Obituaries

Smith, Murray H., of Medford, MA, passed away April 18, 2021. Beloved husband of Rosalyn (Bereznick) Smith for nearly 66 wonderful years. Devoted father of Dr. Steven Smith of Newton, MA, Todd Smith and his wife Jill of Waterboro, ME, and Gail Miller and her husband Bruce of Colchester, CT. Proud grandfather of Gabriella, Adina, Lily, and Ilon Smith, and Aaron & Samuel Miller. Murray was born in Malden, MA January 16, 1929 to the late Thomas and Mollie (Gale) Smith along with his siblings Edna, Sidney, Richard, and Burton. He graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School and Boston University School of Management. Murray was a US Army veteran of the Korean War. He was well-known within the advertising community of Greater Boston, where he was a fixture in radio sales for many years, before opening his own advertising agency. He was a longtime member of Temple Shalom of Medford. Murray loved to travel, dining out, and reading, but his greatest joy was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Due to current restrictions, funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Murray’s memory may be made to Temple Shalom of Medford, 475 Winthrop St., Medford, MA 02155.

Williams, Michele B. (Haffer-Saftler), of Hyde Park, MA, passed away suddenly on April 16, 2021. Beloved wife of Warren Mark Williams. Devoted mother of Carol (Saftler) Beane and her husband Martin, and Connie (Saftler) Cyprian and her husband Tony. Loving step-mother of Keith Williams and his wife Lori. Dear grandmother of Kaitlyn, Jacob, Andrew, Sam, Mason, Sheri, and Hunter. Michele was a proud great grandmother. Graveside service at Knollwood Memorial Park, 321 High St., Canton, MA on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michele’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 260 Cochituate Rd. #200, Framingham, MA 01701.

A link to view the funeral service can be found here.

Gita Finsen (nee Brigitte Alma Mathilde Landauer), January 12, 1923–April 14, 2021. Resident of NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham, MA, formerly of Newton and Wayland. Born in Cologne, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Ernst and Ellen (Metz) Landauer. She fled Germany with her mother, brother (the late Ulrich Landauer) and her late uncle Heinz Metz and family in 1933 when persecution of Jews became official German policy and they were threatened. They waited in Switzerland until obtaining the very limited quota visas the US made available to Jews, and could then rebuild their lives in New York.

Gita attended Riverdale Country School for Girls (NY), Wheaton College (MA), and took courses at Simmons College and Boston University. After retirement as a junior high librarian in Newton, she became a successful real estate agent in Wayland.

Gita was active in community service including many years of volunteer work for the PTA, League of Women Voters, Sisterhood of Temple Shalom, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital where she was honored for her decades of service. She loved gardening, opera, long walks, reading, and puzzle games—especially besting her family at Scrabble. She will be remembered for her calm and steady approach to challenges, her generosity and dependability, and her ability to get along with everyone.

She was the beloved wife for fifty years of the late Irving Finsen, who died in 1995, and is survived by two daughters: Susan and Jill, both of Washington, DC; two sons: Peter (Myrna) of Marietta, GA and Lawrence (Susan) of Arroyo Grande, CA; two grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and loving nieces and nephews.

Services and burial at Sharon Memorial Park are private. Gita’s family is very grateful for the many years of dedicated, competent, and loving service by NewBridge employees. Donations in her memory may be made to the NewBridge Scholarship Fund, c/o Len Green (Treasurer), 4317 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, MA 02025—this fund supports staff seeking further education to advance their careers.

