Elaine P Brown

September 8, 1929 - January 10, 2025

Elaine died peacefully at The Cedars in Portland, Maine at age 95. She was born on September 8th, 1929, the daughter of Robert and Henrietta Press, in the Bronx, New York.

Elaine's childhood spanned a turbulent time, encompassing the Great Depression and the rise of antisemitism in the late 1930s and WW2. She resided on the Grand Concourse (The Bronx) with her parents and younger brother, Stephen. She was an accomplished singer and pianist who competed with fellow student, Eydie Gorme for the lead musical roles at Taft High School in the Bronx.

In 1949, she met the love of her life, Seymour (Sy) Rosenblatt and they married on May 21, 1950. In their early married life, Elaine and Sy lived in Washington Heights, New York, where Elliot was born and then the family moved to The Grand Concourse (Bronx) in 1956 where Barry and Lori were born. In 1960, the Rosenblatt family moved to Howard Beach, Queens, New York.

In her spare time, she was an avid reader, loved to knit us all sweaters, and baked her legendary Mandel Bread. She was very active in her children’s schools, and participated in local government.

Elaine's life was suddenly challenged by losing Sy in 1972 when he was just 45. The shock of losing her husband at 42 would have crushed the average housewife, but Elaine eventually gathered herself and forged forward. She went back to college and got a job with the NYC Department of Education where she became a very efficient, no-nonsense school secretary. In 1975, she re-married to Murray Brown and, together, they travelled the world. Eventually, Elaine and Murray moved to South Florida and enjoyed their lives there until Murray’s passing.

She is survived by her three children: Elliot, Barry, and Lori (Pruzansky); her 6 grandchildren: Jaime, Robert, Scott, Leah, Kerri, and Nathan; and her 4 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Zoe, Maeve, and Dylan. She is also survived by her brother, Stephen Press. Elaine was predeceased by husbands, Sy Rosenblatt and Murray Brown.

Elaine was very active in Lori and Stuart's lives, living near them and their children in South Florida and then following them to Portland, Maine 15 years ago.

Elaine loved and was loved everyday of her life. She was mentally sharp as a tack, a friend and confidante as well as a loving mother until the end of her life. She was a wise, thoughtful and careful listener.

She will be laid to rest with Sy by her side at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in New Jersey.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Cedars’ Blackwolf and Shapiro units for their loving care over the last few years of her life.