Priscilla Algava

Princeton – Priscilla Snow Algava lived a fuller-than-full life glowing with love, art, color, people, light, boundless possibility, and generous spirit from July 21, 1940 to April 23, 2019. She recently described her explorations in art and living as “communicating the grief and difficulties of living a passionate life and always gleaning the kernel of joy, of sunshine, of magic in the moment that is Now.” Priscilla died peacefully in her Princeton, NJ home surrounded by a circle of loving family and friends, mirroring her vibrant paintings and drawings of dancing women. Throughout the past three very difficult years since a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Priscilla exuded grace, determination, courage and passion, supported by her devoted daughters, husband and caregivers, along with her Sloan Kettering family. She continued seeing—and creating—beauty everywhere. In the midst of this uphill journey, she taught us how living and dying are truly about the same thing. Love.

The first in her family to attend college, Priscilla graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in English and education and earned a master’s degree in studio art and art education from DePauw University. A brilliant artist and lifelong learner and teacher, Priscilla’s limitless faith in each and every human being gifted her students, friends, family and every soul she met the ability to see beauty, create beauty, and love the beauty in our lives.

From Marist College to South Brunswick Schools to the Princeton YWCA and the West Windsor Arts Council, Priscilla created artistic spaces of imagination, safety, possibility, and love. She was active in local and regional art groups such as Art+10, the Art Station, Trenton Artists Workshop Association, the 3rd Street Gallery in Philadelphia, and so many more. “Wondrous on Witherspoon,” the pop-up gallery Priscilla launched celebrated, in her words, “the kaleidoscope of our joint commitment to art-making, creativity, community, teaching, and learning.” Priscilla had been generously offered the space to use for displaying her own artwork, but that was inconceivable to her. She immediately invited over 40 professional and emerging artists from the Princeton and Trenton areas to create and share a community gallery.

Priscilla embodied unconditional love and filled everyone who knew her with purple light. Born in the Bronx, NY, she was the devoted eldest daughter of Irving and Rachel Snow. Priscilla leaves a cosmic hole in the lives and hearts of countless friends and relatives, including her three sisters, Bobbi Snow, Sheila Snow and Madeline Hayden; two daughters and a son-in-law, Alisa and Carin Algava and Michael Gow; grandchildren, Drew and Sabria Algava, whom she deeply adored; husband, Martin Silverman; and wuzband, Andy Algava.

Please join us in the East Gallery at Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ on Sunday, April 28 for a memorial service beginning at 1pm. In perfect Priscilla form, you will be able to walk and enjoy the beauty of the 42-acre sculpture park, museum and arboretum. Shiva will follow the memorial service from 4-6:30pm (with a brief minyan service at 4:30pm) at Priscilla’s home: 115 Randall Road, Princeton, NJ. For additional Shiva times and locations, and more information, please visit: caringbridge.org/visit/priscillasnowalgava.

Instead of a graveside burial, Priscilla’s ashes will ultimately be let go in places she loved like Santorini, Cape Cod, and the Adirondacks. Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to the Priscilla Snow Algava Scholarship Fund at the West Windsor Arts Council.

We must now surround each other and our world with Priscilla’s see-beauty-everywhere light and love.

Arrangements are under the direction of Star of David Memorial Chapel of Princeton.