Longtime Five Towns resident Shirley Lederman, 98

Owned Oz-Roc Music in Cedarhurst

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To those who knew Shirley Lederman, she was a Five Towns legend who had a passion and knowledge for music.

Lederman died from natural causes on April 27 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Eileen and Danny Spector in Lawrence, where she lived for the past five and a half years. She was 98.

Born on March 24, 1922 in Brooklyn, Lederman subsequently moved to the Five Towns, residing in both Cedarhurst and Lawrence.

Together with her late husband, Larry, Lederman owned Columbia Camera which later became Oz-Roc Music, located at the intersection of Central and Columbia avenues in Cedarhurst. She was twice awarded the Cedarhurst Business Woman of the Year.

Lederman’s daughter, Eileen Spector, speaking on behalf of the family, noted the popularity of the store. “Oz-Roc attracted young and old as everyone came to this popular music store to satisfy musical tastes ranging from opera to Broadway shows to rock ’n’ roll with everything in between, including jazz, reggae and hip-hop,” Spector said. “My mother was knowledgeable about all genres.”

Spector said lines around the block were a familiar sight at the store no matter how hot or cold it was once a Ticketron machine appeared at the store, which allowed customers to buy tickets to concerts.

“The popularity exploded as the crowds grew even larger with throngs of folks, from near and far,” she said. “Customers would come to buy tickets for the most celebrated concerts of the day, along with the theater and historic museum presentations.” Lederman co-owned Oz-Roc from 1975 to 1995.

Former Cedarhurst resident Bobby DeRose posted on Facebook his memories of visiting Oz-Roc as a child. “When I was a kid, Shirley was great,” he said. “I would hear something on the radio and go to the store and tell Shirley a few words and she always knew the song.”

 Lederman was considered by many who knew her as a true “people person.” She was a beloved member of the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst and was active in the Silver Sneakers program at the New York Sports Club where she made even more friends. She also loved boating, fashion design and was a patron of the arts.

“As much as she loved her friends and customers - many of whom came by just to say hello - Shirley’s ultimate devotion was to her family,” Spector said.

Predeceased by her husband Larry in 1995, Lederman is survived by her children Eileen and her husband Danny, Jeffrey and his wife Beverly, five grandchildren, Michael Lederman and his wife Jessica, Mindy Fenton and her husband Scott, Cari Leitner and her husband Brett, Craig Spector and his wife Erika, Stacey Sandler and her husband David, and her 12 great-grandchildren, Sammie, Alexa, Emily, Jessie, Jake, Josie, Zack, Max, Mason, Rylee, Jordyn and Hazel. She was also a loving sister and sister-in-law to Sylvia Schulman and Flori Goodman.

“Shirley will be remembered for her unending love, her strength and her deep sense of family,” she said. “She will be remembered especially by her grandchildren, for instilling in them an everlasting legacy: the gift of music.”

A graveside service for Lederman was held at Wellwood cemetery in West Babylon, it was officated by Rabbi Charles Rudansky. 

“She in every sense of the word, was a legend that spanned generations and she will be terribly missed by everyone who met her,” Spector added. “A Five Towns giant has left us, but not before positively impacting so many lives in so many ways and creating treasured memories that will remain with all of us.”