Long-time member of the Liberty Central School District Board of Education and Class of 2017 inductee into the Liberty Wall of Fame Elaine Grossinger Etess passed away earlier this week.

Matriarch of the famed Grossinger Resort Hotel, Ms. Etess passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 27, 2026. She was 98 years old and lived in Boca Raton, Florida.

Ms. Etess grew up at the legendary Catskills resort hotel founded in 1914 by her grandparents, Selig and Malke Grossinger, and made famous by her parents, Jennie and Harry Grossinger. Elaine, her brother Paul and her children Mark and Mitchell continued to run the hotel until it was sold in 1985.

Set on 800 acres in New York’s Catskill mountains, Grossinger’s was the iconic resort that introduced many “firsts” to the hospitality industry, among them singles weekends, boxing camps for leading contenders, artificial snow on the slopes and, above all, enhancing the guest experience. The home of stand-up comedy beginning in the 1960s, Grossinger’s was the inspiration for the film “Dirty Dancing,” a touchstone for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and the subject of the recent documentary, “We Met At Grossinger’s” (2025). Open year round, serving three meals a day and offering countless activities and amenities for guests of all ages, the resort earned the moniker First Family of Hospitality. World leaders, athletes, entertainers, celebrities, businesses, social groups and generations of families were warmly welcomed by the Grossinger family.

As co-owner and Executive Vice President of Grossinger’s, Ms. Etess continued the practice of warmth and hospitality that was the hallmark of the resort, pioneering the expansion of its youth activities program with the creation of a day camp, teen program and dedicated mailings targeted to children. She put her stamp on the signature design of the hotel, from room furnishings and public spaces to building refurbishment, and greeted guests from the stage of the Terrace Room nightclub each Saturday night. Involved in all aspects of the resort’s operation, above all, she was a role model and a connector, opening doors, taking a genuine interest in those who crossed her path and maintaining relationships across generations and geography.

Widely respected in the hospitality industry, she was elected the first woman President of the American Hotel & Motel Association, now the American Hotel & Lodging Association, having served in the same position at the state level. She remained an elected officer of the national organization from 1986-1990 and, among many committee leadership roles, she was appointed to the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Travel and Tourism Industry Advisory Council.

Known for her business acumen, warmth, generosity, humanity and keen attention to detail, Elaine Grossinger Etess raised three children and served for decades in local and state leadership roles in education before returning to Grossinger’s including 12 years as President of the Liberty (NY) Board of Education and member of the New York State School Boards Association. She was a charter member of the Sullivan County Chapter of Business and Professional Women of America, a lifetime member of Hadassah and of the New York State PTA, and served on numerous boards including Russell Sage College, the Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality at the University of Houston, the Educational Institute of AH&MA, the Leo Levi National Arthritis Hospital and advisory boards of the CorporaNon of the Culinary Institute of America and the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Etess was also the Honorary Chair of the Borscht Belt Museum.

She has received countless honors including the Doris L. Crockett Distinguished Service Award from Russell Sage College, the Column of Hospitality by the Italian Government Travel Office, and the New York State Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Career Award. Ms. Etess was named Woman of the Year by the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality in recognition of achievements and contributions within the hospitality industry, and was named Hospitality Executive of the Year by the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. She received the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute of the Conrad Hilton College of Global Hospitality at the University of Houston and, along with her mother Jennie Grossinger, was inducted into that institution’s Hall of Honor in recognition of their extraordinary contributions and success in the hospitality industry.

She formed Elaine G. Etess Associates, a hospitality industry consulting firm, following the sale of the hotel and was Director of Hospitality at Florida resort community Forest Trace for more than 20 years. A groundbreaking leader for generations of hospitality professionals, Ms. Etess was a frequent speaker on the history of Grossinger’s, often encountering former guests and staff members in her travels. She authored numerous articles recalling that history and vision and shared anecdotes from her years at the resort, told in her signature engaging and personal style.

Elaine Grossinger Etess was born on Dec. 9, 1927. Her husband, Dr. A. David Etess, and her son, Mark Etess, predeceased her. She is survived by her children, Susan Etess and Mitchell Etess, their spouses, Howard Zimmerman and Karen Etess, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is a graduate of Liberty High School and attended Russell Sage College and Syracuse University. A private funeral will be held in Liberty, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum, 90 Canal Street, Ellenville, NY 12428 or www.borschtbeltmuseum.org.