Remembering Charlotte Koons
Our dear friend and a beloved member of the Cinema Arts Centre family Charlotte Koons passed away peacefully at Hospice House last week.
Charlotte contributed to the Cinema community in every way possible. She contributed to social justice programming, gave and helped raise general operating funds, gave countless volunteer hours, was a passionate ambassador for the Cinema, and shared her warmth and wisdom lovingly with us all. She will be greatly missed.
We would like to share some words about Charlotte from many of those who were close to her:
"I jokingly always called her the other Charlotte. She was an antiwar activist in the best sense of it, because she was always out there and personally involved. I appreciated that she was so active, always marching, protesting, and working on behalf of peace, the women's movement, so many social causes - not complaining, but getting involved and doing. I will always remember that about her." - Charlotte Sky, CAC Co-Director
"Charlotte Koons was an amazing person who positively impacted the lives of so many people in our community. As an artist, activist, friend, and all-around lover of life, everything she did was focused on making the world a better place. She was a great supporter of the Cinema Arts Centre for decades, always generous with her time, donations, wisdom, and attendance at countless events. We miss her deeply, but know her spirit will be with us always." - Dylan Skolnick, CAC Co-Director
"My long friendship with Charlotte began, and was sustained by, our shared love of the arts and culture. Over the years, our paths crossed at many exhibits and performances, and also when she volunteered for the Huntington Arts Council grant panel, where I was Executive Director. We both were devoted supporters of the Cinema Arts Centre, and of course, the Northport Arts Coalition, where she booked the monthly performing arts concert. During the pandemic, Charlotte and I had the pleasure of attending CAC’s drive-in presentation of
YELLOW SUBMARINE and the outdoor screening of
FARMING THE FUTURE: FARM LIFE ON LONG ISLAND presented by the Cinema Arts Centre at St. Joseph’s Farms at CSJ Brentwood, which reunited her with her much-loved CAC staff. Charlotte enriched our community with her flair, her words, and above all, her actions. I was blessed to have her friendship, as well." - Diana Cherryholmes
"Charlotte was a founding member and community outreach director on the Northport Arts Coalition. She was an avid supporter of the arts and artists. She was my coworker for 17 years, dear friend & mentor. Charlotte was inspirational through her poetry, her activism and zest for life. Her luminescent spirit will always be with me and with all who knew her. She will be sorely missed." - Lauren Paige, Former Executive Director of Northport Arts Coalition (NAC)
"Over the years we developed a warm friendship. She loved the Cinema and was always happy to help, e.g., as a café food server during receptions. She fought for human rights and was usually present at marches and rallies. I’m really going to miss her." - Stephen Fisch, CAC Board of Directors
"I met Charlotte Koons at a vigil for Cindy Sheehan. She introduced me to CodePink and I was off on my activist adventure with her. She was always kind and so interesting and intelligent. I loved to hear her poetry messages on her phone. She was instrumental in a number of women’s day events at Cinema Arts Centre. Her humanity and humor will be missed by all that knew her." - Judi Gardner
"What a kind, humorous woman she was. She loved to tell me stories about her late husband and was so active in the CAC community." - Jacob S., former CAC staff member
"For myself, I will miss Charlotte's energy, passion and commitment to peace and justice--but always done in her own unique and unapologetic way. She told me not long ago that she kept so active because "maybe age won't hit a moving target." Although she traveled widely, she loved her land and home-- that was her harbor, her special place of peace, comfort, and community. As Gloria Steinem has said, 'the personal is the political.' Over many decades I was lucky to know and admire Charlotte on both the personal and political levels--and more. I was blessed to have her in my life." - Paula Klein
"Charlotte Paula Spitzel Koons died March 16, 2022. Charlotte had more energy than 10 people: she marched and organized for Peace, for Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, for Women’s Rights, for LGBTQX rights, and for Progressive candidates. Charlotte wrote poetry for every occasion for her friends and for protest events and hosted solstice parties in her lovely and wild yard. Charlotte supported the arts through the Northport Arts Coalition and the Cinema Arts Centre. She taught in Northport for 43 years. We will all miss her leadership, her activism and dedication to social justice and peace. We shall all continue to deepen the path she walked." - Abby Pariser and Peter Gollon
