Obituaries

Yaffe, Phyllis (Taymore) age 77, of Dedham, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on March 4, 2021.  Phyllis was the beloved daughter of the late Dorothy and Maynard Taymore.  She was predeceased by her sister and brothers-in-law Roberta (Bobbi) and Edward Lander and Roger Fox and survived by her sister Susan.  She is also survived by her husband of many years and best friend Warren Yaffe of Maynard.  Phyllis was adored by her three children and their families including Alisa Bolton and her fiancé Steven Arboch of Ashland; Esta and Jeff Singer of Holden, and Michael and Leslyn Yaffe of South Orange, NJ.  She was a devoted grandmother to Megan, Ashley, Lila, Toby and Marc.  She was aunt Phyl to many, including Scott, Caryn, Steven, Heidi, David and their families.

Other dear loved ones include the late Paul Trowbridge, Oscar Obrego as well as Buchi and Mercy Agbakwue and their sons Super and Josh.  They have cared for each other as family members.

Phyllis grew up in Brookline and raised her family in Needham.  She always welcomed friends into her life, home and heart.  She loved spending time together with family and friends creating lifelong treasured memories.

A private family funeral will be held graveside Sunday March 7th at 4:00pm and will be livestreamed for friends and family. A link to see the service can be found here.

A celebration of her life will be held up the country over the summer.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Buddy Dog Humane Society Inc. in Phyllis’ memory.  Please share a warm memory with a loved one and enjoy a treat in Phyllis’ honor.

Sumner Geller, of Wellesley, Massachusetts peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 after a brief battle with cancer.

Sumner was the beloved husband of Carol (Niss) Geller and loving father to Lisa Geller of Bath, Maine and Tracey (Geller) and her husband Jay Greenberg of Ashland, Massachusetts.  He was the proud “papa” of Rachel and Adam Greenberg of Ashland, Massachusetts.  He was the brother of the late Thelma (Geller) and her husband Burton Rubenstein and Albert and his wife Rosalyn Geller, and brother-in-law of Stephen and Roberta (Bobbi) Niss.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Sumner was born on November 15, 1932 in Waltham, Massachusetts to the late Louis and Dora (Goodman) Geller.  His family adored hearing his stories of growing up in West Newton, Massachusetts and working at his father’s meat market on Prospect Street in Waltham.  He loved his family, his friends who were like family, his grand-dog Sadie, history, politics, his breakfast club at Captain Marden in Wellesley, and all Boston sports teams.

Services will be private.  Donations in his memory may be made to the hospice organization Good Shepherd Community Care, 160 Wells Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts 02459.

Alan Miller, of Weymouth, MA, passed away March 1, 2021. Dear son of the late Myer and Leah (Geron) Miller. Graveside service at Stepiner Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA.

Marvin Allan Covitz- of Marlboro, MA, on February  27,2021. Beloved son of the late David and Ruth E. Covitz.

To view the service recording please click here.

Dr. Robert K. Rosenthal

Devoted and respected physician at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Of Brookline, Lenox and Sarasota, FL, on February 25, 2021.Beloved husband of Esther (Zamore) Rosenthal. Devoted father of Geoffrey and his wife Lucy Guo, Emily Moses and her husband Eric, Jocelyn Rosenthal and her husband Steven Richardson. Dear grandfather of Lia and Jeremy Moses. Dear brother of Leonard J. Rosenthal and his wife Nancy. He was a proud and grateful graduate and supporter of Tufts University School of Medicine.

After completing his training at New York City’s The Hospital for Special Surgery in pediatric orthopedic surgery, he returned to Boston to begin a very gratifying professional career that spanned 45 years at Boston Children’s Hospital where he specialized in treating patients with cerebral palsy and other special needs conditions.  During that time he took care of thousands of children and their families, many from other countries, and was able to follow and help these patients for decades into their young adulthoods.  In his capacity as a member of Harvard Medical School, he helped train hundreds of students, interns, residents and Fellows which gave him great satisfaction in watching the development of future physicians, some of whom eventually joined him at Children’s.

He belonged to the main orthopedic and pediatric orthopedic Associations but his primary affiliation was with the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine where he served as Chair of several committees, Treasurer, Vice President and President. Following his term as President he remained active as a member of the Past Presidents group.

As a 40-plus year member of Temple Israel, he served on several committees and was active in the Brotherhood.  During the time he was President, the Brotherhood helped launch the Passport to Israel program.

