Obituaries

Jon Barron-of Chestnut Hill, MA, December 23, 2020. Arrangements pending

Lorraine Edith (Atkins) Abkowitz, 88, formerly longtime resident of Lexington, MA passed away peacefully on December 23, 2020 after a short battle with COVID-19. Loving daughter of her beloved and deceased parents, Nathan and Ruth (Barenberg) Atkins and dear wife of 63 years to her predeceased husband, Stanley Abkowitz. The two met on Revere Beach and fell in love.  Beloved mother to Miles Abkowitz and wife, Donna O’Leary-Abkowitz; Susan Abkowitz and spouse, Donna Rouleau; and Robin Feiner and husband, Adam Feiner. Proud grandmother of Sarah Torrice (daughter of Miles and Donna) and husband, David; Andrew Feiner and partner, Rachel; Jessica Feiner and fiancé, Eric, and Jason Feiner and partner, Sienna.

Lorraine was a graduate of the Chelsea High School class of 1950 and studied Communications at Emerson College. She also studied performing arts and modeling at the Powers School in Boston. She had a calling for the stage, and was an avid music lover, pianist and talented singer. She performed, for decades, with Choral ensembles including Sweet Adelines, Makhaylah, and Lexington Pops and in community theater productions. With a forte in Language Arts, she enjoyed working in the Lexington schools for many years and later was a volunteer tutor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Lorraine and her husband, Stanley, were members of Temple Emunah since 1962 and were involved in the early building and growth of the synagogue. She was also a dedicated participant in both Sisterhood and Hadassah.

Clever, word-savvy and not camera shy, Lorraine loved to recall her appearances on the TV game show, Concentration, hosted by Hugh Downs in 1966 where she solved the puzzles to win two games, taking home cash and prizes including a trip to Bermuda. With a passion for travel, Lorraine enjoyed family vacations, joined Stanley at business conventions, and took special trips to London, Monaco, and Alaska with her daughter, Susan. She also enjoyed group tours to Israel, Italy, and Greece.

Lorraine delighted in the joy of her family during the many holiday gatherings at the homes of her son, Miles and daughter, Robin. She had a large circle of friends, a strong sense of community, and was known for her great sense of humor right to the end, despite challenges with dementia.

A funeral service with her closest loved ones was held graveside at Sharon Memorial Park, led by Rabbi Lerner. The family would like to thank the caring staff at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, as well as the loving staff at Atrium at Drum Hill in N. Chelmsford. Lorraine will be greatly missed by her family, colleagues, and community, but the memory of her vibrant spirit will endure.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following philanthropies: Abkowitz Family Israel and Camp Scholarship Fund to Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington, MA 02421, Healthcare Heroes Emergency Response Fund at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, or Actors Fund (help for the Entertainment community COVID-19 emergency relief).

Charles (Chick, Poppa) Heinberg of Stoughton, MA, died on December 21, 2020 under the extraordinary care of CareOne Senior Care in Newton, MA. He was 75 years old.

Chick was born in New York on March 30, 1945, the son of the late Freda and Howard Heinberg, brother of Gary and the late Neil Heinberg, and brother in-law of Robert Schecter. He was proud of being a graduate of Valley Stream North High School of New York, Cornell University of New York, and the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in Michigan. He began his career as an associate dentist with Dr. Paul Sowsy in East Bridgewater MA, and opened his private general practice in 1975.

He was the loving husband of his wife, Jeri (Schecter) of 53 years, devoted father to Ami and her husband Matthew Cecil, and Poppa to his grandsons, Samuel Oliver Cecil and Maxwell David Cecil. He was an avid gardener and landscaper, and derived great pleasure as a property developer and manager. He was an aficionado of the Dunkin’ Donuts at Cobb Corner in Canton, where he met ‘the guys’ daily.  He took special joy in taking his two grandsons for Sunday breakfasts, and sharing dinner and gatherings with friends.

