PERMUT – Ellen B. of Great Neck, NY on September 18, 2024, age 96. Beloved mother of Howard (Kate), Susan, Steven (Miriam); cherished grandmother of Sam and Sarah, Hana (Ben) and Arielle, Leah (Jordan) and Matthew; and great grandmother of Asher. She and her beloved husband Jack Permut (deceased 2017) were married for 68 years.
Ellen Permut grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the youngest of four to sisters Fanny and Esther and brother Bruce. Her parents, Sam and Sadie, ran the family’s Berglass Bakery for many years. That is where Ellen developed her talent for baking delicious chocolate mandelbrot, cakes and cookies; learned the family’s matzoh ball soup and brisket recipes; and enjoyed a busy, happy childhood.
Ellen graduated from Brooklyn College. She and Jack met via family connections and courted at Coney Island and other hot spots in Brooklyn. They married in 1949. Ellen started her working career as a teacher at PS 1 in Brooklyn but, after she and Jack had son Howard, she took time off as the family moved to Great Neck NY. Soon thereafter daughter Susan was born and a few years later son Steven made the Permut family complete.
Ellen and Jack were inseparable and, in their decades living in Great Neck as they raised their family, they enjoyed many activities – playing tennis and bridge with friends, attending Broadway shows, enjoying summers at a bungalow colony in Monroe NY, and entertaining their many relatives and friends. They read multiple newspapers, enjoyed discussing current events, and went out on many a Saturday night. They hosted innumerable Seders and High Holiday meals for family and friends, often including acquaintances who needed a place to celebrate the Jewish holidays.
Ellen and Jack also enjoyed travel. For almost twenty years they had a vacation condo in the Berkshires. They took cruises to South America, ventured to China, Russia and Egypt, and drove to a variety of national parks across the US. They traveled with different family members many times, including their Canadian Permut cousins, and enjoyed learning local history and visiting Jewish heritage sites along the way.
Ellen was a strong believer in the power of education. She returned to school and earned a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1974. She subsequently worked for BOCES and taught visually impaired students as a specialist in schools throughout Nassau County. She taught herself how to read braille and was one of the few fully sighted specialists with this talent. Ellen used various teaching methods to help students K-12 and taught for nearly twenty years. In addition, Ellen and Jack dedicated some of their personal financial savings to education, aiding many of their family members in paying for college.
Ever community minded, Ellen and Jack were long term members of Temple Beth El of Great Neck and were active with the congregation. They were co-Presidents of social Club Chai for many years, planning outings and speakers that brought pleasure and education to many. After retirement, they volunteered with Meals on Wheels and delivered food to homebound seniors. Ellen also acted as the Registrar for the Great Neck Senior Center for many years, organizing their curriculum, calendars, and events programming.
Above all, Ellen loved spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. In her later years she enjoyed keeping in touch with them via email, Facebook, and phone. When her health prevented her from traveling, she watched their life events via Zoom on her iPad. Even as she faded with age, she greeted visitors to her Great Neck home with her welcoming smile. With the help of her loving home health aides, she still had loved ones visit for lunch and chocolate candies, up to the last days before her passing.
Ellen was a vibrant, lively spirit who will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Meals on Wheels at https://eac-network.org/meals-wheels-seniors/ would be appreciated.
May her memory be a blessing.
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