Obituaries

Barbra Of Stoughton formerly of Brighton and Newton, April 17, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Joseph L. Rubenstein. Loving mother of Cheryl and her husband Leo Ramirez, Steven and his wife Randee Rubenstein and Jodi and her husband Harold Moore. Devoted grandmother of Marisa, Lindsay, Jared and his girlfriend Sara, Arielle, Corey and his fiancé Amanda, Rachel and Lyle. Great-grandmother of Caitlin and Riley. Sister of the late Paul Bines, Pearl Snider and Carl Bines. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Graveside Service at Sharon Memorial Park will be private. Remembrances in memory of Barbara may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation @ alz.org.

Sidney Greenleaf was born in Norwich, Connecticut February 23, 1930 and passed away at Pines Edge skilled nursing facility on April 17, 2020. During his 90 years of life he pursued many interests and passions.

He grew up in Norwich, Connecticut where he became an avid outdoorsman and athlete. He attended Norwich Free Academy, and then played football and track on an athletic scholarship while attending the University of Connecticut. He graduated from UConn with a mechanical engineering degree. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, acting as a flight and test engineer. After the war he continued to fly and became a private pilot, as well as restoring several airplanes, including a World War I biplane and World War II flight trainer. He continued to fly throughout his life.

Following his military service and education he founded Greenleaf Engineers, working until his retirement in 2007. In 1985 he transitioned the firm to Architectural Engineers, and his daughter Robin Greenleaf became President, then CEO of the firm. His early work included projects with renowned international architects, including Marcel Breuer, Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo.

Sid was an Eagle Scout and dedicated years of service to the Boy Scouts. He was a cubmaster and then scoutmaster in Newton, Massachusetts for many years.

He continued to be an avid outdoorsman with his family, spending countless days fishing, camping, and hiking with them.

He also was a master craftsman; from building small model airplanes to a 42 foot wooden sailboat and 26 foot commercial fishing boat. Later in life he started rebuilding old military jeeps.

He was a serious conservationist and environmentalist. He fought to preserve wetlands in Massachusetts. For this he and his wife Carole received a prestigious environmental award.

Throughout his life he had a yearning for knowledge and learning. He was a professor at the Harvard graduate school of design, as well as the Boston Architectural College. In the later years of his life he took up writing poetry and painting.

He is survived by his daughter Robin Greenleaf and her husband Joel Goodmonson of Wayland, Mass., son Dr. Jonathan Greenleaf and his wife Lisa of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and son Steven Greenleaf and his wife Jill of Hopkinton, Mass. He is also survived by his grandchildren Julia, Madison, Zachary, Caroline, and Daniel.

Selma Possick-Age 100, of Chestnut Hill,on April 18, 2020.Beloved wife of the late Leo. Devoted mother of Jeffrey, Ronald and the late Kenny Possick. Dear grandmother of Lisa Gray, Lanna Burnette, Richard, Harrison and  David Possick and Lauren Possick. Also survived 5 great-grandchildren. Remembrances may be made to Newton Senior Center 345 Walnut St, Newton, MA 02460

Gail F. (Simmons) Pave, age 73, formerly of Holliston, MA, passed away at Newton Wellesley Center for Alzheimer’s Care Thursday April 16, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Alfred and Shirley Simmons and the beloved wife for 51+ years of her high school sweetheart, Norman Pave. She leaves behind two daughters, Stacey Vasko and her husband Joseph of Medway, MA, Lorri Kenney and her husband Robert of Rutland, MA, and one son, Andrew Pave and his wife Carmel of Needham, MA. Also five grandchildren, Alexandra and Aidan Kenney, Rayah and Corey Vasko, and Maxwell Pave. Dear brother Elliott Simmons and his wife Glenda of North Carolina. She will also be remembered by her many friends and extended family for her empathy, her laughter, and her devotion to family. Services will be private, and there will be a Memorial Service after the current crisis. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452 or online at act.alz.org

