Eileen Nathanson, 89, Westfield Resident and Community Leader

Eileen Nathanson, 89, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Westfield, N.J., passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Born on May 17, 1935 in Hillside, N.J., Eileen was the second child of Bessie and Joseph Fine. Eileen grew up on Wainwright Street in Hillside and attended New Jersey State Teachers College (now known as Kean University).

In 1955, Eileen met Stanley Nathanson and they were married in New York City on June 23, 1957. After living in Roselle, N.J., for two years, they moved to Westfield, where they raised their three children.

Eileen was a substitute teacher in the Westfield Elementary Schools during the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s.

Eileen was very involved in the Westfield community, serving as Sisterhood President of Temple Emanu-El in the 1970s and as President of Temple Emanu-El from 1982 to 1984.

Eileen was always ahead of her time and saw the need to help families who suffered loss or needed help but didn’t know where to go, so she started the Caring Community Committee at Temple Emanu-El. Forty years later, the Caring Community Committee at Temple Emanu-El is still a vital committee helping others. Eileen and Stan loved to travel throughout the United States, Israel, Europe, Canada and Asia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bessie and Joseph Fine; her husband, Stanley; her brother, Larry Fine; her sisters-in-law, Arlene Fine and Joan Breitman; and her brothers- in-law, Marty Breitman and Robert Nathanson.

Eileen is survived by her three children, Lori (Paul Widman), Randi (Andy) Berger and David (Amy) Nathanson; five grandchildren, Josh and Ryan Widman, Jared Berger and Jack and Jordy Nathanson; her sisterin- law, Faith Nathanson, and five nephews and two nieces.

Eileen always cared for and put everyone else before herself and will be missed by all who knew her.

July 25, 2024