Doris Sinofsky

     Doris Sinofsky (nee Hanssen) passed away at home on May 18, 2025, at the age of 97. She was born in Roseville, CA, the daughter of Joseph Clifford and Mildred (Warren) Hanssen. She was the wife of the late Kenneth Sinofsky and the mother of five children. She received her early education in the Roseville schools and graduated from Sparks High School in Sparks, NV. She graduated from the University of Nevada in Reno with a BA degree in Journalism. While there, she was twice elected to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. She later obtained her MA in Reading from William Paterson University.

     She began her teaching career in Sparks, NV where she taught fourth grade at the Robert E. Mitchell School. After marriage, she taught at Union School in Rutherford, NJ. After her children started school, she returned to work at the John F. Kennedy School in Wayne where she taught fifth and third grades. She remained there until her retirement. She was chosen as Teacher of the Year in 1986.

     Mrs. Sinofsky had been a member of the Wayne Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon and a teacher in the church school. 

     After retiring, she and her husband purchased a home in Pompano Beach, FL and were snowbirds for many years. After his death in 2003, she moved to Cedar Crest Village where she returned to her interest in writing and became a reporter for the monthly “Mountain Matters”.  In addition, she began working in the TV studio where she worked on the weekly television programs and also became involved in the production of documentaries. She was especially proud of her two Telly awards presented for “Our Heroes” and “Never Forgotten,” two of the documentaries that she helped produce at Cedar Crest.  All three documentaries told the lives of Cedar Crest residents. Her next endeavor was playwriting and many of her plays were performed by the Cedar Crest Players and were enjoyed by many. 

     Mrs. Sinofsky is survived by her children, Dr. Francine Sinofsky, Steven and his wife, Susan, Karen Mahida and her husband, Sanjay, Linda Sinofsky and her husband, Daniel DiTolla and Paul. Her grandchildren are Brett, Madison and Kenneth Sinofsky, Alfred (Jake) and Emily DiTolla, Cristina and Daniella Sinofsky, Isabella Mahida and Megan Watson and her husband Randy. Her great grandchildren are Gianna, Wari, Journey, Emiliano, Brooklyn, and Riley. She was predeceased by her sisters Alice Hanssen and Joyce Pinckney and her husband Bob, her brother Clifford Hanssen and his wife Dottie, and her sisters-in-law Bernice Russ and Miriam Holzsager. She also leaves many loving nieces and nephews.

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     In lieu of flowers the family has requested that you make a memorial gift to the Endowment Fund for the Doris H. Sinofsky Award for the Outstanding Electronic Media Student at the University of Nevada, Reno/Mailstop 310 Reynolds School of Journalism, Attn:  Carol McIntosh, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV  89557 or online at http://unr.edu/giving and click on the “Give Now” button.  Please reference the Doris H. Sinofsky Endowed Award in the Gift Instructions or Comments’ section.