Jonathan Rosenfield

Jonathan Rosenfield

AGE: 78 • Toms River

Jonathan Rosenfeld, former award-winning educator and loving husband to Paula for over 53 years, passed away on June 22nd, 2015 at the age of 78. Inspirational, charitable and selfless, Jon helped form the first Special Olympics when he was a physical education teacher and later a classroom teacher at PS 32 in Staten Island. He is also responsible for creating and running a blood drive in the Lake Ridge community, that in its ten years, has potentially saved 3,000 lives. His kindness and passion for Lake Ridge, where he and Paula have resided for the past 20 years was evident in his friendliness, volunteerism and activity level in the community. Born in 1937 to Morris and Sadie Rosenfeld and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Jonathan found the drive to accomplish his goal of studying to become an elementary school teacher, which became a life passion as well as participating in and coaching athletics. As the first and long time chairperson of the Lake Ridge Outdoor Recreation Committee, he has organized many events and has been an active participant in softball, bocce, shuffleboard, and bowling leagues. His other interests included creating stained glass art pieces, playing poker and participating in a discussion group. He has also been an avid contributor to many Jewish charities including Mogen David Adom, International Chabbad House and the Jewish National Fund. Jon also volunteered for his local Meals on Wheels program. Most importantly, Jon has been a devoted husband to Paula, whom he met in 1960 as sleepaway camp employees and the pair shared a love of travel. They have traveled to six continents and experienced many wonderful adventures together. They are the proud parents of three daughters, Miriam Stanley and Amy Rosenfeld, both residing in Manhattan, and Debra Rosenfeld of Fishkill, NY. He has one son-in-law, Edward Potokar and two granddaughters, Katherine Golden and Allison Golden. Jon will be dearly missed by his family and so many friends, whose lives he touched throughout the years. His positive impact on his former students, his adoring daughters and granddaughters and countless friends will certainly leave a void in this world. We know he is watching down from heaven and caring for us as he has done in life. His contribution to the world will continue after his death as he has selflessly bequeathed his body to the Robert Wood Johnson Anatomical Association so that the research performed can save others in the future.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00am on Monday, July 13th, 2015 at the Congregation B'nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jonathan's name to Special Olympics, New York. 504 Balltown Rd, Schenectady, NY 12304, 1-800-836-8976 or at www.specialolympics-ny.org.