His personal interests and activities were gardening and all aspects of investing.   His passion for the companies he invested in was obvious to all who knew him.  He was always ready to share what he knew and felt would be helpful to others.   Together with his wife, Esther, the most cherished interests and activities centered on the arts, especially music and theater.   Over the years, he served several terms on the Board of the Celebrity Series of Boston.  Summers in the Berkshires offered opportunities to be active in support of Tanglewood and Shakespeare & Company.  For the last 10 years he served on the Board of Barrington Stage Company where he dedicated much time, enthusiasm and other support.

While all his many professional and personal achievements were important, at the top of the list was his family.  He loved and was so proud of his children and the wonderful people they are.  He loved his children-in-law as they came into the family as well as two extraordinary grandchildren with whom he has created many good memories.  The family shares all the years of common experiences that will give us enduring memories of him.

During their 60 years of marriage, he and Esther have made so many wonderful friends, many over more than a half-century, some more recent.   His family is grateful and appreciative for these friendships and all the love and support received during his last difficult weeks.

Services are private. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Tufts School of  Medicine,136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111 or Sarasota Memorial Hospital,1700 E. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239.

KNOFF-Max, 95, of Sharon, MA. passed peacefully in his sleep on February 21, 2021.

Beloved husband of the late Bertha “Terry” (Shapiro) Knoff. Loving father of Ellen Kawadler and husband Arnold Kawadler of Sharon, MA; Howard Knoff and wife Julianna Fawcett of Little Rock, Arkansas; Josef Knoff and wife Judy Knoff of Enosburg Falls, VT; Deborah Arsenault and husband Gary Arsenault Sr. of Westminster, MA.

Proud grandfather of Jaeson Kawadler and Matthew Kawadler; Jesse Knoff and David Knoff; Kristen Knoff, Ben Knoff, and Kaitlin Knoff; Carson Riley, Shaina Riley, and Joelle Riley and step grandchildren Sara Demianenko, Adam Gleason and Kendra King.

Esteemed great-grandfather of Mason Kawadler and Dennison Kawadler; and Estelle Knoff.

Loving brother of the late Lillian Annis (and husband Morris), Leo Knoff (and wife Helen), and Milton Knoff (and wife Rowena).

He was born in Boston on March 13, 1925 to Rebecca and Charles Knoff of Allston. A first generation American and graduate of the Boston Latin School, Max was a United States Navy Veteran having served his country for two tours of duty during World War II and the Korean War. He spoke fondly of his time in the service as a Dental Assistant stationed in Washington, DC and Newport, RI. He even played on their very successful softball team with Stan Musial–famous St. Louis Cardinal ballplayer.

He met his beloved partner of sixty years, the late Bertha “Terry” (Shapiro) Knoff, while she was in nursing school.   Because marriage was not allowed while in school, they eloped to NH where they married in September of 1947. A formal wedding occurred later on February 13, 1949.

Working in the shoe manufacturing business as a Superintendent in charge of numerous factories across Eastern Massachusetts, he spent most of his career at Marlboro Footwear before becoming a Manufacturing Consultant for many years in China for Brown Shoe and Reebok.

Max raised his family in Newton, MA and later in Framingham, MA. He personified a strong work ethic making a career in the shoe industry. Max welcomed his children to spend time on school breaks and work in the shoe factory in Marlboro, while he instilled the value of higher education. Max had a special gift where he understood that to manage a work force, you simply needed to show respect to others and not ask others to do anything that you would not be willing to do. This ideology of never putting yourself above others won him respect and admiration amongst coworkers and furthered his career overseas to China where he continued to be a tremendous leader demonstrating that a caring heart can overcome any language barrier.

Max loved his time living in Taiwan and working in China, as well as a special trip that he took with Terry to London, Paris, and Rome in the Winter of 1972. He was a self-taught genius in house construction and renovation. And he enjoyed his summers “puttering around” numerous summer camps in Maine and New Hampshire that his children attended while growing up—compliments of Terry who was the Camp Nurse.

Outside of work, Max loved animals and had several beloved pets of all kinds including ducks, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, and a raccoon. He loved the Boston Red Sox whom he followed faithfully and also enjoyed opera especially Pavarotti, and the Three Tenors and listening to the symphony.

Max was a trusted brother, respected father, and loving grandfather and great-grandfather who was quick to playfully tease them on one hand, while equally quick to encourage and support their educations on the other.

