JOSHUA KAUFMAN

KAUFMAN--Joshua Jay. Joshua Jay Kaufman passed away on December 15, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Even in his last moments he found energy to tap a toe to Engelbert Humperdinck's version of "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" -- the song of his wedding dance with his wife, Elaine, the love of his life for more than 60 years. Jay, a New Yorker through and through, spoke with an 89th Street and Broadway accent, could not help but joke or "Josh" with everybody around him, loved to call his 95-year-old "baby" sister Zelda when his hometown Yankees beat her Red Sox, and walked at a pace that kept his kids running to keep up. He was the king of "dad jokes." Nobody was a stranger; everybody was a friend who could and did rely on his kindness, gentle nature, and non-judgment. He was everything to all of us, and he died with the ultimate satisfaction of living the life he wanted to live. Jay attended the Bronx High School of Science, Wilkes College in Pennsylvania, and then earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Tax from New York University. He served as a communications expert stateside in the U.S. Army Reserve, drafting and transcribing Morse code during what he called "the Battle of Fort Dix." Jay practiced his entire 65-year legal career in Wills and Estates. As one client put it, "Where there is a Will, there is a Jay." Jay is predeceased by his sister Jean and his parents Irving and Stella. He is survived by his wife Elaine, sister Zelda, children Randi-Lynn and Steve, daughter-in-law Jeannie, grandchildren Sean and Maya, and other family whom he cherished. The family will schedule a celebration of Jay's wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, well-wishers may support Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club, the USO, or the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.