Neuman, Herbert, Age 91, of Needham, formerly of Concord, passed away on April 14, 2020. He is survived by his loving longtime partner, Nelly (Juri) Carbonell, of Concord and his daughter, Ruth Levenson, and her husband, Andrew, of Framingham. Beloved grandfather of Leah S. and Jacob A. Levenson. Predeceased by his son, David R. Neuman. Herbert was born in Vienna, Austria, and fled to New York with his mother, Rosa (Schlesinger), at age 11. There, they were later joined by his father, Paul. Rosa passed away in 1943. Herbert attended the City College of New York and was a 1958 graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar. Herbert began his career in Retailing at Burdine’s in Florida and then worked for many years for Zayre Corp. in Framingham as a Merchandise Manager. Later, Herbert operated his own company where he supplied inventory to the growing “Dollar Store” industry. He was also a strong supporter of the State of Israel and was recognized by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies for his work. In his spare time, Herbert was an avid sailor and kept his boat, the “Nelly,” at Pickering Wharf in Salem. In retirement, he kept active reading and playing bridge. He particularly enjoyed fine dining avidly following the Red Sox. Funeral services and shiva will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to Combined Jewish Philanthropies at cjp.org

Walter “Wally” Nadel, of blessed memory, was born in Brooklyn, New York and passed from Covid-19 virus complications on April 17 at the age of 95.

Beloved husband of the late Lois (Sutterman) Nadel, and father to Melinda Strauss and Paul Nadel, Wally was the son of Joseph and Zelda (Metz) Nadel. He grew up with his late sisters Ruth Nadel and Julie Zimney, and was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his two children, his sister Bonnie Ohnstein, his grandchildren Jonah Strauss, Eliana Southworth, Micah Strauss, and Alanna Harris, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In the last year of his life, he welcomed his two great-grandchildren into this world, Arden Leigh Southworth and Talon Zamir Cunha Strauss. Wally was embraced and respected by his in-law children and grandchildren, Linda Monko, Jeanine Nadel, David Strauss, Charles Southworth, Maria Cunha and Sil Lesnick.

Wally grew up in modest circumstances in Brooklyn. As a young adult, he moved to Chicago where he met his future wife Lois. He enlisted in the army to finish out the end of World War II as a supply sergeant guarding the Aleutian islands on the farthest western tip of Alaska. Upon returning from the Army he settled in Chicago, began a 30+ year career at Deluxe CheckPrinters, married Lois, and started a family.

Wally and Lois were devoted to building a stable and secure life for their family and worked diligently in pursuit of creating a wonderful home. After living in the Chicago area for 20 years, they had the opportunity to try out life in Southern California where they lived for 15 years and then returned to the East coast where they eventually settled in the Boston area to be near their daughter’s family and enjoyed being attentive grandparents.

In retirement from Deluxe, Wally and Lois opened a Wallpaper Studio and, combining their extensive talents, enjoyed being successful entrepreneurs.
An avid lifelong learner, Wally strongly identified with his Jewish roots and devoted himself to leading two havurah groups where he took pride in preparing extensive presentations on Jewish
culture and history.

As an enthusiastic historian, Wally created a website page to document and share his service in WW II, reflecting the experience of many for whom their military time created a lifelong bond and shaped the Greatest Generation’s legacy to their children and country. https://eubank-web.com/Donald/Aleutian/Nadel/index.html
A passionate advocate for social justice and American democracy, Wally wrote letters to newspaper editors to advocate for legal separation of church and state, gave small copies of the US Constitution as gifts, and led current events discussion groups at an assisted living facility.

He approached his growing and expanding family with an open heart and mind as he witnessed and embraced the myriad of diverse cultural shifts that occurred during his lifetime.
In all his close and casual connections, Wally was outgoing and always helpful, engaging everyone he met in lively conversation. He will be missed.

Wally supported the legal work of the Southern Poverty Law Center to monitor and fight hate groups. Donations to honor Wally’s memory may be made to https://donate.splcaction.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1549 or SPLC, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.

Due to the current need for social distancing, there will be a small private graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park on April 19. Family and friends will receive virtual Shiva visitors in days following.

Lois A. Boreen, 85, Friday, April 10, 2020. Daughter of the late Walter Golwyn and Betty (Subin) Golwyn. Wife of the late Henry I. Boreen. Loving mother of Stuart and his wife Joan of Bethlehem, PA and Susan Hailman and her husband Eric of Lexington, MA, and grandmother of Kevin and Michael Boreen and Joshua and Alexander Hailman. Sister of the late Dr. Daniel Golwyn. Beloved Aunt and Great Aunt. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lois earned a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Temple University’s Teachers’ College. She worked as a hospital dietitian and an educator. A “people person” and a lifelong learner, her interests included spending time with family and friends, travel, gardening, crafting, and reading. Her warmth, generous nature, humor, curiosity, and sense of fun will be greatly missed. Private services are being held. Donations in Lois’s memory may be made to Hadassah or to the medical research organization of your choice.