Funeral services will be private and graveside on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon. Donations in his memory may be made to Temple Sinai of Sharon, Hesed Fund, 25 Canton St., Sharon, MA 02067, Care-One Newton, 2101 Washington St., Newton, MA 02462, or First Choice Healthcare Hospice Services, 1842 Beacon St., Ste. 203, Brookline MA 02445.

Helen Barbara Wellinger-Of Peabody, formerly of Lexington on December 20, 2020.Dear daughter of the late Max and Annie (Heartz) Feld. Dear brother of  Gerald Feld. Loving aunt  of Jonah and the late Gabriel. Private graveside services were held at Westview Cemetery, Lexington.

Sarah Tobin, 95, of Quincy, formerly of Canton, MA, passed away on December 20, 2020. Loving wife of the late Frank Tobin. Devoted aunt of Diana Weiner. Due to the pandemic the interment will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Stephen M. Needle, 74, of Braintree, MA passed away at his home with his family by his side on December 19, 2020.

Stephen, son of Joseph and Charlotte (Leppo) Needle was raised in Milton, MA.  He graduated from Suffolk University earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then Suffolk Law School earning a Juris Doctorate degree.  From 1973 through 1981 he was an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County, Boston, MA.  He later went on to be a sole practitioner as a Real Estate Attorney in Randolph and then Canton, MA.  He worked hard and built warm and trusting relationships with many.

Stephen enjoyed spending time with his family, which included taking cruises and going out for Chinese food.  He loved observing the Jewish holidays with his family at his home.

Stephen was the loving companion of Susan A. Gaber. Devoted father of Lisa May and Jeremy Needle. Adoring and Loving Papa to Brett Mordas, Brady May, Camden and Maya Needle.  Loving brother of Audrey Richardson and Michael Needle.  Loving son of Charlotte and the late Joseph Needle.  Stephen was predeceased by his grandfather Jake Leppo and grandmother, Mollie Leppo.

Due to the pandemic, services are private.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html

To view the service click here: https://viewneral.zoom.us/rec/play/WaGzplz0WrB1ZWMNdGG5xPcPuvYV9LLNRDI_hQf_i_Ay6cGdc3t7K2nfB7Wo5juX2x3cJ-7s8tj3M66c.Hk4gcVM-x-yZOvxv

Linda S. Weinberg- of Roslindale, formerly of Brookline, passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, 2020 at the age of 68. Linda was born in Miami Beach, Florida. After graduating from Miami Beach High School, Linda attended the University of Florida. One of her greatest accomplishments was graduating with a degree of fine arts. Beloved daughter of the late Louis Weinberg and Anne (Ritter) Weinberg. Devoted and adored sister of Arlene (Weinberg) Lehane of Brookline, MA. Linda is also survived by her loving nephews, Blaize of California and Aaron of Boston. Linda faced life’s challenges with strength, resolve and grace. She never wavered, nor complained. Due to the current restrictions of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the service and interment at Shara T’Filo Cemetery, West Roxbury was private. . Donations in Linda’s memory may be made to the Pappas Center Brain Donation Program at MGH.

Of Wayland Ma, formerly of Long Beach Island, NJ, passed away peacefully at the Newbridge skilled nursing care center on December 16, 2020.

After graduating from Douglass College, Millie taught 10th grade Biology for nearly 30 years. Millie loved life and lived it to her fullest. She never wavered nor complained and enjoyed every stage of life.

As a breast cancer survivor, she stayed active in helping others deal with their road to recovery. Donations may be made in her memory to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Herbert L. Turney, of Wayland and Mashpee, MA, died peacefully in the early morning of December 15th. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Deborah M. Turney.

