Beverly Kaye

Beverly Kaye, a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, as well as an enthusiastic contemporary art lover, talented artist, pioneering fashionista, proud New Yorker, and gifted plant whisperer, passed away peacefully at the Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT, at the age of 96.

Born on April 5th 1929 at the Jewish Maternity Hospital in the Lower East Side, NYC, Beverly grew up in - what was then - the Jewish neighbourhood of East New York, Brooklyn, among her closest relatives. She lived a life defined by creativity, humor, resilience, and a genuine love for people. She had a gift for making everyday moments feel special and for making everyone in her presence feel seen.

Family was her world, and although Beverly didn't grow up with the love and support she yearned for, she always managed to keep her spark alive. In her teens, Beverly stepped into her own through dance, enjoying nights out with friends as they danced to the Foxtrot and Lindy Hop. She also loved spending her time at the cinema, where she would watch a marathon of movies, paying once and then hopping into different movies. Her all-time favourite movie was the iconic Gone With the Wind. Beverly also loved listening to music - especially Ella Fitzgerald and young Frank Sinatra because of how romantic the songs were. Her creative outlets and adventurous pursuits brought her true joy, whether through traveling abroad or heading to the shore. Beverly’s true happy place had always been the combination of sun, beach, and ocean.

On September 19, 1952, Beverly opened the doors to her beloved sportswear store, Town Abouts, creating a welcoming and tailored shopping experience for all of her customers. With her imagination and natural eye for style, she transformed her store into a space where women felt seen, confident and inspired. As her shop grew in popularity, Beverly offered a range of fashion that met the evolving desires of her community. She selected every item in her stores, ensuring that each piece reflected her taste and attention to quality (her father was a master tailor afterall!). Beverly built a loyal following through her warmth and sense of community, and was able to open a second store, with locations in Elizabeth and Westfield, New Jersey.

Beyond her accomplishments as an entrepreneur, Beverly's biggest joy was her family and friends. She was a devoted mother to Robby and Judy, a proud grandmother to David, Zaza, Izzy, and Kelly. She adored her role as a great-grandmother to Nova, Zen, and Romy, adding so much love to their lives. 

She found joy in life's little traditions, especially when it came to her favorite treats like the Baumkuchen from Munich - a dark-chocolate-covered tree cake she eagerly anticipated each year for her birthday and Christmas. As soon as it arrived, she would pop the tin into the freezer. In fact, anything and everything fresh went directly into the freezer to stay fresh longer. Her freezer was the holy grail of food! You could find the best treats in there. But whenever the freezer door would stay open for more than 5 seconds, her familiar voice echoed with urgency: "Close the freezer!!”.

She loved being creative and always busy with a project, whether it be painting, crocheting, or beading flowers. Her interior design taste and truly exquisite eye for color was mirrored in her love for Midcentury Modern furniture and beautiful, intentional artifacts around the house. When it comes to creativity in the kitchen, Beverly claimed not to be a good cook, but her garlic cornflake-crusted fried chicken begs to differ.  She also enjoyed tending to her gorgeously manicured and wild gardens that turned her home into a botanical paradise. Her green thumb was passed down three generations. 

Beverly consistently appreciated the joyful moments in her life, and whenever others spoke of their blessings, she would cheerfully respond, "God provides!". Although her grandchildren initially rolled their eyes at the phrase, it eventually transformed into a meaningful lesson about gratitude and the belief that everything would unfold as it should.

As she got older, we found humor in her hearing loss. She once drew attention to the beautiful sounds she was hearing: "Oooh, do you hear the birdies singing?". But it turned out to be several car alarms blaring at once. Whenever anyone would let her know of misunderstandings, she'd break out in laughter. In the last couple of years, Beverly's hearing worsened exponentially. If you were someone she really wanted to listen to, she would hand you a microphone attached to her headphones, reminiscent of a tin-can and a string.

Friends, family, and grandkids each had their own special name for her - Beverly, Mom, Grammy, Omi, Bev, Bevy, or even Bubbles. Her love for her grandchildren knew no bounds; she fostered their imagination with warmth, patience, and laughter, truly cherishing every moment spent together. She'd indulge every conversation, and email funny stories or jokes. Apropos email: she loved having the newest tech gadgets and got email-savvy in the early 90s before any of her family members did. 

Above all, Beverly offered a unique sense of stability and presence. Being with her meant feeling completely accepted and encouraged to be one's true self, which she also showed through her incredibly thoughtful gifts. Beverly such cultivated a safe, creative, and nurturing environment where her grandchildren felt valued.

Beverly leaves behind a legacy not only as a creative businesswoman who empowered women through fashion but also as a beautiful, caring person who loved her circle of friends and family. Her gorgeous face was always plastered with a smile. She will be remembered for her creativity, strength, kindness, and generosity toward everyone who walked through her doors.

A celebration of Beverly's life will be held on April 4, 2026, in Connecticut. Details will follow!

Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to PBS/Channel 13. This was important to Beverly.