Bette Ann Barenholtz Gerber, 91, passed away on April 13, 2021 at home peacefully.  She leaves her three children, Neal Gerber and his wife, Regina of Ashland, MA; Jill Appell of Marlboro, MA; Dana Gerber of Foxborough, MA; three grandchildren including, Sara, Ben, and the late, Jesse; 2 great grandchildren including, Jaxon and Rylee.  She was the wife of the late, Jack Gerber who passed away on June 7, 2018.  Bette was born in Boston, MA on September 8, 1929; the daughter of Jacob and Julia Barenholtz.  She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  She loved her family and friends before anything else.  Bette worked at Bloomingdales for 35 years and loved her job; in addition, loved to shop.  For additional leisure, Bette loved traveling with friends, spending quality time with family, playing cards, her stationary bike, and always loved being on the go. Bette loved to laugh and she also was known to make the very best matzo ball soup ever.  She will be sorely missed and forever in our hearts.  Private burial at Sharon Memorial Park. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Fl. Boston, MA 02110.

Rubin, Herbert “Hutchkie”, of Medford, MA, passed away peacefully at home April 12, 2021. Beloved husband of Esther (Goldstein) Rubin for 72 wonderful years. Devoted father of Michael Rubin and his wife Diana, and Paula Allen and her husband Harvey. Cherished grandfather of Matthew Rubin and his wife Ashley, Jennifer Rubin, David Rubin and his wife Maria, and Max Levine. Proud great-grandfather of Charles and Jacob Rubin. Loving brother of the late Pauline, Jeannette, Harry, Frank, Bertha, Bessie, Myer, Celia, Mildred, and Allen. Herbert and his brothers owned Adrian’s Fabrics in Medford, MA for 63 years. He loved his family unconditionally, often mentoring his grandchildren to success. He was the most loyal friend to the ones he loved. The love he gave was equal to the love he received, this was his greatest investment. There is a hole in the world where he stood. A private graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Herbert’s memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Brown, Edith (Giss), of Stoughton, MA, formerly of Norwood, MA, a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and friend to all whose lives she touched, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2021.

Edith was married to the late Murray Brown, the love of her life, for 71 wonderful years. Devoted mother of Evie Cotter, Pam Miller and her fiancé Geno, and Allison Boyland and her husband Mark. Cherished grandmother of Carrie Gilder and her husband Kye, Matt Cotter and his wife Dyanna, Sydney Obolewicz and her husband Ryan, Benjamin Miller and his wife Cai Long, Alex Miller, and Alyssa Boyland. Proud great-grandmother of Bryce, Brock, Kaylee, Brinley, Delaney, and Rivers. Loving sister of Harriet Bern, and the late Beverly Ware. Edith leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Edith was a lover of the arts – writing poems, reading books, listening to music and dancing. She was an amazing baker surprising all those she loved with cakes for every occasion. Edith and Murray shared a passion for traveling but most important, being together. They especially loved their trips to Ossipee, New Hampshire.

Edie cherished the company of her friends and family. She loved to bring people together and stayed in touch with friends from years past, including her extended family at Camp Young Judea and Camp Naticook. She was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life and a firm understanding of what was important — the simplicity of living a life with those you love around you.

Edith will forever be remembered by her beautiful smile, caring heart, loving embrace, and unconditional love. We will miss this vibrant, strong woman every day, especially when reading a book, taking a swim, watching a sunset, baking a cake, or enjoying an adventure out in the world she loved so much. Everyone was blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Edie during her years.

Due to current restrictions, services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edie Brown’s memory may be made to Birthright Israel Foundation, P.​O. B​ox 21615, New York, N​Y 10087, or the charity of your choice.

Lara Wolbarsht Morris, 74, of Walpole, MA on April 9, 2021. Daughter of the late Abraham Wolbarsht and Florence (Etelman) Wolbarsht. Beloved wife of Carlton Morris with whom she shared 42 years of marriage. Devoted and loving mother of Jennifer Morris, Debra Hurwitz and her husband Michael, and David Morris. Proud grandmother of Asher and Grayson. Sister of Lawrence Wolbarsht.

