Thursday, October 1, 2026
Reuben Maron, former executive director of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway and administrative director of Brandeis Hebrew Academy, died on Nov. 13, at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New Hyde Park, after battling an illness. He was 83.
Maron met his wife of 58 years, Sandra Engelstein, on Dec. 30, 1963, on a date set up by a cousin. The couple dated for four years, and were married on July 2, 1967. They moved to Woodmere after their first son, Evan, was born in 1970, and joined Young Israel of Woodmere.
After serving in the Naval Air Forces during the Vietnam War, Maron worked for Templon Spinning Mills, in North Carolina, before founding Kingswood Sportswear and English Sportswear, in Lynbrook, in what used to be the Mangrove Feather factory and is now the Langdon, an apartment building.
Maron transitioned into Jewish education after retiring from the fashion industry, and became HAFTR’s treasurer in 1982. He served as its board president from 1992 to 1995, and became executive director in 2009. He retired in 2018, but remained on the school’s finance and past presidents committees.
“He is a very special person,” Sandra Maron said quoting a parent who had gone to Reuben for help. “He has given hundreds, if not thousands, of young Jewish minds the ability to receive a modern Orthodox education. He was the person who dealt with parents about tuition — such dignity and respect. I know firsthand. I was one of them.”
While at HAFTR, Maron led an effort to increase the enrollment from under 1,000 to its current 1,400, including 270 children in the nursery program.
“Reuben Maron was an extraordinary parent, school leader, and executive director of HAFTR,” Naomi Lippman, the head of school at HAFTR High School, wrote in an email. “I very much valued the thoughtfulness, insight, and empathy that Mr. Maron brought to every issue. He was a wise, compassionate school leader who was sensitive to the needs of our students and their families and appreciative of the dedication and professionalism of our faculty. His steadfast commitment to HAFTR’s growth and to the enhancement of every student’s academic and religious experience was an inspiration for all of us.”
HAFTR’s current executive director, Ari Solomon, added in an email that Maron was devoted to the school as a parent, board member, president and executive director.
“His desire to facilitate families to be able to send their children to a Jewish day school was admired by many,” Solomon wrote. “My time spent with Mr. Maron as a parent, camp director, and later as the Assistant Director of HAFTR was both meaningful and educational. He leaves a legacy that will not be forgotten.”
After leaving HAFTR in 2018, Maron became the administrative director at Brandeis Hebrew Academy, in Lawrence. He was in charge of expanding the 200-student enrollment, retaining students, building the school’s academic reputation and improving the physical plant.
“He loved working with the Brandeis family and so enjoyed going to work every day up until just a few weeks ago,” Sandra said. “They loved him there and were so good to him. He was a very lucky man, being able to work and enjoy it up until the end.”
Raz Levin, head of school at Brandeis, said that Maron had the remarkable ability to recognize what students and teachers needed to thrive.
“He was unwavering in his commitment to bringing the latest and most innovative educational tools to Brandeis,” Levin wrote in an email. “Reuben made sure we had what was necessary to strengthen and elevate our curriculum. Brandeis is a better school because of his vision, his partnership, and his unwavering support.”
Leslie Gang, director of admissions at Brandeis, worked with Maron for 15 years, beginning at HAFTR. “Throughout that time, it was clear that above all else, Mr. Maron believed that every Jewish child deserved the opportunity to receive a Jewish education,” Gang emailed. “Mr. Maron was not only an exceptional Administrative Director but also a compassionate mentor and role model.”
Maron’s funeral was held at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett on Nov. 14. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons and their spouses, Evan (Royce), Richard (Naomi) and Avery (Robin); grandchildren Matthew, Daniel (Shana), Sam, Gabriel (Julia), Eitan, Dalia, Zachy, Lilly and Phoebe; and great-grandchildren Max and Sarah.
“Reuben Maron, reueven Ben mordecai, was the ultimate mensch,” Sandra said. “Our lives are better for having known him.”
