EDWARD MASHBERG

Edward Mashberg, a lifelong resident of Cortlandt Manor, NY, died on July 8, 2008, at his daughter's home, surrounded by his family. He was 89. Eddie's creative talents ranged from the arts to business. He was a musician first and foremost. His principal instrument was the guitar, and he played swing, folk and traditional Russian music. He was also a student of classical and flamenco guitar, having studied the latter with Carlos Montoya. Although he did not read music, his gifted ear enabled him to master numerous other instruments, including the harmonica, the accordion and the banjo. Eddie devoted himself to the cultural life of his community. He was a founding member of the Lakeland Committee for Recreation, the Association for the Performing Arts, The Paramount Center for the Arts and was a founder of the Copland House (the Northern Westchester home of Aaron Copland, now devoted to nurturing American composers and their work). Over four decades, Eddie was responsible for bringing some of the world's most acclaimed musicians and musical and theatrical groups to Northern Westchester including Itzhak Perlman, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Strings of the Bolshoi Ballet, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Julliard String Quartet, and many others. Beyond his myriad avocations, for 50 years Eddie was a successful businessman in New York City's garment industry. Beginning his career as a shirt manufacturer, he shifted to brokering the sale of piece goods after the domestic shirt business succumbed to imports from the Far East. A first generation American, Eddie came of age during the depths of the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps before Pearl Harbor and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was stationed in Trinidad for two years, serving as a cryptographer and radio operator and later returned home, recognized for his talents as an impresario in organizing entertainment activities for U.S. troops. A son of Mohegan Colony and a member of the "greatest generation," Eddie overcame daunting hurdles during his early years, to become a successful husband and father, businessman and esteemed member of his community. The love of his life, his wife Mildred, predeceased him in 1998. During their 52 years of marriage, they lived in the same home they had bought in 1946. Although Eddie and "Micky" lived their lives only a few miles from where they had grown up, they took every opportunity to travel the world, including traveling to Russia in the late 1970s where they met the only one of Eddie's mother's eleven siblings to have survived the Holocaust. Eddie is survived by his beloved daughter Marlene Nissenblatt of North Brunswick, NJ, and her husband Michael, as well as his beloved son Gregg Mashberg of New Rochelle, NY, and his wife Amy. Eddie also leaves four loving grandchildren, Paulina with her husband Guillermo,Doree, Jenny and Emily and two great grandchildren, Lorca and Salvador. Graveside Services will be held on Thursday at 10:45 AM in King David Cemetery, Putnam Valley, NY, under the direction of MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL CHAPELS, East Brunswick, NJ. Memorial contributions may be made to Copland House, P.O. Box 2177, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.