Services will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Dr. Gerald E. Schumacher, 83, of Wellesley, died on February 20, 2021,  after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Known fondly to all as Jerry, Schumacher is survived by his wife of 54 years, Florence Steinberg Schumacher, and his children: Paul Schumacher, Winter Bonnin and her husband John, David Schumacher, his late son Evan Schumacher’s wife Suzanne Schumacher; grandchildren Jamie, Luke, Jake, Sari, and Sophie Schumacher, Alex and Zack Bonnin, Jeremy Snider and his wife Katie; and two great-grandchildren, Abigail and Ethan Snider. He is also survived by his brother, Larry Schumacher, several nephews and a large extended family.

A giant in the field of pharmacy education, Schumacher was a distinguished professor at Northeastern University for more than 30 years, including serving as Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health. He was a trailblazer in pharmacy education, authoring a textbook, numerous book chapters, and hundreds of scholarly articles and clinical presentations. An annual award in his name is given to a professor at Northeastern showing significant contributions to the field.  He is remembered for his tireless scholarship and teaching, as well as his trademark understated wit and kind nature.

Jerry Schumacher was born on May 24, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan. He was the older son of Alex and Frances Schumacher. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, where his father owned a drugstore. He spent many hours in the store, developing at an early age a lifelong interest in the field of pharmacy. As a teenager, Schumacher’s family relocated to Los Angeles. There he developed a passion for music, a talent he nurtured over the years to become a professional jazz saxophone and clarinet player.

Dr. Schumacher attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California where he graduated from the School of Pharmacy with a PharmD.  In college, the multi-talented Schumacher studied hard, played in the USC marching band, and supported himself playing jazz gigs and ghostwriting stories for published authors. After he graduated, he worked in the UCLA pharmacy, rising to senior manufacturing pharmacist. It was here that he met Florence Steinberg, a UCLA sophomore. They were married in 1966.

That same year, Schumacher accepted a teaching position at the University of Toledo, beginning an outstanding academic career. During this time, Schumacher’s prodigious capacity for scholarship and hard work was on full display. In addition to his full-time teaching responsibilities, Schumacher pursued his Ph.D. from Wayne State University, commuting 75 miles each way—all while starting a family. In 1969, son, Evan was born, followed by David in 1971. Jerry also had two children, Paul and Winter, from a prior marriage to Marti Stark Thompson.

In 1972,  Jerry achieved his doctorate from Wayne State University School of Pharmacy, and the college immediately offered him a professorship. By 1976, he was promoted to Deputy Dean of the college. By this point, Schumacher was establishing a reputation as a trailblazer in the field of clinical pharmacy. Schumacher believed passionately that pharmacists should not merely fill prescriptions, but they should also serve as active members of a patient’s clinical team, assisting patients by helping physicians choosing the most effective medication for their ailments.

In 1978, Northeastern University recruited Dr. Schumacher to Boston to serve as Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health. Jerry taught at Northeastern for 30 years, retiring in 2008 as professor emeritus. He educated thousands of pharmacists and produced an impressive body of scholarship. Schumacher authored a textbook, “Therapeutic Drug Monitoring,” in addition to hundreds of book chapters, peer-reviewed articles and clinical presentations.

Among his many awards and honors, Jerry was elected as the president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Along with his longtime colleague Judith Barr, he established the National Education and Research Center for Outcome Assessment in Health Care at Northeastern. His contributions to the field of  pharmacy were widely recognized over the years, receiving numerous awards, including the honor of distinguished alumnus from both USC and Wayne State. In perhaps his crowning achievement, in 1999 he was recognized by AACP for Outstanding Achievement and Contributions to Pharmaceutical Education. Notwithstanding this recognition, Schumacher always derived the greatest professional satisfaction from teaching. He taught a full course load during his entire tenure at Northeastern, and he believed in challenging his students—always with a dose of humor. In the words of a colleague:

“If I were to identify one word that best typifies Jerry Schumacher, it has to be the word excellence. He sets the highest standards for himself in everything he does. You can guarantee that if he is asked to speak on some subject in his field or on a topic of which he knows little about, he is going to thoroughly research that area and give you the best synopsis on the issue in that field that you’ve ever heard.”

The Schumachers and their beloved lab, Tippy, lived in Needham for 30 years before Jerry and his wife moved to Wellesley in 2008.

In 2007, at age 70, Jerry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. While his condition was manageable at first, it hastened his retirement from Northeastern. He spent his remaining 13 years with his beloved wife Florence and their extended family. He was a rabid sports fan, cheering on his beloved Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Northeastern Huskies, USC Trojans, and Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was also a lifelong aficionado of jazz, art, and enjoyed reading mysteries. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, such as watching his grandson Jamie’s baseball games and Luke’s theatrical performances. Schumacher had a special bond with his son, Evan, who died at age 46 from cholangiocarcinoma five years ago.

