Zora Essman, a retired professor of Russian, died on November 15, 2017, after a short illness. She was 92 years old, and lived in Larchmont, New York. Zora Essman was born Zora Pressman in New York City on June 1, 1925 into a family of musicians, actors, and operatic artists. Her grandfather, Leo Feodoroff, was director of the Russian Grand Opera. Her mother, Anastasia Feodorovna, performed with the opera’s dance company. Her father, Aron Pressman, initially a musician with the company, went on later to develop an innovative method of teaching the Russian language and served as head of the Department of Russian and Slavic Languages at New York University. After attending Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art and Brooklyn College, Zora Pressman spent the Second World War working as an interpreter for the Soviet Government in Washington, DC. It was in Washington that she met medical student Leonard J. Essman. The couple were married in 1948. After earning an M.A. degree from NYU, Zora spent a long career teaching Russian at New York University and Sarah Lawrence College. Doctor Essman died in 2001. Zora was a great lover of culture, music, art and theater. She leaves four children: theatrical producer Nina Essman, pianist and composer Nora Essman Morrow, actress/comedian Susie Essman, and wine educator Elliot Essman; four grandchildren: journalist Sean Morrow, entrepreneur Thor Essman, Sabrina Essman-Freeman, and Lorelei Essman-Freeman; and three great grandchildren: Selena, Lenox, and Felix Essman. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The family is sitting Shiva on Saturday, November 18, 2017, 3pm to 7pm at Zora’s apartment, 35 North Chatsworth Avenue, Apt 6C, Larchmont, NY 10538. An additional shiva will take place in Manhattan the next day, Sunday, November 19, 3pm to 7pm (get in touch with one of the family members for the address).