Obituaries

Charlotte (Aronson) Kaitz, age 93, passed away peacefully at her home in Needham, MA on January 25, 2020.   A decades-long resident of Newton, MA, she was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate of 63 years, Louis L. Kaitz. She is survived by her three daughters Suzi Kaitz, Sharon Kaitz, and Marsha Kaitz and their husbands Jonathan Katz, Jonathan Wilson, and Amit Boim; six loving grandchildren – Julia, Miranda, Adam, Gabriel, Jonathan, and Noa; and eight great-grandchildren.

Charlotte was known as a woman with style and elegance. She loved her family and home and put them first, above all. She was dedicated to Congregation Mishkan Tefila, where she found spiritual guidance in life, comfort in times of distress, and a social network filled with long-time, dedicated friends. Well-versed in and a collector of Judaica, she curated the museum at the synagogue and was dedicated to sharing it with others.  As a couple, Charlotte and Lou were involved in numerous community programs and philanthropic endeavors both in the United States and in Israel.  They founded the Louis and Charlotte Kaitz Boston University School of Medicine/Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School Exchange Program and were supporters of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Charlotte will be missed by many, and remembered and cherished by those who loved and knew her.

A service will be held at the Wilson Chapel, at 234 Herrick Rd, Newton on January 27, at 1:30 pm, followed by interment at the Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park at 2605 Centre St, West Roxbury.  Shiva will be at the home of Suzi Kaitz and Jonathan Katz after the funeral until 7 pm, Tuesday 1/28 and Wednesday 1/29, 4:30 – 8:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Charlotte’s memory to The National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 101A 1st Ave., Waltham, MA 02451, or to the charity of your choice.

Norman K. Hollenberg, M.D., Ph.D., of Brookline, a renowned leader in cardiovascular medicine and hypertension, passed away on January 15th, 2020, after a long illness. He spent his last days in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the institution that he loved and his academic home for 50 years. Dr. Hollenberg was Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Director of Research in Radiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He leaves a remarkable lasting legacy in renal medicine and hypertension.
Dr. Hollenberg was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Sonia and Irving Hollenberg. He was a member of one of the most illustrious medical families in Canada. Dr. Hollenberg earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Manitoba in Canada. His Ph.D. in Pharmacology was obtained under Professor Börje Uvnäs at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and Professor Mark Nickerson at the University of Manitoba and McGill University in Canada. After a medical residency in Winnipeg he completed his clinical education in Medicine and Nephrology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, under the tutelage of John Merrell, M.D., one of the founders of modern nephrology. These three men had an enormous influence on his approach to biology and medicine, his value system, and his dedication to academic pursuits.
From its beginning, Dr. Hollenberg’s career focused on the kidney. Over nearly 50 years of extensive and groundbreaking research solidified his position as one of the true giants in the regulation of the renal circulation in health and disease. He authored more than 600 publications, over half of which are original articles in the archived literature. His many accomplishments included documenting the factors (hormonal and environmental) that control the renal circulation, and describing how they translate into the body’s regulation and handling of sodium intake. He assessed how defects in this regulation lead to hypertension, kidney disease in diabetes and congestive heart failure. Much of his research was the product of decades of collaboration with Dr. Gordon Williams, also at the Brigham. Dr. Hollenberg shared the opinion that much of the productivity and fun in research came from that collaboration.
Dr. Hollenberg was a pioneer in the development of new agents to treat disease and reverse harmful adverse effects. He was the first person to administer an ACE inhibitor to an individual with congestive heart failure, when the prevailing wisdom was that this new drug would be fatal. The patient awoke and walked. As a consequence of his insights, Dr. Hollenberg’s research catalyzed the development of two important classes of drugs, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. Today they are prescribed to tens of millions of patients for the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease, particularly in diabetes mellitus.
Most recently Dr. Hollenberg’s research interests focused on the vascular effects of flavonoid-rich cocoa, a subject that married medical anthropology and the important arena of vascular responsiveness. Based on Dr. Hollenberg’s seminal research, a large clinical trial is underway to determine whether flavanols that are found in chocolate may confer health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and lowering the risk for cardiovascular disease.
In his role as Director of Research in the Department of Radiology, Dr. Hollenberg pursued interests in collateral arterial vessel growth and reactivity, prior probability as a determinant of diagnostic strategy, and the implications of genetics for the diagnostic process.
Beyond research, Dr. Hollenberg had a special interest in medical education and teaching. Over the decades, he mentored countless students and fellows, many of whom became professors and leaders in their communities around the world. He served as one of four Associate Editors at the New England Journal of Medicine for seventeen years, and spent an additional six years on the journal’s Editorial Board. He also served on the editorial boards of a dozen journals. He was Editor of the Atlas of Hypertension and Editor-In-Chief of Current Hypertension Reports.
Among the awards and honors he received, Dr. Hollenberg valued especially the Royal College of Physicians Gold Medal and Prize, and the Medical Writers Association of the American Medal and Prize for best medical book of the year, “Heart Facts,” co-authored with his daughter.
The world of medicine, and the nephrology and hypertension communities in particular, have lost one of its giants. Norman Hollenberg was truly one of the great leaders in renal medicine, serving as a beloved and irreplaceable mentor to countless students. He was witty and exceptionally eloquent, a consummate storyteller whose door was always open in welcome. Perhaps most important, the world has lost a kind, caring and gentle person and a true gentleman.
Dr. Michael Weber, a colleague, summarized well: “His wisdom was not just from books and learning, but from the heart, a profound understanding of the essence of life and how it can only be understood at an emotional level deep within us. He was a giant in his field of science and his wisdom and deep warmth, his exceptional ability to find deeper human meaning beyond the obvious, are legacies that will be treasured by many.”
Norman Hollenberg is survived by his daughter Ilana Hollenberg of Northborough, MA, his son, David Hollenberg of Eugene, Oregon and his beloved and loving wife of 35 years, Deborah Hollenberg, who stayed close by his side, caring for him with all her love and strength until he left us.

