Obituary for Joyce Sinderbrand "Cookie" Vilensky (Baylinson)
Joyce Sinderbrand Vilensky, a lifelong resident of Absecon Island, passed away peacefully at the age of 91, on Sunday, October 2 at Seashore Gardens in Pomona, NJ. Born on March 13, 1931, to Meyer and Sophie Baylinson, she was affectionately known by her many friends and family as “Cookie”. Growing up in Ventnor, she graduated from Atlantic City High School, Class of 1949, where she was editor of the yearbook and played violin in the school orchestra. She attended the University of Wisconsin and New York University, before marrying her high school sweetheart, Saul Sinderbrand. The couple enjoyed 30 years together, raising their four sons in Margate, before Saul’s death in 1982. In 1985, she married Dr. William Vilensky, who predeceased her.
Cookie devoted herself to improving the lives of many individuals and institutions through her charity work and indomitable spirit for volunteerism. She was proud of her role as a founding member and early president of the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Foundation, where she was honored with their Woman of Valor Award, and as a Board Member of the Atlantic City Medical Center. Her tireless commitment to fund raising helped to finance a new intensive coronary care unit at the Atlantic City Medical Center as it expanded its services in the community. In addition to her extensive charitable work, Cookie also maintained an active professional life as a real estate agent with the Rosenberg & Sinderbrand Real Estate Agency for more than 25 years.
Recognized as a formidable leader in the Jewish community, Cookie was President of Congregation Beth Israel’s Sisterhood and a member of the Women’s League of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Atlantic County, Hadassah, and served on the board of the Jewish Community Center. Equally important to her was making a contribution to broadening Jewish culture and education for young people, recognizing her late husband’s life with the establishment of the Saul Sinderbrand Jewish Education Fund for Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield, NJ.
Cookie was blessed to have traveled the world, and was an accomplished painter and bridge player (WNBC). She loved riding her bike on the Boardwalk and boating up and down the east coast en route to her winter home port in Longboat Key, Florida. She was known not only for her brains, beauty and kindness, but her “it is, what it is” philosophy that set the standard for a life well lived, with grace and courage. She will be profoundly missed and remembered forever by her sons Steve (Pam), Rick, and Gary (Lanie), daughter-in- law Jennifer, stepdaughter Louisa (Michael) Sanders and stepson Lee Vilensky, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, who all loved and adored her to the very end. She is predeceased by her son David, her sister Deborah Rosenberg and brother Roy Baylinson. Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Cookie may be made to the RNS Foundation, The Saul Sinderbrand/Harry Rosenberg Educational Fund at Congregation Beth Israel and Seashore Gardens.
Cookie devoted herself to improving the lives of many individuals and institutions through her charity work and indomitable spirit for volunteerism. She was proud of her role as a founding member and early president of the Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Foundation, where she was honored with their Woman of Valor Award, and as a Board Member of the Atlantic City Medical Center. Her tireless commitment to fund raising helped to finance a new intensive coronary care unit at the Atlantic City Medical Center as it expanded its services in the community. In addition to her extensive charitable work, Cookie also maintained an active professional life as a real estate agent with the Rosenberg & Sinderbrand Real Estate Agency for more than 25 years.
Recognized as a formidable leader in the Jewish community, Cookie was President of Congregation Beth Israel’s Sisterhood and a member of the Women’s League of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Atlantic County, Hadassah, and served on the board of the Jewish Community Center. Equally important to her was making a contribution to broadening Jewish culture and education for young people, recognizing her late husband’s life with the establishment of the Saul Sinderbrand Jewish Education Fund for Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield, NJ.
Cookie was blessed to have traveled the world, and was an accomplished painter and bridge player (WNBC). She loved riding her bike on the Boardwalk and boating up and down the east coast en route to her winter home port in Longboat Key, Florida. She was known not only for her brains, beauty and kindness, but her “it is, what it is” philosophy that set the standard for a life well lived, with grace and courage. She will be profoundly missed and remembered forever by her sons Steve (Pam), Rick, and Gary (Lanie), daughter-in- law Jennifer, stepdaughter Louisa (Michael) Sanders and stepson Lee Vilensky, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, who all loved and adored her to the very end. She is predeceased by her son David, her sister Deborah Rosenberg and brother Roy Baylinson. Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Cookie may be made to the RNS Foundation, The Saul Sinderbrand/Harry Rosenberg Educational Fund at Congregation Beth Israel and Seashore Gardens.