As a child, Lara always dreamt of being a mother. Her close, special relationship with her own mother instilled in Lara a devotion to family that made her an adoring mother to her own children. For Lara, raising her family was always her main priority. She enjoyed cheering on her daughter, Jen, in her many dance competitions and her daughter, Deb, with her sporting events. And she loved sharing in their many personal and professional successes as they grew up. She lived each day being the best mother she could be! Lara was also devoted to her family dogs, Sparky and Teddi, and her grand dogs, Kodi and Benzi. Lara’s friends were deeply important to her, and she loved spending time with them playing golf at Spring Valley Country Club during the summers and Mahjong and Canasta year-round. In more recent years, Lara was blessed to become a grandmother to two boys, whom she loved dearly. Seeing Asher and Grayson grow and learn were some of her happiest moments. She loved being their Mimi and she boasted about them to anyone she could.

Burial will be private. Donations in Lara’s memory may be made to Amego, Inc., an organization close to Lara’s heart.  Amego is committed to supporting people living with autism and other developmental disabilities at home, school, work, and as members of their families and communities.

Services incomplete at this time.

Arthur David Altman-of Boston, MA and Wellington, FL, on April 7, 2021. Cherished husband of Nancy, the love of his life. Beloved father to Murray (Barbara), Paul, Margie, Patrick, Marianne, Michael. Grandpa and Papa to his adored grandchildren Michael, Jeremy and Arden. Brother to Henry (Mary) and uncle to Anne (Dan) and Beth (Kirk). Treasured friend to many. A powerhouse of a man, Arthur invested with vigor in all he did, be it business deals, on the fairway or in a game of gin rummy. He was quietly philanthropic, a voracious reader, a fan of British crime dramas and mediocre movies. Arthur loved history, world travel and his Irish Wolfhounds. Above all, he held dear his family and made it his life’s work to ensure that they are happy and safe. With Nancy by his side, he delighted in visits from his children and grandchildren where he would sit at the helm of family dinners filled with stories and laughter. We, his family, pledge to continue this tradition in his honor. He will be profoundly missed. Due to the current travel difficulties of the pandemic, there will be no memorial service at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: MSPCA-Angell, Attn: Donations, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.

Debra Joan Osnowitz was born  November 6, 1952, in Fargo, North Dakota, and died unexpectedly April 7, 2021. She was valedictorian in high school, graduated early, and moved to Providence to attend Brown in the fall of 1970.

Debi graduated from Brown University with an AB in English and an MAT in English and Education. She went on to receive an MA in Sociology and Women’s Studies and a PhD in Sociology from Brandeis in 2005. She taught Sociology at Clark for a number of years. Among her publications are many articles and a book from Cornell University Press, Freelancing Expertise: Contract Professionals in the New Economy. She was deeply interested in social theory, culture, work, occupations and professions, and organizations. She was continuing her research in sociology when she died.

In the 1970s, Debi was a member of the advocacy group 9to5, part of the National Association of Working Women, where she chaired the group Women in Publishing. She then worked for many years as an editorial freelancer and was a founding member of the Freelance Editorial Association.

She had a unique ability to connect to people across ages and stages regardless of their background, forming deep friendships with people from many stages of life. She was an inspired and inspiring teacher and took enormous pleasure in her students’ success.

She was bright, kind, thoughtful, articulate, curious, and wise. She was funny, serious, prodigiously smart, a steadfast loyal friend. She was extraordinarily generous and insightful. She wrote wonderful letters. She was private, yet open and warm, and freely gave her attention, thoughts, and time. She loved literature and writing. There was a musicality, a youthfulness, and a joyousness to her voice. When she spoke it was as if her voice smiled. She loved people and their stories, and she loved life. She believed in the goodness of people and devoted her life to that goodness, and to trying to be a positive influence in the world. She wanted to use her talents and her skills to make the world a better place.

She loved classical music and played the viola. She loved cats and took great care of those in her family. She was the loving chosen aunt to Emily, Amanda, Anna, and Sophia, and the devoted support of their parents.

She is survived by her brother Daniel, her brother Steve, and her mother, and by numerous heart-broken friends.

Burial was private.

In memory of Debi Osnowitz donations may be made to:

Temple Hillel B’nai Torah or The Sociology Department at Brandeis.