Matthew Gabriner

Much loved Greenport merchant Matthew Gabriner, 90, passed away on June 24, 2012, at the New Suffolk home of his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Judith Goldman, after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley, and his children, Nancy Gabriner and Jeffrey Newman of Manhattan, Daniel Gabriner and Naomi Rosenthal of Lexington, Mass., Alice Gabriner of Washington, D.C., and grandson, Michael Gabriner.

Matthew and Shirley ran Basketworks & Mother on Main Street, a Greenport landmark for 41 years. The Gabriners, who were familiar faces to many on the North Fork, recently retired together, closing the store in the fall of 2011. In addition to Basketworks, Matthew also had several other successful retail establishments during his career, including Country Lites in Woodmere and Walls and Things in East Meadow.

Matthew was born and raised in North Adams, Mass., where he attended Drury High School. A graduate of Syracuse University, he moved to Brooklyn shortly after his marriage to Shirley in 1952. While he remained a Brooklyn resident until his death, his heart was on the North Fork, where he had many friends and a strong bond with Greenport’s Congregation Tifereth Israel.

Matthew enjoyed life as the elder statesman of a large extended family including brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Stanley and Estelle Goldman of Wayne, N.J., Phillip and Elaine Goldman of Southold, N.Y., and Robert and Judith Goldman of New Suffolk, N.Y. He also leaves behind many adoring Goldman and Gabriner nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, who will miss him tremendously.

Funeral services were held on June 26, 2012, at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, followed by a burial service at New Montifiore Cemetery in Farmingdale. Donations in his memory may be made to the Obama Campaign or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

This is a paid notice.