, very special lady— smart, warm, funny, capable and sweet. I’ve known and loved Robin and Lori for many years. They were the best, happiest couple I’ve ever known. Her loss leaves us with a hole in our hearts.
Lynne Espy
Ditto to all of the above. Disregarding traffic directional signs is breaking the law. Killing someone due to disregarding traffics signs is murder! Shame on you. Murder must go to trail, penalties will ensue.
This is awful! Yesterday, I had the right of way and was cut off by a car turning left, rushing to cut me off so he could wait at the next red light.
“Failing to Yield to Pedestrians or Bicyclists is Now A Crime in NYC”
https://newyorkparkingticket.com/failing-yield-pedestrians-bicyclists-crime/