Elaine Hoch Bronstein

Elaine was born in NY. She graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. Some of the school’s famous alumni include: Betty Comden, Clive Davis, Neil Diamond, Jim Florio, Lainie Kazan, Harold Kushner, Bernard Malamud, Beverly Sills, Mickey Spillane, Barbra Streisand and Mae West.
Elaine attended the University of South Carolina, where she met Bert Bronstein, a handsome, young sailor, coincidently, from Brooklyn. They married and moved to NY. Soon afterwards Elaine’s mom died and, to save money and keep her father company, the three shared an apartment. When expecting their second child they moved to Oceanside, Long Island, and lived in the same house for 35 years. Their home was always filled with friends and family and delicious food to celebrate holidays.
Elaine worked in Accounts Payable, at the headquarters of Waldbaum’s Supermarkets and Cooky’s Restaurants. While at Cooky’s, Elaine joined the Teamsters Union, along with corporate staff, to get benefits. When Cooky’s went out of business, Elaine worked at the Unemployment Office.
Elaine and Bert loved going to museums, theater, movies and concerts and shared those interests with their daughters. Daughter Lois is a painter in Durham and daughter Barbara works in the Jewelry industry in Rhode Island.
After retiring they moved to Asheville, NC and lived there 19 years. They loved the area, especially the mountains. In Asheville they were involved in Congregation Beth Israel, subscribed to symphony concerts and local theater. Elaine volunteered for many years at Mission Hospital and was a teacher’s aide in the nearby elementary school.
Elaine and Bert moved to Chapel Hill to be closer to daughter Lois Bronstein and her husband, Howard Glicksman. While in Chapel Hill Elaine was active in Kehillah Synagogue, volunteered in the IFC Kitchen feeding the homeless, and attended Peer Learning classes on opera, classical music, travel and religion.
Elaine lived in Atria’s Independent and Assisted Living Communities. She and her family were grateful for the wonderful care she received from the Atria family.
Her family will have shiva minyans (short memorial services) at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Lois Bronstein and Howard Glicksman, 4106 Colville Rd., Durham, NC 27707 Saturday, August 12 at 8 pm and Sunday, August 13 at 7 pm. There will be a private family burial in Black Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to UNC Hospice (giving.dev.unc.edu) or Kehillah Synagogue (www.kehillahsynagogue.org).