By Carol Tannenhauser
Recently, when I needed a photograph of cherry blossoms for a Monday Bulletin announcing the start of this year’s season, I turned to West Side Rag’s resident flower-and-tree photographer/poet, Mildred Alpern. First, I went to our archive of photos and found — what I thought was — a cherry tree. Without telling her why, I sent it to Mildred, asking, “Is this yours?” She replied, “Yes.”
When I ran the photo with the cherry blossom story, a commenter named Frank noticed that the tree was, in fact, not a cherry tree:
Frank 1 hour ago Waiting for approval
FYI, the tree pictured is aa American Redbud, not a cherry tree.
“Is he right?” I wrote to Mildred, distraught.
“I think he is right,” she responded.
“I can’t win!” I wrote.
“Yeh…so it goes,” Mildred responded. “As Joe E. Brown says in the last line of Some Like it Hot “Nobody’s perfect.“
Did she mean to put the closing quotation mark backwards to prove her point, as she did? I’ll never know. Mildred Alpern died at the age of 91, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. The West Side Rag has lost a talented contributor and dear friend.
We have long intended to profile Mildred, but foolishly took time for granted. Here is a bio she wrote for herself, at our request:
“Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Mildred is a graduate of Girls’ Latin School, Boston University, and Columbia University Teachers College. A former teacher of modern European History, she has served as a consultant and test developer for the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program, publishing articles and student guides. In the seventh decade of her life, as a New York Upper West Sider with a point and shoot camera, she charted the daily installation of Christo’s “Gates” in Central Park in 2005 and became a daily photographer. A camera upgrade became her tool on walks and car rides through New York city streets and on country roads. A contributor to the online local newspaper West Side Rag, she has had her photos selected for juried exhibitions nationally and internationally. She feels fortunate to have a passion that she so enjoys and can continuously develop at age ninety-one.”
To read and see Mildred Alpern’s contributions to the Rag click here.
I’m so sad to read this about Mildred. Her photographs were very very beautiful and captured our area. I think mostly of the sunsets and the cherry blossoms.. Big loss for all of us.
A lovely tribute.
Thank you, Mildred, for sharing your art and good spirit.
And thank you, Carol.
Lovely photos and memories, but especially nice that she was remembered.
So Sorry. 91 is too young– these days!. So enjoyed her photos.
A remarkable and generous woman. Condolences to all who loved and admired her.
Thank you for honoring a photographer whose work has given so many such pleasure.
Mildred lived in the same building as I do on the UWS. She was a lovely talented person who always gave a happy smile when I said I had seen her photos in the Rag. She will be missed.
Touching and inspiring. Thanks.
Always lovely photos. She had a good eye.
A touching tribute. Rest in peace, Mildred.
Farewell, Mildred.
What a lovely tribute to a woman who well deserves it.
As her son and on behalf of her husband and daughter, thank you to the Rag and all of you who have left your kind comments. Although saddened by her passing, knowing that others also recognized her beauty gives us comfort.