Ellen Firestone Stein

OBITUARY of Ellen Firestone Stein
January 24, 1933 – January 1, 2025

Ellen Firestone Stein of Closter, NJ, died peacefully surrounded by the love of her family members and friends on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1933, Ellen Firestone Stein was a songwriter, music therapist, and early childhood educator. A lifelong creator of music, she shared the JOY of making music wherever she went and with everyone she met. She was a song-maker extraordinaire!

Ellen began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn, NY and went on to earn her master’s degree in special education. She worked in a wide variety of professional settings including many different programs for children with special needs. Ellen was ahead of her time in bringing a strengths-based, inclusive approach to her work. She had a magical gift to engage and draw in people of all capacities through music. Over decades of workshops, performances, and conferences, she shared her talents and passion for song-making with fellow professionals, with children and elders, with community members, and with family and friends. She always came, guitar in hand, with her basket of fanciful percussion instruments and her brilliant smile.

A prolific and masterful songwriter, Ellen had an awesome capacity to write songs about anything and everything. She had a genius for incorporating spontaneous contributions from audience members of all ages, encouraging everyone to become a song-maker with her. Her “FROM EVERYTHING – A SONG!” albums include an incredible array of songs inspired by her grandchildren, students, and everyday life (these are available for all to enjoy on Spotify and Apple Music).

In her 62 years as a resident of Closter, New Jersey, Ellen Stein was actively engaged in town life and in the local school system. She was a member of the Closter School Board and volunteered for years leading PTA Saturday Workshops. In recent years, she enjoyed spending time with friends at the Closter Senior Center, McBain Farm, and local music events.

Ellen Stein’s greatest love was her family. She was pre-deceased by her soulmate and beloved husband of 68 years, Dr. Richard M. Stein, whom she met when they were both students at Midwood High School in Brooklyn. Theirs was a love for the ages and together they enjoyed a remarkable life filled with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, dear friends, travel, and family celebrations. Ellen is survived by her children and their spouses, Julie Stein Brockway and her husband Barry Brockway, Dr. Eric Stein and his wife Carolyn Stafford Stein, and Dr. Adam Stein and his wife Ellen Brasington Stein. “Mima,” as she was lovingly known to all, is further survived by her eleven grandchildren (Ben, Michael, Lena, Audrey, Natalie, Gabby, Daniel, Haley, Alissa, Kirsten, and Michael), her great granddaughter (Ginger), and her sister-in-law Alice Stein.

A family service will be held at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, NJ on Friday, January 10, 2025. Donations in memory of Ellen Firestone Stein may be made to any charity close to your heart or to Center for Family Life in Sunset Park. Please visit www.centerforfamilylife.org and select the “Donate” button.