Obituary of Phyllis Joan Hoberman

Phyllis Joan Hoberman (nee Ruskin) of Ridgefield and Jersey City, NJ passed away peacefully on September 13, 2021 in Tenafly, NJ.  Beloved wife of the late Robert Hoberman, devoted mother of Daniel (Julie Somers), Lonnie, Henry (Jodi Brenner) and Kenneth (Theresa).  Loving grandmother of Andrea (Alan), Jeffrey (Adri), Nathan, Kelsey (Cale), Mika, Jesse Sr, Joshua (Leah), Bobby, Matthew, Emma and Hunter, and great-grandmother of Talia, Adina, Sam, Noa, Zia, Rae, Sol, Avi, Jai, Jesse Jr and Jonathan.

Phyllis was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ before moving to Ridgefield, NJ in 1959, where she lived for over 50 years and raised her 4 sons.

She attended New York University and graduated from Jersey City State Teachers College in 1955.  She taught 3^rd Grade in the Jersey City public school system during the 1950’s, before owning and operating Irwin Personnel, a search firm in Passaic, NJ, for over 25 years with her husband.

Phyllis thrived on the art, theater, and museums of New York City, very often sharing these experiences with her children, grandchildren and anyone else she could wrangle to join her.  An avid reader, she believed that education was a life-long pursuit and the key to unlocking happiness and success.  Until the end, she was surrounded by her favorite books and magazines. Her other lifelong passions included her family and community service, which she believed was an essential part of living.  Among many acts of selflessness and service to others, she was a longtime volunteer at JFCSNNJ (Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern NJ), where she delivered food to the homebound well into her 80’s.  Over her strong objection, she received JFCSNNJ’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006.  She was also a past member and officer at Temple Israel in Cliffside Park NJ, a lifetime member of Hadassah, and a volunteer leader for the Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts of America.

In her typically modest way, tinged with wry humor, Phyllis left handwritten instructions to keep her obituary and memorial service “BRIEF,” while also noting that her children were unlikely to listen to her.

A “brief” funeral service will be held at Temple Sinai at One Engle Street in Tenafly, NJ on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 11 a.m.  Shiva will be observed privately by the family only.  Condolences can be expressed to the family by email to TLHobbs124@aol.com or by mail to 10 Hastings Drive, Tenafly, NJ 07670.  Donations in Phyllis’s memory can be made to the Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern NJ (website:  jfcsnnj.org) or to any other charity of choice.