Rosalind M. Kopel of Rumson passed away on Saturday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Born in Newark, NJ, Rosalind was devoted to her family, a dear friend to many, and an incredibly talented woman who contributed greatly to society. As an accomplished pianist, she made a guest appearance at the New York Philharmonic at the age of 14. Rosalind graduated St. Domenic Academy in Caldwell. She continued her education at Fairleigh Dickinson University where she received her degree in education. After college, Rosalind moved to Italy where she studied Fine Arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, and later began her career as a portrait and landscape artist living in Italy and Spain and traveling extensively through Europe and Northern Africa.

Upon returning a few years later, she began her career as a 4^th grade teacher in the Newark Public Schools, where she enjoyed a long career. Rosalind also taught English as a second language in Newark to immigrants from Turkey. During her time as a teacher, she took on the role of restaurant critic with a unique perspective of a young single woman and founded a boutique clothing store called Chic and Sassy in Livingston.

Roz, as she was known to everyone, brought her fondness for travel and adventure to the love of her life, her husband Joe, and her pride and joy, her son Matt. Together, they travelled the world and had many memorable moments in far away places. Most recently, despite her health challenges, the family travelled to the Amalfi Coast in 2022 to celebrate Matt’s wedding to Haley, something Roz called her “most magical experience.”

Above all, Roz loved being with her family on holidays or any occasion at all and cooking one of her signature homemade Italian meals. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Kopel; their son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Haley Kopel, Rumson; her sister, Marilyn Gibson, Morganville and her nieces and their husbands, Alicia and Leonard Thor and Jaclyn and Justin Terebetski.

Friends and loved ones are invited to visit on Monday September 11^th from 4 to 8 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, September 12^th 9:15 am at the Church of St. Catharine, 108 Middletown Road, Holmdel. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Mausoleum.