Sanford Schneider, a pianist and harpsichordist who shared his musical talents with the Bay Area Jewish community, died suddenly April 2. He was 67.
Schneider performed at the Jewish Music Festival in the East Bay and local synagogues with his brother David, formerly a violinist with the San Francisco Symphony. Schneider, who died after collapsing in his office, often led prayers at Berkeley’s Conservative Congregation Netivot Shalom, which he and wife Helen helped found 10 years ago.
A resident of Berkeley, Schneider earned a living as owner of Contractors’ License Courses in Oakland. He spent much of his free time, however, engaged in Jewish pursuits.
“It wouldn’t be too much to say Judaism was his life,” said Marian Magid, a longtime friend. “He used Judaism as a guide to be his highest self and to inspire others to be their highest selves.”
Netivot Shalom’s Rabbi Stuart Kelman called Schneider a shaliach tzibor, or leader of the congregation, who was always ready with a word of wisdom, hug or listening ear.
A composer, he wrote a new tune for a segment of the Alenu prayer. The congregation now regularly uses the composition, which corresponds with a part of the prayer exalting God’s majesty.
“The tune we had always sung was too childish and giddy, whereas the words themselves called for something much more stately and solemn,” Kelman explained. “That’s what he wrote.”
Schneider refused to profit in any way from his Jewish music. Avi Levine, former rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, recalled that once he offered Schneider a job as a cantorial soloist. “I’m honored but this work is too sacred for pay,” Schneider responded.
Earlier in his career, Schneider combined business and music as owner of Record City, a store on Telegraph Avenue near the U.C. Berkeley campus. “All you had to do was hum a melody or sing a few key notes and he’d immediately know the piece and catalog number,” said George Gidal, a former customer who later became a close friend of Schneider.
An overflow crowd attended an April 5 funeral for Schneider in Berkeley.
Said the synagogue’s president, Pauline Moreno: “Sandy was an intermediary to the divine for us when he chanted the prayers, but off the bimah, he was a sweet, approachable man who touched each of us deeply.”
In addition to his wife and brother, Schneider is survived by children Matthew (and Dawn) Schneider and Lauren (and Matt) Bryant, and by six grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephew Rabbi Gordon Freeman, leader of Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek.
The family asks that donations be sent to the Netivot Shalom Building Fund, 1841 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94703.