Charlotte Krupnick, 89, of Lakewood, died peacefully on August 1, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 14, 1929 in Newark, NJ to Alexander Golden and Thelma Zeisel Golden. The family moved to Toms River in 1940 where they became an integral part of the Jewish farming community. Charlotte attended Toms River schools and Trenton State College.
Charlotte was deeply devoted to her family and worked tirelessly her entire life dedicated to nourish and support the Jewish community at home and abroad and especially the State of Israel as well as the greater community in Lakewood, Ocean County and New Jersey. She was one of those rare individuals who led by quiet gestures. She didn’t want fanfare, or titles, or recognition, or acknowledgments. She wanted to do what was needed. She rolled up her sleeves and, most often, accomplished a gargantuan job alone, seemingly effortlessly but with a tremendous amount of time and effort.
She served as a Jewish Federation of Ocean County Board member from 1978 forward and was a past Vice-President and Allocations Chair for 13 years. She organized and chaired “Omnibus,” a nationally recognized community educational event for nearly twenty years.
Charlotte was inspired to bring special attention to the community’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union home to freedom in Israel. At the same time, Charlotte wished to honor the men and women in our community who exemplified all the best in leadership qualities. And so, Charlotte founded, developed, and chaired all thirteen of Federation’s Theodor Herzl Leadership Award Dinners, raising many dollars and generating awareness of Federation’s unique role in helping to support the Jewish Community - here, in Israel and around the world. Charlotte’s dream was to make this world a better place.
Charlotte had an amazing finesse when it came to public speaking. No one ever wanted to follow her. Her speeches often began with words of Torah. She exuded simplicity with spirituality, and tradition with practicality. No loud screaming to make her point – just strong quiet emphasis. Never considering what might be popular or politically correct - just what she thought was right.
Charlotte was charter trustee of the Kimball Foundation, now the Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Foundation, and served from August 15, 1985 until August 15, 2016, at which time she accepted honorary emerita status. As chair of the nominating committee, Charlotte was responsible for the development and growth of the present Foundation board. Over the years,
Charlotte has been instrumental in raising funds for projects including mental health screenings, the Women’s Health Connection, the Kimball Professional Center, the Center for Healthy Living, the Emergency Department expansion, the Mother-Infant Pavilion enhancement, and many others. She was part of the Foundation leadership team during the merger with the St. Barnabas Healthcare System in 1996, and celebrated the Kimball Medical Center Centennial in 2013, commemorating the dramatic impact the Medical Center has had on the greater Lakewood community over 100 years. From the Foundation’s founding, and for more than 30 years of growth and progress that followed, Charlotte’s service was integral to the hospital’s mission and the quality care it provides to the community.
Charlotte was predeceased by her dear sister Marilyn Kassenoff, Marilyn’s husband Maurice, and many other relatives of her close knit family. Surviving are her husband of 68 years, Sydney; her children: son Alan and wife Jeryl, daughter Karen Mandel and husband Larry, daughter Marcy, and son Richard; grandchildren: Sara Welner and husband Ari, Seth Mandel and wife Bethany; Abby Eserner and husband Avi, Matthew Janora and wife Eileen, Harrison Krupnick, Amie Krupnick, Bria Krupnick, Lori Dubrow and husband Dave Schanker, Brian Dubrow and wife Kelli; and 12 great-grandchildren.
May her memory be for a blessing.
