Eileen Dinah Steinhart

Eileen Steinhart, of Monroe Township, NJ, passed away at the age of 63 on December 1, 2012, at Weill Cornell Hospital, New York, NY, surrounded by her loving family.

Eileen Dinah Friedman was born on March 25, 1949 in Manhattan, NY, to Leo and Ruth Friedman (nee Blumenfeld), younger sister to her brother, Ronald. Leo and Ruth, both Holocaust survivors from Germany, were the only surviving members of their immediate family. They brought up their children in the Jewish faith in Forest Hills, Queens. Eileen was an astounding student and one of the top performers of her graduating class. She attended Queens College, majoring in biology. While attending, she met Arthur Steinhart through mutual friends, and they married on February 22, 1970.

The two moved from New York and bought a home in Monroe Township, NJ. Eileen spent many years moving up the corporate ladder of an insurance company before choosing the hardest job of all: motherhood. She and Arthur brought up three boys, Marc Evan, Todd David, and Matthew Adam. Eileen modeled filial piety and was intentional about teaching her children the values of hard work, faith, and kindness.

Once her children were old enough, Eileen chose to return to the working world. Guided by her love of science and interest in the medical field, she spent her remaining years as a patient liaison at a medical office in East Brunswick, NJ.

Eileen had many interests and hobbies, including but not limited to traveling, cooking (her pancakes were legendary), swimming, tennis, and gardening. You could often find her supporting her local synagogue; being the family historian; playing mahjong with her friends; laughing at her and Artie's corny jokes; spoiling her children, grandchildren, and her beloved cats (Oreo, Misty, and Leo); having her morning coffee with fresh fruit, and teeing up daily dinnertime Jeopardy competitions. She loved her family and friends fiercely and was beloved by friends and extended family. Eileen was smart, loving, patient, honest, and above all, kind.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Arthur; children, Marc, Todd (Debra Azose), and Matthew; grandchildren, Jeremy and Judah; brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Doris; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eugene and Debbie; nephew and nieces, Michael (Kate) Dawn (Aaron), and Anya; and her youngest cat, Leo.

Donations in Eileen's honor can be made to the Scleroderma Foundation.