Herbert, son of David and Midred (Niman) Turney, was raised in Chelsea, MA before attending Brandeis University and Boston College Law School. Upon graduation from law school, he joined the Advice Branch at the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. and later in Boston. From there, he began his lifetime career in the private practice of labor and employment law, starting at the firm of Benjamin Gordon. He joined Widett, Slater & Goldman P.C. where he became a partner, leaving in 1993 to join the Boston office of Jackson Lewis P.C. In 2008, he retired as a partner of Jackson Lewis and became in-house special counsel at Milton Cat (Southworth-Milton Inc.) a long-time client from his earlier lawyering days. He leaves a legacy of building warm and trusting relationships, and always striving to build bridges between labor and management.

Herbert spent summers at Cape Cod, playing golf with his buddies, taking long walks over the bridge at Popponesset, and following a ritual of late afternoon beach visits with his family and friends. He loved music, sang in the Temple Beth Elohim choir and Sharim, and was known to belt out a Bob Dylan song or two on guitar. His love for music was shared by his family and his daughters all followed in his footsteps of singing and playing guitar.

He is survived by his three loving daughters and their spouses, Linda and Ira Skolnik, Dana and Jay Hagenbuch, and Beth and Jon Rutchik. Herbert was an adoring and loving “Papa” to five grandchildren, Jonah and Zara Skolnik, Mo and Samuel Hagenbuch, and Rex Rutchik, and his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Mark Ibsen.

Herbert will be laid to rest in a private funeral on Sunday, December 20th followed by an evening shiva on Zoom. Please contact Temple Beth Elohim for shiva information. Donations in his memory can be made to Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Robert (Bob) Warshawer, 88, of Lexington MA, died peacefully on Wednesday December 9, 2020. Bob is survived by the love of his life, his beloved wife of 65 years Natalie Warshawer; son Steven Warshawer of Santa Fe, NM; daughter Marcy Ostrow and her husband Matthew of Worcester, MA; daughter Ina Lerner and her husband Rob of Midland, MI; grandchildren Rachel, Emma, Sam, Naomi, Madeline, Abigail, and Lily; great grandchildren Desmond, Petra, Margot, and Reuben.

Bob, the son of Leon and Frances (Goldberg) Warshawer, was born on April 19, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY.  He spent many years involved in the Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and then the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a proud graduate of the class of 1954, and later earned his Master’s Degree from Northeastern University.  During his college years he was a proud member of The National Society of Scabbard and Blade.  Bob remained active in the MIT Alumni Association throughout his life.

Bob and Natalie were introduced to each other by their mothers when they were teenagers.  They married in 1955 while Natalie was completing her studies at Brandeis University, and then it was off to Air Force Pilot Training in Oklahoma and Texas.  Once he got his wings, he spent two years flying navigational training missions.  After the Air Force, they settled in Lexington, MA where they raised their family and added to their circle of lifelong, dear friends.  The strength of Natalie and Bob’s loving bond is a comfort to their family, who will miss him greatly.

Bob’s legacy was expansive and included a career in engineering management in the aerospace and electronics industry, ultimately retiring from GTE in 1988.  After framing Natalie’s artwork for many years, he opened his own business, Warshawer Custom Picture Frames.  He was a Master Picture Framer as well as an artist in his own right.  He taught framing at the deCordova Museum and adult education classes in Cambridge.  He and Natalie were founding members of Temple Emunah in Lexington. He served on the Town of Lexington Historic District Commission, and was a past president and active member of the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. He was also a member of the Cambridge Art Association and a proud supporter of Depot Square Artists.  Bob was an avid squash player and bowler, and the best conversationalist there ever was.  He had lively, pleasant, and extensive chats with everyone he ever met.

The family thanks Daniel Luzzi, Rosete Semakula, and Florence Batte for their kind caregiving.

Please read the 2012 article, “Lexington Framer, Painter Enjoy Picture Perfect Marriage.”  This article perfectly encapsulates the loving bond between Bob and Natalie.

A private graveside service will be held at Beit Olam East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Rd., Lexington, MA 02421 or a charity of your choice.

To view service click here: https://viewneral.zoom.us/j/94882849158?pwd=L2VhOStGeHgyZk1nQWt5MFVoZmhwQT09