Steven Englander, Visionary Director of ABC No Rio, Dies at 63
Known for his collaborative spirit, Englander helped secure the Lower East Side nonprofit’s property for a dollar after decades of eviction threats from the city.
by Maya Pontone 
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“He was still the director, but doing things in exile is not the same as being in the midst of people coming in and out, volunteers using the facilities, random people who are like, ‘What is this weird building with the door unlocked and all this weird art all over the place?’” Law said.
Even as his health deteriorated over the past year, Englander continued to work to bring back ABC No Rio’s physical space until his final days. At the end of August, construction finally began on the group’s long-anticipated four-story building, which is slated to partly open in mid-2026.
“I think that’s a testament to his willpower … and he held on long enough for that groundbreaking to happen, to keep going. This was his life’s work,” Law said.
Englander is survived by two brothers, a sister, and his daughter.
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