Saratoga Springs - Long time Saratoga Springs resident Miriam Messinger, 97, passed away on June 17, 2025 at St. Peter's Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Albany, New York. Born in New York, New York, she was the daughter of the late Abraham and Minnie Furst Steuer and the wife of the late Harold Messinger.

She is one of the first graduates of Plattsburgh State's Nursing Program and was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program during WorldWar II. Ironically, to this day Cadet Nurses are the only uniformed corps members in World War II not to be officially recognized as veterans despite their service to the country. Dedicated to the quality of nursing care and the future of the profession, her advocacy and testimony before the New York State legislature was the driving force behind the formation of an early nurses' union.

Mrs. Messinger worked for many years at Saratoga Hospital in the operating room and was dedicated to fundraising for numerous charities including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Heart Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March of Dimes, and Cerebral Palsy Association.

A passionate advocate for quality education for children of all capabilities, she served on numerous Saratoga School District Board of Education Committees and PTAs.

She is survived by her son, Michael of Saratoga Springs, New York, her daughter, Ava and her husband, James Biffer of Bloomfield, Connecticut, her daughter, Elitza and her husband, Bruce Meyer of Houston, Texas, daughter, Sharon Schultz of Dagsboro, Delaware, and her granddaughters, Ayla Meyer Vilander, Carly Meyer, and Sabrina Biffer.

A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Congregation Shaara Tfille, 84 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Followed by burial in the Jewish Community Center Cemetery.

There will be a Shiva Minyan at 209 Caroline St. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 on Thursday at 8:15pm, Friday at 7:30am, Sunday at 9:00am and 8:15pm, Monday and Tuesday at 7:30am and 8:15pm, and Wednesday at 7:30am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Miriam's name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association https://musculardystrophy.donorsupport.co/

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Son/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373).