Obituaries

Sara Kotler, of Franklin, MA, passed away on July 5, 2020, after a courageous battle with endometrial cancer. She was 74 years old. Originally from Long Beach, NY, and then Manalapan, NJ, Sara was the daughter of the late Bernard & Adele Grossman and sister to the late Barbara Rabkin. Above all else, family was at the core of Sara’s life. She had no greater joy in life than spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. She was the beloved wife of Edwin Kotler, loving mother of Jayme & Steve Faberman and David Kotler & Meg Julian, and the proud Nanny of Adam & Lauren Faberman and Andrew, Emily & Jack Kotler. Sara will be laid to rest at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland. Funeral arrangements will be private due to the current restrictions. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sara may be made to support endometrial cancer research and treatment at MGH Cancer Center. Gifts can be made in two ways: (1) online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/, and please specify under “Additional Details” that donations be sent to the MGH Medical Gynecology Oncology Program.; or (2) if by check, please make payable to Massachusetts General Hospital, c/o Heidi Bergmeyer, MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114, and please note “In Memory of Sara Kotler” in the check memo.

David Proctor-It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Proctor, of Newton, MA and Boca Raton, FL.  David passed away at age 86 on July 3, 2020.  He was the son of Archie and Eva Proctor and brother to the late Marjorie Driben.  After graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he served as a navigator in the Airforce for 3 years returning to complete his MBA from Boston University. David then joined his father in their family Insurance Agency, A.A. Proctor & Co.  David leaves behind the love of his life, his wife, Marilyn (Sacks) Proctor, 3 children, Alan, Sue and Ken, along with 8 grandchildren.Funeral services will be private due to the current restrictions.  If you wish to honor David’s memory, please make a donation to The Richard Todd Sacks Jewish Life Education Fund (RTSJLE Fund) c/o Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave Needham 02494 or on line at tbsneedham.org/donate

Charlotte  Goos-Of  Naples, Fl,on July 2, 2020.Arrangements pending.

Arons, Ruth E. (Langbort), of Attleboro, formerly of Quincy, MA, and Weymouth, MA on June 27, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Morton Arons. Loving mother of Howard Arons of Canton, MA. Proud grandmother of Amanda and Zachary. Services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to the National Rosacea Society, 196 James St., Barrington, IL 60010.

Alan Biren, of Sudbury, MA, passed away after a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer on June 28, 2020. He was 71 years old.

Originally from Roslyn, NY, son of the late Fred & Bernice Biren, Alan moved to Boston in 1967 to study business at Northeastern. He fell in love with the city and never left. Ever the entrepreneur, Alan started A.J. Biren & Company – A Marketing & Promotions business he ran for nearly 50 years. Alan’s magnetic personality attracted people from all walks of life, and he treated everyone with dignity, kindness and respect. He was humble, hardworking, and generous in both the causes he championed, and the lifelong friendships he cultivated. Alan lived a life full of happiness and was beloved by all who knew him. His greatest joy was spending time with his family.

Alan is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Randi; his son Joshua; daughter Jessica and her husband, Jason Magid; He is also survived by siblings Bonnie Thibodeau and Barry Biren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Alan will be laid to rest at Beit Olam Cemetery in Wayland. Funeral arrangements will be private due to the current restrictions. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alan can be made to support Pancreatic Cancer research at one of the following institutions:
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Massachusetts General Hospital, under the direction of Dr. David Ryan at the MGH Cancer Center: MGH Development Office, C/o Megan Daniels, 25 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114.

Dr. Brian Wolpin Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund for early detection at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Gifts can be made online at www.dana-farber.org/gift; or by check made payable to Dana-Farber with memo “In memory of Alan Biren” and sent to: Hillary D. Repucci, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & the Jimmy Fund. Division of Philanthropy, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445.

Salden- Beatrice (Lederman), 91 years young, of Randolph. Beloved wife of 62 years to the late Max Salden. Devoted mother of Maureen, Cheryl and her husband James, and Howard. Loving grandma of Adam (Sarah), Joshua, Felicia, Benjamin, and Mitchell. Cherished twin sister of Leonard Lederman of Delray Beach, Florida, and the late Bella (Samuel) Noller, Ann (Benjamin) Cohen, Beryl (Gertrude) Lederman, Samuel (Dora) Lederman, and Ruth (Morris) Yarmaloff. Devoted sister- in -law of the late Edith and Herman Gaines, and Eleanor and Mondel Morril. Loving aunt to generations of beloved nieces and nephews. Private graveside service will be held at Temple Emeth Memorial Park. Memorial week will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple B’nai Tikvah, 1301 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021.

Susan Carol Miller was born on May 31, 1956. She grew up in Newton, MA and graduated Newton South High School and cum laude from Brandeis University. She died on June 13, 2020 after a long illness. She was the loving daughter of Marline and the late Marvin Miller; sister to Michael and his wife Heather Ayares and devoted aunt to their two children San and Nina.

