Susan Berman Shevitz Memorial Music Fund
Music, kindness, and devotion to family defined Susan Berman Shevitz’s legacy. A gifted musician, beloved librarian, lifelong learner, and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Susan brought warmth and compassion to everyone around her. Those who loved her remember not only her remarkable talents, but also her gentle spirit and genuine care for others.
Her love of the performing arts began in childhood and remained a constant throughout the years. An accomplished flutist, Susan performed professionally, played with community ensembles, and generously shared her talents with family, friends, and her congregation. Alongside her husband, Henry, she helped bring beautiful melodies to Temple services, enriching the prayer experience for so many. Their love story was rooted in music—from meeting through a chamber group to performing together throughout their nearly 50-year marriage. That passion filled their home, where regular chamber music gatherings brought friends together to create and connect.
Only her love of children and books rivaled her passion for the arts. After earning degrees in Romance Languages and Library Science, she found her calling as a children’s librarian. She delighted in helping young readers discover books that sparked curiosity and imagination. Whether selecting the perfect book, remembering a birthday, or taking interest in someone’s life, she had a gift for making people feel valued.
Above all, Susan was devoted to her family. She took a genuine interest in the lives of those she loved, always listening closely and making them feel important. Her daughter Shana recalls how Susan would ask her children to describe their surroundings in detail during phone so she could picture the places that shaped their daily lives. Her son Loren reflected that her passion calls for learning—from music and calligraphy to becoming an adult bat mitzvah—always inspired him. Her love of books also lives on in her grandson, Eli, Shana’s son, who shares Susan’s passion for reading. She celebrated their accomplishments, cherished time together, and created a home filled with love. She is remembered as thoughtful, attentive, endlessly kind, and always eager to learn— someone whose presence brightened the lives of others.
Later in life, Susan lived with dementia. During this difficult chapter, playing and listening to music remained a source of comfort and inspiration, reinforcing for her family the extraordinary ability of the arts to uplift and reach people in profound ways.
Years after Susan’s passing, Henry attended a program on end-of-life care that included a presentation by JHCN at Temple Kol Ami, the family’s spiritual home. Sitting in the sanctuary where they had shared so many musical memories, he was struck by the convergence of three defining parts of their journey: the congregation they loved, the power of music, and compassionate end-of-life care. The piano Susan once played stood nearby, reminding him of the comfort and beauty she had brought to others through her artistry. In that moment, Henry saw a way to honor Susan’s memory while helping others.
Inspired by JHCN’s mission and by his own experiences as a musician, physician, and caregiver, Henry established the Susan Berman Shevitz Memorial Music Fund as a lasting tribute to his beloved wife. The fund supports personalized, one-on-one music enrichment visits for individuals facing life-limiting illness. Alongside JHCN’s care navigation, social work, spiritual care, and other supportive services, these visits are provided at no charge to patients and families.Henry remarked that Susan would be proud to be remembered through music and that the spark she shared continues to brighten the lives of others. Through this enduring legacy, her kindness, zest for life, and love of music will continue to touch lives and help fulfill JHCN’s commitment that no Jew navigates end of life alone.
