‘Woman in white,’ Woodmere's Bernyce Alpert Winick, 99

Known to many as “the lady in white” Bernyce Alpert Winick, who wore white-colored clothes, left behind a grand legacy as an artist, author, fashion designer, pianist, photographer and a person who aimed to help others. The longtime Woodmere resident died on Feb. 17. She was 99.

Born in Brooklyn on Oct. 20, 1922, Alpert grew up on Crown Street and was part of the unique group of women in her generation that attended college. She graduated from New York University in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

A member of the American Water Color Society, Winick created award-winning paintings in acrylics, oils and water colors. “She has gifted us a legacy of paintings,” said daughter, Lauren Rapoport, about the many pieces of art Winick left her family.

World War II interrupted her life as Herbert Winick, who became Bernyce’s husband – they were childhood sweethearts meeting when she was 16 and he was 17 as their families were friends – halted his education to serve in the Army. They were married in 1944.

Six years later, the couple moved to the brand new Saddle Ridge residential development in Woodmere. Lauren said her parents were one of the first houses in an area that still had dirt roads. Herbert completed his education at Harvard University and became a tax attorney.

Winick made fashionable looking paper dolls as a child, Lauren said, and that inspired her interest in fashion. Winick studied fashion design at the Traphagen School of Fashion in Manhattan. The school closed in 1991. She designed a coat worn by a young Caroline Kennedy.

Winick used art as a way to help others, especially children. Lauren recalled the large art studio her mother had in the back of the house and how many neighborhood kids would be in the studio learning painting. “She would try to make an impact with everyone,” Lauren said. Her artwork included realism, impressionist and abstract styles.

Attuned to the creative connection between music and art, Winick was also a talented pianist who studied for 15 years with the famed Stecher and Horowitz School of the Arts in Cedarhurst, founded by Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz. The school closed in 1999. Winick, a member of the Woodmere Music Club, performed locally.

Roughly 20 years ago, she became interested in photography and took film photos of varied scenes and people and created photo collages.

Ahead of the curve when it came to blending eating healthy and physical activity to stimulate creativity, Winick wrote a book, “My Treasured Lifestyle: 88 Years of Nutrition, Exercise and the Arts,” that was published in 2012. The 76-page book has a four-star Amazon site rating.

A book description read, “… will guide the reader in the ways of living a healthy lifestyle which will improve longevity and increase energy through healthy nutrition and exercise."

Compliments inspired more creativity and never veered into arrogance, Lauren said. “She liked the accolades, thrived on them, but really did deserve them,” Lauren said.

Predeceased by Herbert, he died in 2005 at 83, Winick is survived by Lauren, son Steven and his wife, Georgene, four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held on Feb. 18. To buy a Bernyce Alpert Winick painting, email Rapoport at laurenrapoport@verizon.net.