Janet M. Sokoloff

Janet Sokoloff (nee Scheinerman), 89, an extremely humble woman blessed with an innate ability to connect with other people and make them feel good, died peacefully after a long illness. Predeceased by her parents, Fannye and Harry Scheinerman, her sister Lita Florman, her husband Seymour “Sy” Sokoloff, and her son Paul Sokoloff, she leaves behind her beloved daughter and son-in-law Dale Sokoloff and Larry Masur, her wonderful grandchildren, who she adored beyond all measure, Noah and Samuel Masur and Sam’s partner Jessica Kelly.

Janet grew up in Brooklyn, NY in a tight knit family and community, where she learned from her own mother that you share what you have with others, and take care of people in need. She loved that role, and beginning at 19, took office jobs for physicians, and became indispensible to the running of their practice and to their patients. She met her husband, a kindred soul of similar values with a great sense of humor, when she was just 20 years old, married shortly thereafter, and moved to a coop apartment in Queens where she lived for the next 62 years. When her children were school age, she took a job that brought joy, purpose, and more lifelong friends, as the clerk/administrator for the Labor and Delivery Unit at what was then Long Island Jewish Hospital. She spent more than 30 years in a job she loved, in a role that was essential to supporting patients, nurses, and doctors as they brought babies into the world, before major mergers, computerized records, and the need for efficiency became the norm for that culture.

Janet was incredibly resilient. Life was not always kind to her, as she lost both her beloved husband and her son far too early. But she believed that life was worth living and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. She noticed the good things that came her way and continued to laugh and find joy, even as she started life anew at age 86 in Brookline, MA, and when faced with a difficult illness.

Janet’s greatest gift was her ability to make true friends who genuinely loved her at every stage of her life, without ever realizing she was doing so. She was an amazing listener, saw people clearly for who they were, and was kind to everyone, even when she recognized they did not return that kindness to her. She found joy in the small moments, loved to laugh and play, and liked nothing more than sharing a good meal with people she enjoyed. She leaves behind a legacy of countless friends of all ages who believe their days were made better for having interacted with her.

Janet will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband in a private graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made The Lank Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham. ATTN: Kelly Wallace, Philanthropy Office, 148 Chestnut Street, Needham, MA 02492. Please make checks payable to the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham and put “Janet Sokoloff”, Lank Cancer Center in the MEMO line

Online at www.bidneedham.org/giving