Bernice Stein (née Braverman), formerly Bernice Schnell, of Livingston, New Jersey, died on May 25, 2020, on her birthday, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Bernice was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and loyal friend. In addition to a distinguished teaching and legal career, Bernice was a competitive bridge player, avid theatre goer, book club enthusiast, world traveler, advanced puzzler, accomplished knitter, unabashed chocoholic, a generous supporter of the arts, and a fierce defender of the underdog and underserved.
Bernice was born in Newark, attended Hillside High School, Rutgers College (Phi Beta Kappa), and Rutgers Law School. She married Richard (Dick) Schnell in 1957, with whom she had two sons, David and Gordon. Richard died in 1971. She married the Hon. Kenneth R. Stein in 1974, who died in 2018.