Esther Laufer, 101
Esther Laufer died at home on Highland Lane in East Hampton on Sunday at the age of 101. Mrs. Laufer had been a concert pianist and a piano teacher. “One of the highlights of her life was playing a Rachmaninoff piece during a piano lesson and later learning that Rachmaninoff himself had heard and admired her rendition,” her family said in an email. Her prized possession was a Hardman baby grand.
She was born Esther Murofchick in Brooklyn on April 23, 1913, to Harry and Golda Murofchick, who emigrated from Minsk, Russia, in 1905. She was one of four siblings. A younger brother, Edward, died in World War II. Her older brothers were Jack and Abe. They were raised in Brooklyn, where she graduated from high school in 1927.
In 1934, she married Leon Laufer. They raised three children in Brooklyn until 1955, when they moved to Cedarhurst. Mrs. Laufer helped her husband in the photography business, and it was he who gave her the baby grand as an anniversary present.
The Laufers traveled to far-flung places such as Iran (then Persia), Hong Kong, and India. In 1977, they moved to East Hampton’s Northwest Woods. Her husband was attracted to the rural environment here, her family said, going fishing and cutting firewood, and the couple enjoyed going to farm stands together.
She remained in their house after his death in 1995, where she enjoyed the company of her family and kept her bird feeders full, her family said.
“Esther’s greatest pleasure by far was always her family, and she showed her love by cooking for her family and friends, who will especially remember her potato pancakes and chocolate chip cookies,” they wrote. “While she and her family kept their perishables in an ice box when she was young, she grew to love her Cuisinart and KitchenAid.”
Her children, Joan Laufer of New York City, Leonard Laufer of East Northport, and Nina Hirschman of East Hampton, survive, as do five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
A funeral and burial was to take place at New Montefiore Jewish Cemetery in West Babylon today at 11:15 a.m.