Samuel Joseph Bernstein

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Funeral services will be held for Samuel J. Bernstein, 77, well known in Jewish community and civic affairs, and father of noted composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein, at Temple Mishkan Tefila, 300 Hammond Pkwy., Newton, on Friday at 11 a.m.

Mr. Bernstein, who resided at 280 Boylston St., Newton, was prominent in the beauty parlor supplies industry and was founder of the Samuel J. Bernstein Hair Co. He died at the Beth Israel Hospital on Wednesday.

He came to New York City as a Russian immigrant in 1910 and entered the beauty parlor supply business there with the firm of Frankel and Smith Co. He was promoted to the position of branch manager in Boston and then founded his own company.

Mr. Bernstein was a life member of the board of trustees of the Lubavitz Yeshiva. He also was a member of Temple Mishkan Tefila and a former vice-president, treasurer, board member and chairman of its school committee. He was a member of the Zionist Organization of America and was active in Israel Bond drives and affairs of Brandeis University.

Mr Bernstein was deeply steeped in Jewish learning. His famous conductor - composer son, who is director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, paid tribute to him with the comment that the elder Bernstein "made it impossible for his children not to love learning." He made the comment on his father's 70th birthday, Jan. 7, 1962. Leonard sat down at the piano and played a tune he had written called, "Meditation on a Prayerful Theme My Father Sang in the Shower Thirty Years Ago."

Mr. Bernstein and his wife, Jennie (Resnick) Bernstein, celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary last October.

He also leaves another son, Burton, who is on the staff of the New Yorker magazine, and a daughter, Shirley Bernstein, a theatrical play agent. All three children live in New York. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Clara Nichter of Miami Beach, Fla.

Rabbi Israel Kazis and Cantor Zimmer will officiate at services. Burial will be in the Temple Mishkan Tefila cemetery in West Roxbury.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 10 2023, 3:00:19 UTC