Leonard Alpern

Leonard Alpern passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024. Born in 1941 to Julius and Sarah (Edenson) Alpern, Leonard grew up in a close-knit neighborhood of extended family and friends in New Brunswick, NJ. After attaining a BA in political science from Rutgers and two master's degrees, he taught social studies and history in the Freehold High School District. He was a dedicated and popular teacher who encouraged critical thinking. Len was a true liberal who was generous and friendly with people of all walks of life. He was passionate about his interests, whether politics, sports or music. A self-described "jazz fanatic," he warmly remembered his many long nights in New York City clubs seeing the late 1950s-1960s greats. He played guitar and piano and loved playing blues harmonica on the streets and boardwalk and with Denis Quilligan's band. Len was ardent about physical activity - baseball as a kid, karate in his twenties and all manner of sports - but he loved quietly watching nature and what he called the simple pleasures of walks in Shark River Hills, Neptune, where he lived for more than 50 years. Leonard will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife Nancy (Cederborg); daughters Michele Alpern and Debra Feldman; as well as sons-in-law, Ken Weathersby and Bruce Feldman; stepdaughter Cindy Sherman and her husband Vincent Sherman. Leonard's cherished sister, Rosalind, predeceased him; she is survived by her son Jacob Starr.