Obituaries

Mother, Matriarch, and Community Leader

Cynthia Brezniak Shulman left peacefully on the morning of September 23 in her home at Newbridge on the Charles. She had suffered a stroke in early August, a few days after celebrating her 90^th birthday with friends and extended family. She leaves three children, four grandchildren, a great-grandchild, a sister, devoted nieces and nephews, countless friends, and a legacy of community service, leadership, and love.

Cynthia was born on August 6, 1931, to Frank and Sonia Brezniak. Her parents were Jewish immigrants from the Russian Pale of Settlement who met in Boston after World War I. When she was six, Cynthia and her family moved from a second-floor apartment in Dorchester to a new home in Newton Center just a short walk to Temple Emanuel. Both she and her parents became cherished lifelong members of that congregation.

In the Spring of 1948 Cynthia graduated from Dana Hall High School. That summer she met Leon Shulman, a World War II veteran from Brookline, at a baseball game at Cleveland Circle. Four years later, after she completed her degree in Political Science at Smith College, Cynthia and Leon were married. The couple started their family in a rented apartment not far from the place they’d met. With their second child on the way, the family moved to a home in Newton Center, just down the street from where Cynthia’s parents lived. Her three sons, Steve, Ken, and Billy, walked to the John Ward Elementary School just as she had.

Like her parents, Cynthia made community and service into a way of life, beginning with a stint on the Ward School PTA and several seasons as a cub scout den mother. The qualities that distinguished her throughout her life—intelligence, commitment, and compassion—led her to myriad organizations and leadership positions. She served as both Campaign Chair and Chairperson at Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, where she and her husband endowed the “Cynthia and Leon Shulman Acharai Leadership Program.” She was President of the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee and was later named a Brandeis University Trustee. At Hebrew Senior Life, a cause also dear to her parents, Cynthia served as President of the Women’s Auxiliary, and was the first woman to serve as HSL chairperson.

For Cynthia, leadership was about communication. She was a gifted writer and captivating public speaker. At meetings, whether formal or informal, she strove, and usually succeeded, to make participants and stakeholders feel seen and heard. She didn’t shy away from strong opinions. Instead, she helped colleagues express those opinions in a manner that could best lead to consensus. Heated debate became respectful and productive discussion. Relationships grew stronger and deeper. Groups coalesced. And that collegial spirit spread through entire organizations.

Above all, Cynthia was most proud of her family. The multigenerational Shulman clan enjoyed traveling together—to Alaska, Africa, Colorado, Guatemala, Israel, and most recently to Germany and the Netherlands—where Cynthia, at 86-years-old, insisted on scrambling up the steep narrow stepladder that led to the attic of the Anne Frank House. She was the center and soul of a loving community she helped create and nourish—a community that helped sustain her after Leon’s death in 2011. And she enjoyed a rare bond with her grandchildren and their partners, and with her nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

She leaves her son Steven and his wife Debra Yanofsky of Brookline; her son Ken and his companion Francesca Casella of Cambridge; and her son Billy and his wife Wendy of Needham. She leaves beloved grandchildren Harrison Shulman, his wife Emma, and their son Silas of Lincoln; Andrew Shulman of Los Angeles; Sophie Shulman of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Simon Shulman of Boston. She also leaves a sister, Renee Glazier, of San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law Ann Lord, wife of the late Eugene Brezniak, of Brookline, and scores of adoring friends including the fabled “Hannukah Group,” a group of nine young couples who remained close friends for seven decades.

Funeral services will be held outdoors at Temple Emanuel in Newton, on Sunday, September 26 at 2:00 pm. After a private burial, the family will observe the first day of Shiva at the Temple, also outdoors. For the remaining Shiva, the Shulman family will receive friends and relatives beneath a tent at the home of Steven Shulman and Debra Yanofsky in Brookline on Monday and Tuesday 2-6:30 pm and Wednesday 2-7:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers and food, please consider a donation in Cynthia’s honor at:

The Cynthia and Leon Shulman Acharai Leadership Program at CJP  or

Hebrew Senior Life

TO VIEW THE SERVICE AT THE TEMPLE PLEASE GO THE WEBSITE   Templeemanuel.com

With broken hearts we announce the sudden loss of Adam Taylor Housman. Adam had a brilliant mind always taking on a challenge with pride and success. Adam was passionate about history, golf, basketball and hiking. He successfully hiked the Appalachian trail an accomplishment he was so proud of.  Adam was the grandson of the late Arline and Bert Housman and the late Libby and Bob Seltzer.

