Emotional Farewell to Carol Gotbaum

Oct 08, 06:21 AM

Current Headlines: By Brandon Bain, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Oct. 8--Hundreds yesterday mourned Carol Gotbaum, a mother of three who died last month while in police custody at a Phoenix airport.

Gotbaum, who died in a holding cell on Sept. 28, was carried out of Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side by pallbearers in a wooden coffin covered by a large mound of white lilies. The nearly two-hour funeral was closed to the media.

Gotbaum's husband, Noah, followed the coffin, holding the hands of their children, Ella, 7, and Nathaniel, 5, while Tobias, 3, sat on his shoulders. Gotbaum, 45, was the stepdaughter-in-law of New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.

A spokesman for Betsy Gotbaum said the family had "no comment." Family attorney Michael Manning could not be reached for comment yesterday, but confirmed several reports that Gotbaum had been on her way to an alcohol treatment facility in Arizona.

Mourners said later that the service focused on the South African-born Gotbaum's life and briefly touched on the tragedy that killed her, namely her need for help during her final moments. Gotbaum worked in fashion merchandising in South Africa with the Stuttafords Group, then worked with Harrod's and House of Fraser in London as a couture buyer before moving to New York.

"It was very emotional, very personal. It focused on her life from beginning to end," said Creighton Reed, a mourner who spent time in the summer with the Gotbaums at Martha's Vineyard.

Among the mourners were United Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten and City Council speaker Christine Quinn and members David Yassky and Gale Brewer.

"This is just a terrible, terrible tragedy. It's a sad day," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, who said he has known the Gotbaums for 35 years.

Carol Gotbaum was arrested at Sky Harbor International Airport for disorderly conduct. Authorities said she became enraged after she missed her flight and was quickly subdued. She was handcuffed in a holding cell and died moments later. Authorities said Gotbaum might have strangled herself.

Earlier this week, Phoenix police released surveillance footage of Gotbaum that shows her running through an airport terminal, bowing abruptly as she appeared to yell and then resisting three officers who tried to control her.

Brewer, an Upper West Side neighbor of Gotbaum's, said the tragedy raised questions of how authorities are trained to respond to mental health issues.

"She was crying out for help," Brewer said. "She did nothing wrong.

"She was a warm, intelligent human being. She was really special."

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