He was laid to rest in Newton Cemetery on Friday, January 24th surrounded by family, close colleagues, and friends on a day when the air was as gentle as he.

There will be a memorial service at Temple Israel in Boston, MA (parking on the Riverway) on March 22nd at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes to establish an endowed lectureship in Norman’s name and asks that donations be made to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to support the Department of Radiology. Memorial gifts can be made online at www.bwhgiving.org/hollenberg or checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women’s Hospital with “in memory of Norman K. Hollenberg, MD, PhD” in the memo line and sent to: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02116.

Janice Jurgrau, 84, of Framingham passed away peacefully on January 23, 2020. Janice was born in Brooklyn, NY. She was the beloved wife of the late Carl Jurgrau and loving sister to the late Renee Grossman. She is survived by her daughters, Melisse Gaffney and Fran Levergood and her husband Tom. She was the cherished grandmother of Kimberly and Craig Levergood and Carly and Adam Gaffney and her nieces Melanie and Francine. With her strong work ethic, she worked up until she was 78 years old at UBS Financial Services where she had many wonderful friends and coworkers. Janice was an avid reader, enjoyed bowling and was a mahjong player. Spending time with her family was the most important to her of above all.

Services at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, MA on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11 am, interment will follow at Framingham Natick Jewish Cemetery. Shiva will be held at the home of Fran and Tom Levergood, Monday, January 27, 2020 from 5-8 pm, Minyan at 6:45 pm

Donations in her memory may be made to the JHC Hospice, 646 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609.

