Charlotte Vineburg

Beloved by many, Charlotte was ushered into heaven after a short illness. Surrounded by her family while her daughter and protégé Sharon Shepard Levine delicately sang a moving liturgical hymn (one of many) composed by Charlotte; she took her last breath along with Sharon's final note. A fitting tribute to an amazing lifelong passion for music.

Charlotte was born to Hyman and Sheyna Askin of Philadelphia, PA; where she was something of a child prodigy on the piano. She began piano lessons at age 6 with world-acclaimed concert pianist Vladimir Sokoloff of The Curtis String Quartet. Upon high school graduation, they asked Charlotte to become the youngest piano instructor at The New School of Music, Philadelphia which was an offshoot of Curtis.

Charlotte would have happily remained there for years except that she was swept off her feet by Optometrist Dr. Ira S. Vineburg of Asbury Park, NJ. They married in 1948 setting up home in Interlaken, NJ where she became a piano teacher to many. She also quickly became choir director at Temple Beth El, Asbury Park where she remained for over 50 years, even taking on the duty of organist toward the end. She was also the Sunday school music teacher at Temple Beth El. Along came three children: Lynne, Shepard and Sharon. They relocated to Deal where Don Drinkwater joined the family. Charlotte then became musical director of Deal Summer Theater throughout the 1960's. She was also bestowed The Solomon Schechter Award for outstanding achievement and contribution to Conservative Judaism for the large body of original Jewish liturgical music she composed throughout the years. In recent times she's been directing and orchestrating several choral groups at Greenbriar Woodlands where she's lived for the past 40 years. Additionally she founded and directed a choir for High Holy Day services for the Jewish Temple Association of Ocean County.

She was predeceased in 2004 by her loving husband of 56 years, Ira Vineburg as well as by her parents Hyman and Sheyna Askin; and her siblings, David Askin, Evelyn Dauer and Isadore (Ike) Askin, all of Philadelphia. Also predeceased by her in-laws, Mildred and Dr. Sidney Vineburg of Asbury Park, sister and brother-in-law Lucille and Edwin Colodin, and Mimi Vineburg, wife of Ira's brother Donald R. Vineburg who currently lives in Detroit, MI.

She leaves behind her devoted fiancé of the last seven years, Roger Wrigley, as well as children Lynne R. Goldberg (Sandy) Toms River, NJ; Shepard E. Vineburg, Malibu CA; Sharon Shepard Levine (Jacob) South Orange, NJ and Donald J. Drinkwater (Joyce) Aiken, SC. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren + spouses and six great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Charlotte was a beautiful, dear woman inside and out, who made an enormous difference in countless lives. She will be missed by many. Funeral arrangements are currently pending, please contact Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Ocean, NJ for further information.