Adam was a devoted son to his parents Nancy (Seltzer) and Richard Housman. Protective and caring, Adam was one of their three most precious gifts. Adam shared many topics of interest with his older brother Maxwell often reminiscing about visits to museums and foreign countries. Adam and his twin brother Jake had a special bond that will live on forever. Always looking out for one another and balancing each others strengths. Their differences complimented each other like pieces of a puzzle from the day they were born on March 31, 1987.  Adam admired his sister-in-law Catherine, appreciating her intelligence, kindness and gentle manner.

Adam had special relationships with his Uncle Kenny, Auntie Debbi and Uncle Marty. Engaging in their company with ongoing conversation meant a lot to him. Holidays hosted by Aunt Susan and Uncle Ben were great memories for Adam.  Adam enjoyed spending time with his cousins Julie, Jaclyn, Kevin, Diane, AJ, Jonathan and Samantha. Each one of them bringing individual connections to the Adam they knew and loved. Adam adored his little cousins Robbie and Chloe showing his love by showering them with stuffed animals and dolls. In his own quiet way Adam was kind and thoughtful. We will love and miss Adam always and forever.

Donations in Adam’s memory may be made to the: Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, 300 Arnold Palmer Drive Norton, MA  02766 https://www.ouimet.org  Recipient email: NSH1122@aol.com

Dorothy Norman, beloved mother of Geoffrey and Lawrence Norman, passed away peacefully on September 15,2021 after a short illness. She was 95 years old.

Dorothy was a much-loved grandmother to Daniel, Rebecca, Ashley, Savannah, and Alexander Norman, as well as great-grandmother to Noah and Theodor Norman-Hansen and mother-in-law to Dale Norman. She died after she had listened to the Kol Nidre service.

Dorothy and her husband Arthur immigrated to America from South Africa in 1986 to join her children who had already immigrated. She was the youngest of ten children, and was the last surviving sibling. A devoted wife, daughter, sister, and mother, Dorothy took great pride in her family and delighted in spending time with them.

In South Africa, Dorothy ran a fashion retail store for women called Young Miss. She loved her work, traveling around the world on buying trips. Once in the USA, she continued to work in fashion retail, finally retiring at the age of 82.

In her retirement, she spent time with family and friends, ran a film club, learned to paint, read voraciously, and made excellent Sunday breakfasts that her family enjoyed regularly.

Dorothy led an inspiring, independent life and will be missed by all who knew her. We know she is now reunited with her beloved Arthur. She will be buried at the Baker Street Cemetery, Beth El Section, Temple Emeth Lot, on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 11:00 am. Remembrances may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Pl, Boston, MA. 02215.

Benjamin “Ben” Lewis Flammey, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away on September 12, 2021. He was a devoted husband to Janet for 64 years, father to Bruce (Bobbi), Steven (Carolyn) and Gail (Ruben) whom he adored, and most proud of his three grandchildren, Lindsay (fiancé David), Rachel and Mitchell.

Born in New York City he attended James Madison High School, continued his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.  Ben graduated from college in 1957 and served as a Supply Officer on the USS Courtney, Newport, Rhode Island. After he completed his Naval career Ben was a corporate trainer in the Washington, DC area for over 45 years.

Ben’s favorite pastimes included cross country trips with his family, tennis and golf. He was a member of Westwood Country Club, Vienna, Virginia. He was an avid baseball fan and as a young man spent many afternoons at Ebbets Field cheering on his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. When he moved to the Washington, DC area he adopted the local sports teams and continued his love of sports watching the  “Washington Redskins” and Nationals. His happiest times were those spent with his family and friends and a close second was an afternoon on the golf course.