Janice Of Delray Beach, FL., formerly of Brookline on Jan. 22, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Sidney Weinstein. Devoted father of Elliot Weinstein and his wife Adrianne Tubin and Nancy Railsback and her husband Parker. Dear grandmother of Zachary Weinstein and his wife Anna-Maija Webb, Danielle Weinstein, Michelle Wilson and her husband Nathan, and David Railsback and his wife Alison. Loving great-grandmother of Theo Weinstein, Owen Railsback, Vivian Wilson and Hailey Wilson. Sister of the late Irma Schnier. A private graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park. Remembrances in memory of Janice may be made to the Zachary Weinstein Special Needs Trust, 48 Damon Road, Needham, MA 02494.

Feinstein, Anita, Age 96,  passed away peacefully at her home at The Spring House Senior Living Community in Boston on January 21, 2020.  Mrs .Feinstein enjoyed more than 60 years of marriage to her best friend, Morris (Macy) Feinstein. She was the proud mother of 2 children, Sandi Jo Goddard of Portland Oregon, and Aline Shapiro and her husband Bill Weil of Santa Barbara, California. She was the beloved grandmother to Marla and David Aaron and Ethan Shapiro and great-grandmother to Max Nitke, Oliver Aaron, Carah and Jack Shapiro. She was a loving aunt to several nieces, nephews, Joan and Harry Goralnick, Jo Ann Brown, Joel and Susan Rice, Mona and Bruce Brown and their respective families. She is one of 3 siblings, the late Bea Rice and her oldest brother Leo Brown, who resides in West Palm Beach with his wife Inez. Mrs. Feinstein was born in Dorchester. She and her husband raised their daughters in Newton and then moved to Lexington where she and Macy were a vibrant and engaged part of the  Drummer Boy condominium community. When her children were grown she became an enthusiastic career woman, with roles as a candy rep for Blum’s Candy of San Francisco, and a representative for the cult 1970’s Aurora Clock by Kirsch + Hamilton. Her last job which she held until she was 90 was as a beloved member of the Artinian Jewelers sales team where she was known for her lovely way with customers.  She was deeply curious about anything and everything and adored the arts, fashion and politics, keeping on top of all of it with her subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times which she read cover to cover. When in her late 80’s she was given an iPad, she embraced emailing and Google with equal abandon, particularly relishing the ability to shop anywhere, anytime, for anything.  The funeral will be held graveside at Independent Pride of Boston, 19 Washington Street,  Woburn, Massachusetts, 01801 at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 24. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice in her name.

Lois Cone Lurie (1929-2020)

Lois Cone Lurie, age 90, died peacefully at her home in Madison, Wis., on January 18, 2020, a few weeks after celebrating the holidays with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. She was born Lois Irma Cohen on March 12, 1929, in Passaic, N.J., to Robert James and Ella Levinson Cohen (later changed to Cone). A child of the Great Depression, Lois left home at age 15 to attend a program for high school students at the University of Chicago while her father was recuperating from tuberculosis in Asheville, NC. After the University of Chicago, she reunited with her family in Boston’s Beacon Hill and worked at her parents’ thriving, mid-century modern jewelry business, The Silversmith Shop, located on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay. In Boston, she met her husband, Melvin, a scholar who was completing his Ph.D. in economics at the University of Chicago. Lois and Melvin raised four children in Storrs, Conn., Kingston, R.I., and Middletown, Conn. before settling in Milwaukee, Wis.

Lois was a life-long advocate for social justice causes. In the 1960’s she marched for civil rights with Father Groppi. In the 1970’s, she was an active volunteer and supporter of Urban Day School, an experimental private school in Milwaukee’s inner city that was ahead of its time to advance educational equity. In addition to making cookies for bake sales, Lois founded and operated Grass Roots, a plant shop that donated its proceeds to the school. Three of Lois’s children graduated from Urban Day School. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Lois worked as a consumer advocate in a bankruptcy law firm. She was never afraid to express her deeply-felt views on social issues and politics.

