Joan Berman's Obituary
Joan was born in the Bronx to Herman and Berdye Schiff and moved to Staten Island in her early childhood. She graduated from Port Richmond High School in 1944 and attended Beaver College in Pennsylvania for two years. In 1947 she married Melvin Berman, her husband for 68 years who passed away in December 2015.
She played the piano, loved music and the arts and to travel. In addition to her work as a homemaker raising their two children, Howard and Bruce, she found the time to volunteer and help lead the transformation of the retired sailor center at Snug Harbor on Staten Island into the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Her efforts were rewarded with her being named a Woman of Achievement by the Staten Island Advance in 1980.
Joan and Mel retired to Palm Shores in Boynton Beach in 1990 where they made many friends.She is survived by her son Bruce and daughter in law Randi and two grandchildren, Nathaniel and Sarah. Joan also leaves her brother Herbert (Anne) Schiff and sister Marie (Egon) Salmon.
Donations in honor of Joan can be made to the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York 11714.
Services will be 1PM Tuesday May 31, 2016 at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, 11115 Jog Rd., Boynton Beach, Florida 33437 followed by interment in Eternal Light Memorial Gardens in Boynton Beach. A reception afterwards will be held at the home of Edith and Irv Smith.
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