Graveside service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 1:30 pm at Framingham Natick Jewish Cemetery, Fairview Ave. & Windsor Ave., Natick, MA.

Donations in his memory may be made to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation National Headquarters, ATTN: Financial Operations, 733 Third Ave., Ste. 510, NY, NY 10017 or the Rabbi Daniel Liben Endowment Fund at Temple Israel of Natick, 145 Hartford St., Natick, MA 01760.

To view recording of graveside service click here.

Howard Malcolm Ecker, MD, age 90, of Brookline, passed away Monday, September 13, 2021 in the hospital care of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1931, he was the son of William H. and Celia R. Drooker Ecker. His brother was the late Donald A. Ecker. Howard graduated from Worcester Academy and then Harvard College in 1953. He attended two years of Harvard Dental School, followed by two years of active-duty service in the Naval Medical Corps. He graduated from Tufts University Medical School in 1960. After a surgical internship at Boston City Hospital, he completed a general surgical residency at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and finished his training in plastic surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, 1964-1967.

Dr. Ecker opened a private practice in Brookline in 1967 as the 20th plastic surgeon in Boston, and the first to use a bipolar coagulation machine. He later had offices in Boston. He practiced at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and at the Sancta Maria Hospital for 45 years. He was regarded by his colleagues as a fierce advocate for patients, a surgeon of great technical skill and aesthetic judgment, and a demanding, but beloved, surgical teacher.

Howard served two years as the President of the Norfolk District Medical Society. He worked diligently for many years on various committees of the Massachusetts Medical Society, including the Committee on Publications and, served at the Boston Medical Library as a Trustee.

He was an amateur lapidary and jeweler, and an avid collector of natural materials in which he found great beauty including mineral specimens and stones, particularly agates, and seashells from around the world. Many of his happiest days were spent at rock shows, exploring caves and geological outcrops, and beachcombing. He often attended the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. He was a loyal member of the Harvard Club of Boston. Howard followed his father as a Freemason in Massachusetts for some 68 years, first in the Mount Scopus Lodge in Worcester and later in the Harvard Lodge in Boston.

Howard was a devoted husband and father. He leaves his beloved wife of 59 years, Wendy Lipsey Ecker, and his children, William L. Ecker and Lisa Ganz Ecker of New York, Dr. Heather L. Ecker of Dallas, Texas, Merrill L. and Daniel Theobald of Norwood, Dr. Robert D. Ecker of Portland, Maine, and his grandchildren Emily, Alexander and Sophia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Howard’s memory to the Harvard College Fund, Tufts University School of Medicine or the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

of Natick, MA, formerly of Newton, passed away September 13, 2021. Beloved wife of the late Ronnie Powell. Devoted mother of Julie Powell, Pam Johnston and her husband Jim, and Andy Powell and his wife Jennifer. Proud grandmother of Sam Johnston, Sydney Johnston, Rachel Powell, and Betsy Powell. Loving sister of Joanie Rubin and her husband Wally. Services at Temple B’Nai Shalom, 117 East Main St., Westborough, MA on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 11 am. Interment to follow at Sharon Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elaine’s memory may be made to The Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Sylvia Doris Cohen died on September 12, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida. She was born in Chelsea, MA and resided in Massachusetts before moving to Dover, N.H. with her husband Herbert to raise their family. Sylvia and her husband later migrated to the Sarasota area where she lived for the rest of her life.

She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert, sister, Edith, and grandson, Gregory.

Sylvia is survived by three children, Eliot of McLean, VA, Ellen (Mark) of Osprey, FL, and Jeffrey (Kathy) of North Potomac, MD.  In addition, she is survived by three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A private funeral service was held at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the Herbert and Sylvia Cohen Fund Boston Children’s Hospital, in memory of Sylvia Cohen. Contributions can be made at http://giving.childrenshospital.org/  Or mail checks, payable to Boston Children’s Hospital, to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301. Please include Sylvia’s name in the memo line.