In addition to being a voracious reader, she was an avid writer of poetry, prose, and frequently of passionate letters to elected officials. She attended demonstrations and other events in support of the causes she believed in. She was a brilliant, funny, gentle person who championed women’s rights and abhorred violence in any form whether directed at people or animals. She loved English literature, British TV comedies, music, and cats. Donations in her memory may be made to any organization made for peace or defending women’s rights. Funeral arrangements are private.

1934 – 2020

Katz, Paul of Dedham, passed on Monday, June 22, 2020. Born on May 17, 1934 to the late Rose and Abraham Katz, Paul graduated Roxbury Memorial High School and Northeastern University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957. Paul’s legacy is the parents, nine siblings, and dozens of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces and nephews who “Uncle Paul” supported and loved unconditionally and who cherished him for his fierce loyalty to his family, his generous, caring, grateful, and incredibly fun spirit, and his model integrity and values. Paul was the epitome of “cool”. A phenomenal, multi- team sport athlete, he became the number two-ranked handball player in the country. As a born motivator, Paul’s career centered on the strength and conditioning of professional athletes, including the New England Patriots and professional Boxers. The brother of the late Maishe Katz, Victor Katz, Ann Katz, Martha Bloom, Shelley Cohen, Etta Kerman, and Susan Holstein, Paul is survived by his loving devoted sisters, Merle Ratner from Canton and Claire Stearns from Needham, and sister-in-law Susan Katz from Fayetteville. NY. He was married to Elena Malin Katz of Dedham. Beloved by his family and friends, Paul will be missed more than words can say. Paul will be laid to rest in a private ceremony. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to Hebrew Senior Life (www.hebrewseniorlife.org) or to the charity of your choice.

Dr. Burt D. Stern, passed away on May 18, 2020 due to complications of COVID-19 at age 85. He was a devoted father to his children Melisa and Steven and his granddaughter Natalie. He was born and raised in Flushing, NY by his parents Abraham and Norma (Lesser) Stern, who pre-deceased him. He was also pre-deceased by his former wife Nancy & son-in-law Mark.

Burt was a very humble but brilliant man. He graduated from NYU in 3 years. The state of NY awarded him the Chancellor’s prize that would have allowed him to attend any NY state graduate school free of all costs, but he preferred to attend Harvard School of Dental Medicine. As Harvard also wanted him the school offered him an all-inclusive scholarship which he accepted. He graduated in the top 10% of the class of 1959. He furthered his specialization with a degree in Periodontology from a joint program at the dental schools of University of Pennsylvania and Boston University. He then sat for his boards to become a Board-Certified Periodontist. Then his alma mater Harvard recruited him to be an Associate professor. Eventually he opened his own private practice specializing in Periodontics in Needham where he practiced for over 30 years. He formed life-long friendships with many of his former classmates, students, professors, and patients.

While Burt was an accomplished periodontist, his most cherished roles were being a father & grandfather. For years he drove his daughter to school while they sang together during the ride. One of our favorites was “This Land is My Land”. Burt was always supportive & involved in his son’s life. He coached the “Bill Terry’s” Little League team & marched with them in Needham’s 4th of July parade. He was thrilled to become “Grandpa” when his granddaughter was born only 4 days after his own birthday. They became close as he was one of her weekly babysitters until she started kindergarten. He was one of Natalie’s most devoted fans attending all her dance recitals, plays & musicals. Going out for ice cream was one of his favorite family activities. Contributions in Burt’s memory to Harvard School of Dental Medicine would be most appreciated by his family, https://hsdm.harvard.edu/giving

January 30, 1927 – June 21, 2020

Ruth grew up in Chelsea, MA during the Depression. She married David Freedman after World War II who she had known since grade school. She accompanied him to Iowa where she worked as a nurse’s aid, while David got his degree. They settled in Brighton where they started a family and later moved to Wayland, where Ruth used her creativity to design a custom home. Along with caring for her family, Ruth pursued her artistic and creative interests including dance, sculpting, painting and stained glass producing a large body of work that is now shared by her family and their friends. Her lifelong commitment to helping others included, volunteering as a YMCA dance instructor in Brighton, as well as an aid at the Chelsea soldiers home and the Fernald School for people with developmental disabilities.

Ruth and David were avid travelers and journeyed to over 75 countries during their years together.

As a lifelong vegetarian, she remained active into her mid 80’s. Her youthful appearance parlayed into a career as an artist model at several museum schools. The DeCordova Museum in Lincoln was where she devoted time as both a student and artist’s model into her later years.

She is survived by her two children, Harley and his wife Ena, as well as Evan and her husband Barry, along with her grandchildren Mathew, Andrew, his wife Katie, and Dylan. Nieces and Nephews, Nita, Debra, Barry, Lance, Rebecca and their families.

In lieu of flowers donations in her name can be made to The Garden Club Fund at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, MA 02494 tbsneedham.org/donate or DeCordova Museum.51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln MA 01773 decordova.org/joi-give/give A celebration of her life will be held once we can all gather together safely again.