Gloria deBenedette

Gloria deBenedette, 87, died peacefully on August 6th at Family of Caring in Teaneck. The second of three daughters, Gloria was born at home to Adolph and Rose Megaro in Newark, NJ, in 1936. She attended Barrington High School in Newark and then Kean College (now University) in Union, where she studied to become a teacher. Upon graduating from Kean, she taught junior high pupils in Hillside, NJ. In 1960 she married Robert deBenedette, and together they raised two children, Lynne and John, living first in Bloomfield and then moving in 1974 to the current family home in Tenafly. Gloria was bright and fiercely independent. She loved language and wrote poetry in her college years, and retained all her life an ability to make rhymes out of the most unlikely combinations of words. Along with her husband Robert, a pianist and music teacher, she conveyed to her children a love and appreciation of both language and classical music. There was hardly a day of Gloria's adult life that did not include hours listening to the classical station WQXR. She knew both pieces and composers, and loved especially works by Brahms. For much of her life, she and Robert were subscribers and regular attendees of concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. The focus and serious demeanor with which she approached the tasks of daily life concealed a playful sense of humor that shone through when she smiled and laughed. Gloria had health difficulties starting in her 20s, but manifested great tenacity, and never stopped pushing herself towards the goals she set. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marlene, and her brother-in-law Richard. Gloria is survived by her husband, Robert, her daughter, Lynne, and son, John, and by her sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Chester Dyer, nephews Paul, Glenn and Greg, and nieces Mary and Ann. All of us who survive her are comforted to know that she is, at long last, at peace. Family and friends are invited for a memorial visitation on Wednesday, August 14th from 2-4pm at Barrett Leber Funeral Home. 148 Dean Drive. Tenafly, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the classical music station WQXR (WNYC.org/donate) would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Gloria deBenedette

August 6, 2024