Sylvia Ruth Kuntz died on September 4, 2025, at the age of 98 and four months. Sylvia was born on May 4, 1927 to Samuel and Anna (Schwartz) Fogelman. She was the beloved mother of Laura Kuntz (Edmund Mikalauskas) and Jeff Saunders (Rhonda), grandmother of Ross Mikalauskas, Eric Mikalauskas-Wen (Melissa Wen), Alyssa Saunders (Eric Trager), Lindsey Gorka (Alex), Erin Saunders (Michael Rykaczewski) and great-grandmother of Max, Teddy, Zachary, Emily, Gracie and Gavin. She will be deeply missed by all of them.
After growing up in Washington Heights in New York City, Sylvia spent most of her adult life in Westfield, NJ, where she was very involved in the community. Sylvia was a long-term member of Temple Emanu-El and involved in Sisterhood and other Temple activities, and enjoyed the sense of community that gave her.
A strong believer in music education for children, in the 1970’s Sylvia helped establish the Instrumental Music Parents Association, based at Edison Intermediate School (previously called Edison Junior High School) in Westfield. She also worked with Dr. Theodore K. Schlosberg to create the Westfield Summer Workshop for the Arts.
For many years, Sylvia was an administrative assistant at the Union County Educational Services Commission, where she worked with various bus companies to establish routes to bring special needs students to their schools. Her work ethic was stellar, and she was often the last person to leave the office.
Sylvia will be remembered by her family as a brave, smart, strong and resilient woman.
A funeral service was held on September 7, 2025 at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, NY.
Donations may be made to Bancroft.org.
