Bruce David Schifrien

10/20/1951-6/22/2026

It is with profound sadness that we announce, beloved husband & father, Bruce Schifrien, passed away 6.22.26 at 11:11am peacefully at home surrounded by family after a truly valiant fight.

Bruce was born in The Bronx to Minnie (Frumkin) and Leonard Bernard Schifrien before growing up in Paramus. He met Elyse (Gabin) working at Friendship House, getting engaged in 1976 and married in 1978. The family was looking forward to celebrating their 50th Anniversary, but life had other plans.

Bruce was the proud father of Samantha Amy (Sam). They shared childhood adventures—collecting Beanie Babies, going to Nets & Devils games, and all the school assemblies Dad would record (in the 90’s—it really gave their relationship some extra special moments). After Sam went to USC and started her life in Los Angeles, Bruce & Elyse took so many trips, it really felt like the family was bicoastal—making many memories in both Maywood and West Hollywood. Before retirement, Bruce’s last job was in Newark, and he would arrange his hours so he could either pick up or drop Sam off at the airport—giving her lots of “welcome” & “safe travels” hugs she will forever treasure and that have to last a few decades longer than she expected.

While his loss is immeasurable to his family—Bruce’s memory will live on in all the people he helped and the lives he saved as a Licensed Alcoholism & Drug Counselor, and eventually a Psychiatric Screener at University Hospital, also going into the Newark community to help families and those in crisis. He was known for being able to calm any chaos at work.

In addition to his beloved Elyse and Sam, Bruce is also survived by his younger brothers, Steven (Leslie) and Wayne (Adriene), as well as his four nephews & their families. He was predeceased by his father in 2006, mother in 2018, and best friend of 70 years, Bruce Cohen, who passed in April 2025. Both Bruce’s showed us what is means to live a live full of love, kindness, inquisitiveness and resilience in the face of adversity.

Bruce was a graduate of Paramus High School, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Seton Hall, where he got his Master’s Degree. He loved music especially folk, fantasy & science fiction stories, and was always ahead of the times with cameras & helpful gadgets.

The first request from Bruce’s family is to please share memories, and to be a bit more like Bruce as you move forward. If you wish—Bruce’s chosen charity was St. Jude’s, but, truly, any donation can be made to an organization that properly represents Bruce—a life well lived, full of love with a (surprisingly) strong heart. Elyse and Sam hope wherever he is, he can get back to camping, horseback riding and even hopping back on a motorcycle. May his memory be a blessing to his family, all who knew him, and all whose lives he touched.

“I bid you all a very fond farewell”—from Billy Boyd’s The Last Goodbye—the song of Bruce’s choice to bid farewell to those who took the road with him.