Edith Mae Wax

Edith Ellen Wax

June 2, 1934 – October 6, 2021 (age 87) 

Edith Ellen Wax of Boca Raton, FL, born Edith Mae Ellen, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2021 after a brief illness. Known to her family and friends as Edie, she is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Dr. Sandor (Sandy) Harry Wax, her three children, Dr. Paul Wax (Dr. Janet) of Paradise Valley, AZ, Martha Leibowitz (Dr. Samuel) of Columbia, MD, and David Wax of Boca Raton, and five grandchildren, Adam Leibowitz, Michael Leibowitz, Jordan Leibowitz, Dr. Rebecca Wax, and Sarah Wax. 

Edith was born in Brooklyn (Crown Heights), New York on June 2, 1934 to Dr. Henry Ellen (born in Chernigov, Russian Empire) and Esther Michaelover (born in Lower East Side, New York City, whose parents were from Minsk, and Bobruisk, Russian Empire). Henry was a general practitioner and Esther was a schoolteacher. Edith graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1950 and followed her older sister Barbara Ellen Stein to Smith College, where she graduated with a degree in music in 1954. Following her graduation, she returned to New York and studied at the Dalcroze School of Music, where she studied with Israel Citkowitz. 

In 1955, she met and fell in love with her soulmate and best friend Sandy. They married on August 7, 1955, in Long Beach, NY. Edith and Sandy spent the next 66 years residing all over the East Coast, including Camp Lejeune, NC, Hanover, NH, Rochester, NY, Roslyn, NY, Lenox, MA, and Melbourne Beach, FL, before finally settling in Boca in 2016. 

Edith was the consummate pianist and musician. Constantly playing, practicing, listening, and sharing her love for music with her family, students, and colleagues, she especially enjoyed playing chamber music with her friends. She taught the Dalcroze method (learning and experiencing music through movement), and piano to many from age 2 to 80, including Ted Rosenthal and Zina Goldrich, who later became accomplished musicians. In the 35 years (1981-2016) that she and Sandy lived in Lenox, they loved being down the street from Tanglewood (the summer home of the Boston Symphony). 

Edith very much enjoyed Sandy’s early retirement from his urology practice. Since the early 1990s and for the next twenty plus years, they traveled by motorhome, houseboat, and hiked throughout the country and Alaska. Along the way, they explored just about all the national and state parks, kept physically active, and enjoyed great books and the classical music repertoire. 

Her greatest love was Sandy. This love was shared with her children and grandchildren. She will be forever missed; her example and love will live on forever. 

A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 2:30 PM at

Eternal Light Memorial Gardens

11520 State Road 7 
Boynton Beach, FL 33473

A Zoom Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable contribution to Doctors Without Borders.

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