Beth Gertrude Josephson Schaefer's Obituary
Beth Gertrude Josephson Schaefer passed away peacefully on July 24, 2020 in Lauderhill, FL. Beth was born on September 6, 1927 in the Bronx, NY to Irving and Mabel Enoch. Beth grew up in the Bronx, attending the all-girls Walton High School, where she was the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She took tremendous pride in her academic endeavors and achievements both in high school and college. She attended Hunter College in New York City, from which she graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in geography in 1947 and earned a master’s degree in education in 1950. She had a special attachment to her alma mater throughout her life and after moving to Orange, CT in 1965, became very involved in the Hunter College alumni association and served as the local chapter’s president. As a member of of the Hunter College Scholarship and Welfare Committee, Beth created an undergraduate scholarship in her name. and was later elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame She was also proud of her election to Phi Beta Kappa and was very pleased to wear her Phi Beta Kappa key.
Beth instilled a love of education and learning in both of her children and cheered on their academic achievements. From her years as an educator, she also maintained a large collection of classic children’s books, from which she loved reading to her grandchildren and instilling a love of books. Those books still remain some of her grandchildren's’ favorites. She loved to read and continued to do so well into her nineties, especially loving non-fiction. Trips to Costco were an excuse to scour the book aisles in search of new historical or autobiographical material, although her family actually believes that the Costco hot dogs were the main draw. She was also an inveterate shopper who, with her frequent forays to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Talbots, established quite an extensive wardrobe.
Beth married Dr. Bernard Josephson in August of 1950 and helped him set up his dental
practice in the Bronx. He predeceased her very unexpectedly in 1961 and she bravely returned to teaching in Manhattan to support herself and her two children. In 1965, she married
Carl Schaefer and moved to Orange, CT. She and Carl loved to travel and Beth continued to do so even after Carl’s passing in 2001. In addition to her involvement with Hunter College, she was involved in the New Haven Jewish Historical Society and was a congregant of Congregation B’nai Jacob of Woodbridge, CT. She continued to live in Orange after the death of her husband until 2013, when she moved to Lauderhill to be close to her family.
She is survived by her daughter Iris Wolinsky (Dr. David) of Weston, FL, her son Dr. Eric Josephson (Susan) of New York, NY, and her five grandchildren, Benjamin Wolinsky (Brooke), Danielle Wolinsky (Dr. Adam Schoenfeld), Nina Wolinsky, Emily Josephson and Brian Josephson. In addition, she is survived by a great-granddaughter, Jane Ruth Schoenfeld and a niece, Joy Enoch. She was predeceased by her parents and her younger brother Robert Enoch (Eileen) of Grand Rapids, MI.
Her family would like to acknowledge the care that she received over the last few years at
Pacifica Forest Trace in Lauderhill and from Trustbridge, whose hospice nurses and aides
provided her solace in her final days. Donations in Beth’s memory may be sent to the Hunter College Scholarship and Welfare Fund via https://scholarshipandwelfarefundhuntercollege.org.
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