Beatrice Safran

Beatrice Safran, 90, formerly of Queens and Manhattan, N.Y., died peacefully in Kingston, N.Y. on June 12, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Bea was the daughter of the late Harry and Anne Silber and sister to the late Lillian Winer. After high school, she worked as a buyer of woman's clothes for a department store. Legend has it that Bea met her husband, the late Dr. Morton Safran, at her sister's house in Queens, NY, helping him back his car out of a narrow driveway after he made a house call. They made their home and raised their family only a few blocks away in Jamaica, Queens. She is survived by her three children, Dr. Marjorie Safran and her husband Dr. Jeffrey Leppo of Pittsfield, MA, Robert Safran and his wife Judy Safran of Manhattan, NY, and Dr. Michael Safran and his wife Dr. Geraldine Keyes of Hurley, NY. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Maura and husband Ryan, Maia and partner Alexander, Elana, Matthew and fianc Maren, Amalia, Samuel, and William. She is also survived by five nieces and nephews and their families. Nothing was more important to Bea throughout her long life than spending time with her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She lovingly passed this priority to those of us who miss her so much, by hosting large family gatherings during the holidays at her home. Bea and Morty loved to travel together and visited many countries and continents. They also took the kids on many road trips, including the infamous 7 week cross country trip in the country squire station wagon (Bea drove with some speed). After Morty passed, she continued to travel with friends, cousins, children and grandchildren to places like China, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic. She loved the oceanshe, Morton, and the children were usually the last family to leave the beach club at Atlantic Beach. When her children had grown and with her husband still very active in his career, she recognized the need to adapt and be socially engaged and challenged. Together with three friends, she founded a consignment shop, Instant Replay, in Harrison, NY, which they ran for over 20 years. Bea liked to play scrabble, and remained a formidable opponent until her passing. She also enjoyed playing bridge and other word games and was very active in Hadassah at Hillcrest Jewish Center. A graveside service was held Sunday, June 15th at New Montefiore Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY with Rabbi Zoe Zak officiating. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Hadassah or Brehm Preparatory School, in Carbondale, Illinois.