Daniel Denerstein

Dan Denerstein passed away on September 12 at the age of 79. His two sons were by his side in his last days. Dan had lived in Rockland County, primarily New City, since 1981. He was born and raised in New York City, spending his first 14 years in Chelsea before he and his parents, Hy and Rita Denerstein, relocated to Mount Vernon where his father ran a neighborhood luncheonette for many years.

Dan was born in Manhattan on February 6, 1945. With the support of her family, Rita cared for him on her own for the first few months before Hy returned from serving in the Navy during World War II. Dan was an only child but grew up amongst a tightly knit extended family including several cousins who were like brothers and sisters to him and with whom he enjoyed close relationships that lasted his whole life. At the age of six, his mother signed him up for piano lessons, introducing him to what would become his lifelong passion and profession. Aside from music, he spent his early years traveling to Copake, NY for the summer where his grandparents owned a store and rooting for Duke Snider and the Brooklyn Dodgers. After the family moved, he attended A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon High School, graduating in 1962. Having lived in New York his whole life, Dan ventured off to Beloit College in Wisconsin where he quickly acclimated and became an active member of the student body. He pledged a fraternity, co-founded a civil rights advocacy group that marched from Beloit to Madison in support of Martin Luther King’s march from Selma, and was elected student body president in 1965. Dan graduated in 1966 with a Bachelors in Government and then moved on to graduate school in Syracuse where he earned a Masters of Public Administration in 1968.

After briefly working for the Model Cities program back in New York, the next stop was South Korea. Dan joined the Peace Corps and traveled to the city Cheonan, his first stop on a two-and-a-half year adventure. He spent his time in Korea, teaching English to high school students, learning Korean which he never forgot, playing music and building more friendships that would carry on to his final days.

By 1970, he was back in New York City. He returned to government and social work and also, on the recommendation of a Peace Corps friend, met Barbara Weinflash, a young educator from Syosset, Long Island. They hit it off and soon married at her parents’ home in July, 1971. He spent his days in the early 70’s working his office job, but his nights were dedicated to music. He played in various bands and venues around the city including regular gigs at long gone clubs like Broadway Charlies in the Village and the Iron Horse in Park Slope. In the mid-seventies, he was cast in a musical about Jesse James called Diamond Studs which ran in Washington DC’s world famous Ford’s theater. At this time, with Barbara pregnant with their first son, Matthew, who was born in September 1975, Dan turned to becoming a full time musician which remained his profession until May of this year. The family moved out of New York City to Mountainville in Orange County, NY and soon after to nearby Cornwall where they bought their first home in 1978. Their second son, Evan, was born in November, 1979. Dan and Barbara separated in 1981 but remained close until her death in 2023.

Dan moved to Rockland County and continued to build his career as an independent musician. He played piano for countless people over the years, entertaining them at bars, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversary parties, etc. In the late 80’s, he started his own business, Evan Matthews orchestras, where he booked, and in most cases, provided the musical entertainment for parties. From the very beginning of his playing days, Dan had a great ear for music and he used that to build up a vast repertoire spanning rock, blues, jazz, standards and other genres. Through his talent, passion and warm personality he built a reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable go-to in his profession. This reputation and his connections allowed him to thrive as an independent self-employed musician for as long as he was physically able which, outside of his two sons, was his greatest point of pride. Dan was also a student of music with an encyclopedic knowledge of his favorite genres and particular interest in the music that emerged from the Delta in the 20th century as the basis for rock and roll.

Dan is survived by his two sons, Matthew and Evan, grandson Benjamin, daughter-in-law Michele St John Denerstein and Evan’s partner, Courtney Antonioli. He is predeceased by his parents, Hy and Rita, and his beloved dog, Bo. Dan was loving, passionate, caring, funny and intellectually curious. He was truly a unique soul who stayed close to friends and family from his long and varied life, and he will be missed dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday September 15, 2024, 3:00 PM at Hellman Memorial Chapels 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the following charities, causes which were near and dear to him.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 356-8600 Jewish Funeral Directors