Obituary of Beth J. Schwartz Robinson

Beth Jacqueline Schwartz Robinson, a longtime Livingston resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025 at the age of 78. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother & sister who had an extraordinary career as a harpist. 

Beth is survived by her beloved husband, Lee Robinson; one daughter, Sydney Mullen and her husband Mike; one cherished granddaughter, Sylvia Mullen; one sister, Ronni Schwartz; and many dear friends. 

Beth was born in Newark on December 13, 1946 to the late Edward and Shirley Schwartz, and was raised in South Orange with her sister Ronni. 

At a young age, Beth became interested in music and after many years of training it was evident that she was a gifted harpist. She continued her harp studies and went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio where she had the opportunity to travel to Japan and perform in collaboration with the conservatory. After college she accepted a position at the Princess Hotel in Bermuda, performing daily during afternoon tea. In 1977 she made her solo harp debut at Carnegie Hall which received a glowing New York Times review. Beth was also the featured harpist at the World Harp Congress in the early 1980’s. 

Beth always felt fortunate to have been able to visit and experience many different countries’ cultures throughout her life and career to places such as Asia, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy.

Beth first met her husband Lee while the two were playing tennis at the same club. They were married on December 12, 1982 and lived in West Orange where Lee worked, later settling in Livingston after Sydney was born. 

As Beth’s talent and career continued to grow, she treasured the friendships she made along the way. She performed in the majority of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway shows, most notably the musical  Sweeney Todd, and was part of its national tour with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. Mr. Sondheim once personally arranged tickets for Beth and Lee to view Into the Woods while Beth was pregnant with their daughter. Beth played in numerous other Broadway shows as well as many symphony orchestras throughout her career such as the Interlude String Quartet; the New Jersey Symphony; the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and each summer with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for 51 seasons.

Later in her career Beth devoted herself to her students, teaching harp and piano lessons every day of the week for many years. Beth remained active with her love of music up until her final days. 

Beth was a prolific writer, revered in the family for her poems and parodies. She had a way with clever wordplay, often thinking up rhyming schemes and double entendres on her morning power walks. Beth was always on the go but discovered a new love of movement with Zumba, becoming a regular at her weekly class. She was an avid bridge player, keeping sharp with the NYT crossword puzzle and sudoku, nightly Jeopardy! with Lee, and was talented in sewing and crocheting, generously making numerous costumes for her daughter’s creative endeavors. She picked up crocheting again with the arrival of her granddaughter and crafted incredible keepsakes in the form of owl and flower hats, Halloween decorations and a masterpiece of an interactive arctic animals book which Sylvia will cherish.

Beth’s most proud role was that of mother and grandmother, or Mima to Sylvia, and she looked forward to weekly calls and visiting several times a year with her daughter’s family and her sister Ronni. Beth’s love of family was evident to all who knew her, as was her passion and devotion to her music, teaching and the life experiences she was able to share with those close to her. 

Beth’s absence will be deeply felt though her memory will live on in the hearts of her family, friends and students, and will continue to guide and inspire them for generations to come.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a memorial visitation for Beth to be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison, NJ. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 12:00 p.m. during the visitation where relatives and friends are encouraged to share a memory or story in remembrance of Beth’s life.  

For those unable to attend the service in person, you may attend virtually via livestream by visiting this link during the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Beth’s memory to:

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (You can choose to Personalize Your Donation and “make this gift a tribute” In Memory of/In Honor of Beth Robinson)

Save the Music (check “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone”)