Obituary: Virginia 'Gini' Kiebzak Patwardhan

Virginia “Gini” Kiebzak Patwardhan of Lewiston died peacefully May 23, 2023, after a stay in hospice care, at the age of 81.

Gini was born in Buffalo May 27, 1941, to Stephen and Stephanie Kiebzak. She attended Kenmore High School, and then graduated from Amherst High School in 1959. She graduated from Buffalo State College with her bachelor’s degree in 1963, and then earned her master’s degree there as well. She pursued her work in art education at Lewiston-Porter and Niagara Falls high schools. She spent time in Hamilton, Ontario, studying to become a master weaver.

When she was touring locally as Lewiston-Porter Community Ambassador, she met her future husband Ashok, of Pune, India, four miles down the road from where they would eventually come to reside for several decades. They married in December 1967, within hours of the first ever human-to-human heart transplant.

She stayed home with their children when the family lived in North Tonawanda, and then returned to teaching at Stella Niagara Education Park, when they relocated to Lewiston in the mid-1980s. She pursued a second master’s degree certificate in language arts education, and shared her love of words, creativity and journaling with her students, until her retirement in the early 2000s. It was very important to her to create a welcoming classroom environment where kids were heard and seen.

Gini is survived by her husband, Ashok Patwardhan; children, Nathan Patwardhan (Kimberly) and Shama Patwardhan (Andrew McBride); grandchildren Cullen and Auden McBride; brother, Stephen Kiebzak Jr. (Debra); nephew, Stephen Kiebzak III; niece, Cassandra Vieira (Kyle); grandniece (Brooke Vieira); as well as numerous members of the extended Kiebzak and Patwardhan families around the globe.

She was an active member of her local community. She served on the board of Rivershore Inc. She shared her time and talents with The Women’s Respite Program. She enjoyed lifelong learning and meaningful friendships with the Study Club. She loved the theater, and would travel to the Stratford Festival annually with her fellow teachers. Family and friends were everything to her. She was intentional in her faith.

There will be a Celebration of Life locally in summer 2023. In lieu of flowers, we welcome you to consider a donation to The Women’s Respite Program in her honor.