Gerald Schumacher is remembered as a Renaissance man who left a tremendous legacy in the field of pharmacy education where he devoted his many talents during a prestigious career.

Due to the pandemic, the funeral service will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Jerry’s name may be made to: The Gerald Schumacher Pharmacy Faculty Award Fund, Development Office,   Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115.

To view a recording of the service click here

Leonard “Lenny” Brunswick, age 66, died Friday, February 19, 2021 at the Kaplan Hospice Home from melanoma. Lenny is the dear son of Arlyne Brunswick and the late Sumner Brunswick. He is survived by his sisters Sharon Logan and her husband Rich, of Acton, MA, and Wendy Shulman and her husband Bill, of Needham, MA. He also leaves his nieces Stephanie, Susannah, Sophie, and nephew Simon.

Lenny, born with developmental disabilities and challenged by low vision, was a computer “geek”. He overcame so many obstacles as he rose to a job of responsibility as a computer “tech” with the U.S. Bankruptcy court in Boston where he proudly served for more than 13 years. Respected by his co-workers, Lenny retired after a severe stroke more than a decade ago left him partially paralyzed. Following months of rehabilitation, Lenny was able to gain back his independence moving to an apartment in Brookline where he enjoyed spending time on his computers, listening to music, exercising and going out for meals in the neighborhood with family.

Fiercely independent, proud and self-assured, Lenny spoke his mind freely to anyone and everyone.

His best times were in the summer, enjoying boating as a child and in later years spending summers with his family in Moultonborough, NH, where he would enjoy long drives through the area with one of the family dogs snuggled beside him.

One-of-a-kind personality, Lenny will be missed.

The funeral and Shiva will be private.

Donations in his memory may be made to the MSPCA.

Devorah Steinberg, 56, of West Roxbury, MA was a healer, a dancer, a giver, a mother, and a connector. Generous to a fault, she extended herself with kindness to her son, family, friends, and clients in her Jamaica Plain therapy and coaching practice. She died on February 18, 2021, from complications of scleroderma. 

A native of Spring Valley, NY, she made the Boston area her home for her entire adult life. She was thrilled when she became pregnant with her son Joshua, and gave her heart and soul as a single mom for fifteen years. She often called Josh “Little Buddha,” and said he was her favorite person on earth, completely separate from being her child.

In addition to her son Josh, Devorah leaves behind her mother Harriet Gerstenfeld of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, father Alan Steinberg and step-mother, Madelyn Steinberg of Hallandale Beach, FL,  brother Keith Steinberg of Washington, DC, her dear friend Steve Gordon of Newton, MA, as well as her beloved son’s father, Bryant Kaplan, who are working together to ensure that Devorah’s wishes for her son are fulfilled. She was predeceased by her stepfather, Jack Gerstenfeld.

Devorah graduated from the University of Vermont in 1986, and the Simmons School of Social Work in 1991. A few years after completing her social work degree, she launched her private psychotherapy practice, where she transformed her clients’ lives for 25 years with insight, patience, and profound empathy. She was a constant learner with a passion for body/mind connection, including completing training in spiritual integrative hypnotherapy, body-based trauma treatment, spiritual counseling, meditation, and divorce mediation, and became a certified yoga instructor at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Stockbridge.

Devorah cultivated an enduring network of women friends who sustained, fed, and cherished her during her battle with scleroderma. She was a deeply spiritual person who, over the years, belonged to Temple Israel, Temple Beth Zion, and most recently, Temple Shalom in Newton. She was an explorer of many faith traditions and alternative healing practices.

Devorah embraced life fully. She travelled the world, including recent trips to Iceland, Israel, and Costa Rica. She was a tenacious and accomplished athlete, completing triathlons and other ambitious hiking and biking expeditions. She loved swimming in any body of water, most recently at the Hyde Park YMCA pool, and attended New England Dance Camp each summer for decades, where she danced with abandon. She was a Beatles lover, a practitioner of gratitude, and an open-hearted hostess who found tremendous joy in producing vats of delicious homemade lentil soup to feed all who gathered in her warmth.

Devorah’s legacy is a voice of unconditional love that will continue to speak in the hearts and minds of all who knew her.

Donations in Devorah’s name may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923.

a link to be view the recording of the funeral service can be found here

Esther Finn-Of Framingham, on February 18, 2021. Devoted mother of Matthew Finn and his wife Jennifer, and the late Amy Finn. Dear grandmother of Alex and Jason. Private graveside services on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

Livestream on Sunday February 21, 2021 at  3:00 pm

To watch the funeral service recording, please click here