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Legacy Spotlight: Fay Pushkin Aronson
Fay Pushkin Aronson was a Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida troop leader for her daughter Judy's troop - Troop 474 - and often served as a chaperone for her daughter Sheila's troop - Troop 260. A longtime philanthropist and community leader, Mrs. Aronson passed away in May 2021. Here, she is remembered fondly by Sheila and her loved ones. We thank Mrs. Aronson for her dedication to championing girl ambition.
Fay Pushkin Aronson will be remembered as a loving and caring wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will also be remembered for her philanthropy.
She was a very generous and continuing supporter of numerous community organizations, including Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Baptist Health Foundation, Metro Zoo, WPVT, WLRN, and various children’s music and arts groups in South Florida.
She served as a Girl Scout Leader for 20 years, was a Charter Member of Temple Beth Am, and a volunteer with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. She also worked as the managing partner of the Shops at Lakeshore, which her husband, Albert Aronson, built.
Born in Baltimore and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill (UNC), where she studied Russian and French. She established the Aronson Family Endowed Scholarship at UNC, which has supported many undergraduate students over the years.
Her first husband, Albert, of 42 years, was a developer and builder in the city of Coral Gables and the Pinecrest area, committed to helping the community stay “beautiful” by serving on the Planning Board of Coral Gables. He was a great “Girl Scout dad,” who helped with transportation (sometimes by boat to Elliott Key), building backdrops and stages, helping with badge requirements (handy with tools was he), and generally attending all investitures and important events during the many years in which her daughters, Sheila and Judy, were in Girl Scouts. He was also a decorated World War II veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
In addition, Fay Aronson was a leader of girls, women, friends, and family. Her wise advice and thoughts were sought after by family and friends alike. She loved to organize trips for her group of friends who called her their “leader.” She planned many parties and dinners for the family and for the community – her house was always “party central.” Her skill at entertaining was well-known and greatly appreciated.
Both of her daughters were Girl Scouts, from Brownie to Senior levels. Although she was the leader of her daughter Judy’s troop, she was often the chaperone for Sheila’s troop – The Weatherly 260 – for all camping trips and became a close friend of Sheila’s leader, Mrs. Martha Vickers. Mrs. Aronson’s troop – #474 – created a wonderful project that became a service opportunity by developing and making puppets and a portable stage and “taking it [the theater] on the road!” She was always very proud to be a Girl Scout leader and considered the girls part of her own family!
