Lenore Kaufman

Lenore was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1949 to Ray and Phillip Goldman, and grew up in one of the borough’s toughest neighborhoods. As a teen, she identified as a beatnik, sporting black turtlenecks and strumming her guitar in Washington Square Park. In 1963, she defied her mother, boarded a bus and participated in the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

She attended Lehman College, traveling by subway from Brooklyn to the Bronx, where she earned a geography degree. She chose her major because the line to sign up for geography classes was shortest. Lenore earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from Hunter College, and a certification in special education from Georgian Court College.

Lenore spent 25+ years teaching Kindergarten at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, NJ. She is remembered fondly by teachers and students alike, who have continued to stay in touch after her retirement. She taught and mentored with a no-nonsense, organized, and professional style which was refreshing and inspiring to so many.

She was a voracious reader, mahjong player, theater lover, and master knitter whose sweaters and blankets won first prize at the Monmouth County Fair. For years, Lenore volunteered at the local blood bank, CentraState Medical Center, and at the Freehold Area Open Door food pantry where she enjoyed working the door and directing patrons to shop with dignity.

Lenore was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Kaufman. She and Arthur were set up on a blind date and built a beautiful life before his sudden passing in 2001 from a brief illness. She lovingly refers to him as her “Part 1.” She is survived by her daughter Perri Richman (Chad) who was honored to be her daughter and so proud of who she was as a grandmother. Lenore’s granddaughter, Amy, was the apple of her eye. Together, they shared many funny memories of “Brooklyn-ese language lessons,” erroneously calling out lottery numbers (when they were still called on TV), watching reality television, and asking each other about their love lives.

She is also survived by her long-term partner, Edmund Meyers (who she refers to as her “Part 2.”), and her “Part 2 family,” Douglas Meyers (Jane), Jennifer Goldberg (Sam), Natalie Belcher (Tom), Dana Meyers-Evron (Shy), and grandchildren, Riley, Oliver, Emily, Sydney, Maddie, Lucy, Rhett, and Alex. Lenore also had life-long best friends who were her family by choice. She is survived by her trio, Donna Eig, Linda Grasmann, and Fran Rosenblatt.

The funeral is planned for Monday, December 2, at 12:30 PM at Cedar Park Cemetery Chapel with a graveside service following. A brief shiva will be held at Lenore’s home in Manalapan for two days following the burial. Donations to the Tunnels to Tower Foundation in her name are appreciated.