Joann Betty (Bernstein) Temkin

Joann Bernstein Temkin, of Bloomfield, died Friday, May 29th, at the age of 87.  She was born on April 9, 1928 in New York City to Mary (Diamond) and Abram Bernstein.   Mrs. Temkin graduated from the High School of Music and Art, where she played bassoon, in 1945.  She earned a Bachelor's degree from New York University in 1948.  In 1956, she married Dr. Abraham Temkin, of Torrington, where they spent their life together until his death in 1993. They had three children: Steven, CEO of T&M Building Company, which was co- founded by his father; Ann, Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art; and Elizabeth, epidemiologist at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

An  active citizen, Mrs. Temkin served twelve years on the Torrington Board of Education. She was a member of the Torrington Police Building Committee, and she volunteered at local organizations including the Susan B. Anthony domestic violence project.  The arts were always an important part of her life; among her favorite Connecticut institutions were Music Mountain, Long Wharf Theater, Goodspeed Opera House, the Yale Rep, the Yale Art Gallery, and the New Britain Museum of American Art.  Never losing her love for the cultural life of New York, she made frequent visits to see Broadway plays, concerts and operas, and art museums.

In addition to her children, Mrs. Temkin is survived by her beloved relatives: her sister Edith Bernstein Schatz of Bloomfield; her sister-in-law Zena Temkin of Torrington; her grandchildren Rachel, Alyssa, and Lily; her daughter-in-law Gayle Weiner Temkin and her son-in-law Wayne Hendrickson; and 13 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Music Mountain (PO Box 738, Lakeville CT, 06039) or Alyssa's Angel Fund (University of Florida Glycogen Storage Disease Program, Box 100296, Gainesville FL, 32610-0296) or the charity of your choice.

The funeral will be held on Sunday May 31 at 12:00 noon at Beth El Synagogue, 124 Litchfield St, Torrington, with burial to follow at the Sons of Jacob Cemetery, 1700 Winsted Road in Torrington. Condolences may be sent to the Temkin family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com.