Karen Michele Arnold was born on August 19, 1951 and died suddenly Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Marlborough Hospital after a short fight with metastatic lung cancer.

She is deeply missed by all those she leaves behind, but especially by her loving husband Richard “Ricky” Arnold of 49 years, beloved daughter Sara Arnold and partner Bill Simon of Clinton, granddaughter Verity Arnold-Simon, and mother Ann Zucker of Coral Springs, Florida.

She is predeceased by her granddaughter, Liberty Arnold-Simon, who also died of cancer.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Karen spent her childhood there and graduated from high school in Westfield, New Jersey.  She went to college at 17 at Boston University where she obtained a degree in education and met her soulmate after meeting through a mutual friend in Brighton. She later achieved a master’s degree in library science from Salem State University. She moved to Burlington in 1977 and lived there until 2013 when she moved to Stuart, Florida.

She was a teacher for many years, primarily as a media specialist in Wilmington and then at the Harrington K-8 school in Cambridge. She was also a Hebrew school teacher at Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington and was one of the original employees at Digital in Maynard. She was also a library trustee in Burlington and was involved in the construction of the new library, where her name is on the entrance plaque.

Karen impacted so many lives in her 70 years. She was incredibly intelligent, caring, compassionate, and empathetic.  She always made sure people knew she cared about them and that they mattered; she was loyal and devoted to all those that were lucky enough to be loved by her.  She was overjoyed to be a parent, and a grandparent twice over.

She loved books, beaches, shopping and fashion, sunshine, lions, hamsa and the tree of life, fine art, delicious food, and high-quality cannabis.  She always looked beautiful and put together, which was a point of pride for her.

Karen will be particularly remembered for her utterly hilarious sense of humor, infectious laugh, and ability to be silly and carefree.

She will be missed and remembered forever, especially by her sweet girls (forever and a day).

Donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Love for Liberty Arnold-Simon DIPG Foundation (loveforliberty.org), of which Karen was a dedicated board member, and was created in memory of her late granddaughter.

Services will be graveside Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 1:00 pm  at Beit Olam East Cemetery, 42 Concord Road, Wayland, MA. Details, including the shiva, will be available soon.

To view service click here

Services at Kaminker Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA.

Dr. Richard Jay Bravman, 67, dedicated and loving husband, father, brother, son, friend and oral surgeon passed away on September 6, 2021.

Rick grew up in Great Neck, NY and raised his family in Centerville, MA. After graduating from Clark University, he received his Masters in microbiology from NYU and his DMD from Tufts University. He went on to build an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery practice across three offices on Cape Cod. He was Chief of Staff at Cape Cod Hospital and served on the finance and investment committees. He treated his patients with the utmost care and empathy. After dinner every night, he would call each patient to check on their wellbeing. For 38 years, he imparted this compassion coupled with a high bar for excellence to the oral surgery students he taught at Tufts University and Boston University.

Rick was an avid runner, skier, golfer and swimmer. The energy and stamina that made him a great athlete extended to all areas of life. He loved traveling, especially when he could practice his Spanish or dine in the newest restaurants in NYC. His passion for food may have been outweighed by his love for music, particularly Bob Dylan. He loved listening to vinyl records and attending concerts.

Of course, nothing matched Rick’s love and devotion to his family. He was the model of an exceptional partner to the love of his life and wife of 44 years, Debbie. He took immense pride in his children, Rachel and Jason, who could always count on him for unwavering love and support. He loved and appreciated every minute spent with his grandchildren Griffin and Gemma. And always viewed his son-in-law, Neil, as his own. Rick was a dedicated brother to Laurel Kaplan, brother-in-law to Dr. Robert Kaplan, and uncle to Julie, Lindsey and Nikki, as well as brother-in-law Kenneth Hyman and sister-in-law Linda Hyman, who all loved his sense of humor.

Rick will be remembered for his honesty, gentle demeanor, generosity, loyalty, drive and love of life.

Donations in Rick’s honor may be made to Tufts Dental, an organization that had such an instrumental role in his life.

To view the service recording please click here.