Valerie van Isler

Valerie van Isler, International Journalist and Family Historian, Valerie van Isler was a dedicated journalist and family historian whose genuine pursuit of truth and passion for storytelling especially via radio media and print shaped a career that spanned decades, passed away on June 10the, 2025 at her home in New York City at age 85. A dedicated and loyal New Yorker Valerie was born on April 14, 1940, in New York City, the city she loved. After graduating from New Dorp High School in Staten Island, she attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Upon experiencing unexpected and hurtful prejudice at Swarthmore College, a Quaker based institution, Valerie's passion for activism was ignited and continued throughout her life. She finished her pursuit of higher education and received her degree from the College of Staten Island, part of the City University of New York. Valerie discovered a love for writing early in life and ultimately pursued a career in journalism both in print and on radio. She developed an ardent and long-lasting commitment to uncovering the facts of an issue and provided an equally forceful outspoken voice on hidden agendas-national and international. Valerie became the General Manager at WBAI-Pacifica Radio, NYC 99.5 FM for ten years. Throughout her career, Valerie covered a wide range of news stories from NYC locally, nationally the United States and to in-depth investigative pieces of international significance-most notably ''The Panama Deception.'' Known for her zeal for exposing misinformation and lies and speaking the truth about important issues, she earned the respect of colleagues, and the trust of readers and radio listeners. Beyond the newsroom, Valerie delved into family history and genealogy. She unearthed a treasure of long forgotten family facts and photos about both sides of her mother's and father's families. She prepared albums filled with photos of family members from the past, complete with explanatory notations about the photos and shared these albums generously with her living relatives. Valerie's countless photographs of family celebrations, weddings and funerals all became the repository of cherished albums of family moments. Her photos and extensive research enlightened and enriched the family history for current and future generations. The oldest child of the late Jacques and Vivian Isler, Valerie is survived by her two younger siblings, a sister Yvonne ben Aaman and a brother Eugene Isler, a beloved niece, Alcmena Monique White and a beloved nephew Ronald William Isler and his family, numerous loving cousins, as well as a wide circle of friends, colleagues and readers/listeners who admired her work and character. Ms. Valerie van Isler's legacy lives on in the stories she told as a news journalist, as an archivist in the photo albums of family history-past and present, she lovingly created and gave to relatives and as a storyteller in the lives she touched with her voice professing an absolute belief in revealing the truth using the power of the press in the media and the written word. ''The self is not something one finds, it's something one creates'' -Kahlil Gibran In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Valerie van Isler's name to the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association. The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd, Staten Island, New York. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM at John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals, Inc.

Valerie van Isler

April 14, 1940 - June 10, 2025