Nancy Radin Tarnoff

Born March 18, 1939, in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital, she was the daughter of Ethel Salz Newman of San Francisco and Arthur L. Newman II of Paterson, New Jersey. Raised on East 72nd Street in Manhattan, she lived almost her entire life in the same apartment building; raising her own family two floors below the apartment in which she grew up. This neighborhood remained the center of her world.

A lifelong member of Temple Emanu-El, Mrs. Tarnoff was deeply committed to charitable and community life. She supported Jewish causes, including UJA, and volunteered for many years with the Lenox Hill Hospital Auxiliary, a tradition passed down from her mother.

In addition to time with her family and friends, she loved travel, a cup of coffee from the corner cart, reading the morning papers, and lunch at Three Guys, where she was a regular. M&M’s, Chuckles, assorted junk food and her menthol cigarettes were always within arm’s reach. Nancy was an avid reader, a devoted bridge player, and an enthusiastic sports fan who insisted on having a game on television within ear shot at all times. She was known for her remarkably dry and cutting wit which she maintained into her final days, to the amusement (and sometimes shock) of her family, friends, and caregivers. She called it as she saw it. Mrs. Tarnoff was often regarded by those who knew her well as a force of nature—strong willed, fiercely independent, direct, fearless in her opinions – which she often gave without prompting, for better or worse. She saved her criticisms for those she loved, and at her core she wanted the best for everyone. She was uniquely authentic and was known for her generous heart, loyalty, and north star to do the right thing, which shaped her relationships and her approach to life. She had fans far and wide.

Nancy was married in 1961 to Ivan E. Radin, of Yonkers, NY. She was widowed in 1976 and subsequently remarried in 1990 to Jerome Tarnoff, of Brooklyn New York.

Her friends were her lifeline, and part of her and her children’s extended family, especially in the difficult years after the deaths of her parents, both of her husbands, and her dear sister, Mary Kaufman Carner. As a mother, she was protective of her beloved children and ensured that they were raised to be independent, resourceful, respectful, loyal and adventurous, but always with their mom’s strong sense of morals. She deeply loved her grandchildren and newly arrived great granddaughter and took enormous pleasure in being around them and hearing about their escapades.

Nancy is survived by her three children: Elizabeth (Betsy) Frowein (Berthold), Anthony (Tony) Radin (Erika) and A. Gregory (Greg) Radin, by her step-daughters Marcy Klein and Margery Tarnoff; by her grandchildren: Teddy Herman, Charlie Frowein, Joshua, Annie, Ike, Sandy and Beckett Radin, Robert (Alexa), Lauren and Daniel Klein; and by her great granddaughter Julia Klein. She will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Lenox Hill Hospital or UJA in her honor is fitting.