Janet “Jennie” Kessin was born in Newburyport, MA to Rebecca “Bayla” (Cossin) and Nathan “Nuchem” Barth, both from Kremenets Gubernia, now in western Ukraine. Janet grew up in the West End of Boston, and lived for a time in Chelsea, Roxbury, and Dorchester. When World War II began, Janet left Girls’ High School to enroll in the Civil Service. She was assigned to the Charlestown Navy Yard and later to the South Boston Dry Docks, where she oversaw the tools department – a true version of “Rosie the Riveter.” She married Murray in 1943 and followed him to South Carolina where he began his military service. While he received training as a medic before he was sent to the Philippines, she worked to repair uniforms on the base. After the war, Murray and Janet established the Hub Glassware Company, a hotel and restaurant equipment supply in Boston. Janet and Murray lived in West Roxbury for about 15 years before moving to Newton. After retiring from the Hub Glassware company, Janet rose each day at 6:30 to work as a volunteer at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was twice recognized as “Volunteer of the Year.” She was also active in the Jewish War Veterans Post 211.She was the first female to receive their “Man of the Year” award and to honor her, in 2008, they had to change the name of the award from “Man of the Year” to “Person the Year.” She retired from her work at Brigham and Women’s in her early 90’s . Janet was a member of Temple Emeth and Temple Beth Avodah, a life member of Hadassah and a member of numerous other organizations. Janet also was a tireless campaigner for local, state and presidential democratic figures and could always be seen at the polls holding signs for her candidates. Janet leaves a son Robert A. of Seattle Washington, a daughter Elizabeth Kessin Berman (Daniel M. Berman) of Nahant, MA and a granddaughter, Reena Lynne Berman (John E. McManus) of Denver, CO. She also leaves one surviving brother, William “Maxie” Barth of Stoughton, MA. In addition raising her family and working in the Hub Glassware CO., she never refused an opportunity to make the world a better place. She would have turned 100 on June 22.

Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet’s memory may be made to the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Volunteer Fund, the Massachusetts State Democratic Committee or the Democratic National Committee.

Of Newton April 15, 2020.  Beloved son of the late Albert and Denise (Colitz) Kramer. Husband of Marjory Fair-Kramer. Loving father of Ariel Rubin, Melissa Rubinsky and Carolyn Kramer. Proud grandfather of Shai, Talya, Lev, Adina and Aaron. Brother of Deborah Kramer Zamcheck and Lauren Teller. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eric’s memory to Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, 1200 Centre St, Boston, MA 02131. Graveside Service at Sharon Memorial Park will be private. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. 

Fred Shapiro passed away peacefully at home in Newton on Friday, April 17, 2020.

He was the devoted husband for 62 years of the late Ruth (Winick) Shapiro very proud father of Audrey and Mark Robinson of Wayland and Janet and Ralph Feinberg of Newton. Beloved Zayda of Andrew and Michael Robinson and Jordan Feinberg.

Fred was born in Boston on May 17, 1932 and raised Dorchester by Russian immigrant parents, Myer and Zena (Karp) Shapiro, with his devoted and adored sister, Laura Shapiro Hyman.

After studying at Roxbury Latin High School, Fred joined his father in their family upholstery business in Brighton Centre.  He and Ruth worked tirelessly to grow their family of businesses to include their daughter Janet, together becoming Boston’s premier home decor fabric retailer. Fred was fondly known as the King of Foam, then became the Famous (and Friendly) Freddy Farkel, expanding with stores in Avon and Watertown.   His proud collection of business names and divisions included, The Fabric Showplace, Decorative Fabrics and then, after many years of research and tenacity with his cousin, Barry Shapiro, developed and produced a line of completely  chemical free – earth friendly sustainable upholstered sofas and chairs known “world wide” as Furnature.  Fred’s unending desire to help others and his innate interest in becoming a doctor, voraciously reading and discussing with hundreds if not thousands of people who suffered from multiple chemical sensitivites and allergies, fueled his drive to work until he was no longer able to drive or walk by himself to his desk.

Fred and his beloved Ruthie  were founding members of Temple Beth Avodah in Newton.  He sang in the choir for many years and will fondly be remembered by his large temple family for his lovely and powerful rendition of Kol Nidre. He proudly shared this honor with his youngest grandson, creating yet another full circle of love, family and community through Temple. He was fortunate to travel the world with his wife and their many friends, telling elaborate stories of their wonderful experiences. Due to the current health crisis, funeral services and shiva are private.In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Temple Beth Avodah, Music Fund or Sustaining Membership fund, or to the charity of your choice.