Lois was married to Melvin for 32 years until his passing in 1987. She moved to Madison, Wis. in 2002, where she enjoyed many years of retirement, living a few miles from her daughter Susie and her family. For the last 30 years of her life, Lois was focused on enriching the lives of her grandchildren and was engaged in every sporting event, graduation, wedding, theater production, concert, and other activity. Lois was an avid reader, world traveler, gardener, bird watcher, art collector, sports fan (mostly Badgers, Brewers and Bucks), and a master of New York Times crossword puzzles. Lois had a gift for making fast personal connections with others and was genuinely interested in everyone she knew.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Robert James and Ella Levinson Cone, husband, Melvin Lurie, and her brother, Herbert Richard Cone. She is survived by her four children, Jonathan (Pam) Lurie, Robert (Sara) Lurie, Alexander (Dorian Friedman) Lurie, and Susannah (Edward) Taylor; eight grandchildren, Samantha Lurie, Micah Hefty (Nicholas), Benjamin Lurie, Jennica Lurie, Jillian Lurie, Nicholas Taylor, Henry Taylor, and Mara Lurie; three great-grandchildren Trevon Johnson, Cidney Nicholson, and Connor James; and two sisters-in-law, Syrul Lurie and Barbara Cone. She is also survived by Fiji, her loving Cairn-Doodle friend of 12 years, who brought her joy and unconditional love so long as her nightstand was well stocked with doggie treats.

Interment and graveside service will be held on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 1:45 p.m. at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, Mass. A celebration of Lois’s life will be held at 12:00 noon at the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison, Wisconsin on Sunday, February 16, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Show Me the World Project, founded by Lois’s granddaughter, Samantha Lurie.

ROSE- David Joseph, of Ashland, formerly of Newton, died suddenly on January 19, 2020. Beloved son of Jill (Coven) Marshall and husband, Dr. Frank Berson, and Bill Rose and wife, Dr. Merle Monsein. Loving brother of Michael Rose and wife Stephanie, and Jared Rose. Cherished nephew of Linda Coven, and David Rose and wife Arlene. Devoted uncle of Ashley Rose and Jack Rose. Dear cousin of Lori (Walker) Silverstein, Julie Walker, Jami (Walker) Brown, Joanna (Rose) Miller, Esther (Rose) Kahn, and Jeremy Rose.

David was a graduate of The Rivers School and Boston College, and a proud Alumnus of Camp Manitou.

Service will be private. Memorial observance will be at the home of Michael and Stephanie Rose on Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 1-4 & 7-9 pm. Donations in David’s memory may be made to MSPCA-Angell, 350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130, www.mspca.org.

David was a warm and gentle soul who loved travel, the Gators, the Pats and the Red Sox. He will be forever missed by his loving family and friends.

Susan G. Neisuler died quietly at home just before her 77th birthday after a long illness. All through the illness she kept up her activities and relationships with characteristic courage to the last possible moment.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ross Neisuler, and her sons, Peter and Justin Neisuler, their wives Mariana and Deborah, and their children Alex, Martin, Isaac, and Daphne and by her husband’s sisters, Susan Rothman, Judith Levine and her brother-in-law, Harvey Levine.

She was known by all as a reliable and true friend, dedicated to whatever she put her hand to, including being an unforgettable teacher, lawyer, and author — always with her own family’s need in mind.

There will be a funeral for her at the Newton Cemetery Chapel, 791 Walnut Street, Newton on January 23, at 2:30 PM open to all who wish to come.

Rather than flowers or gifts, she would want those wishing to memorialize her to consider donations to the Lenny Zakim Fund (thelennyzakimfund.org)

Sandra Magier of Newton, MA, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2020, at age 88. She was the beloved wife of the late Irving D. Magier and the late Henry Berliner. Devoted mother of Hope Magier and her husband Alan, Hilton Magier and his fiancée Marcia, Marc Magier and his wife Nancy, Eugene Magier and his wife Debra. Cherished Bubbie of Bryana and Michael Zaplin, Joshua, Nikki and Codie Magier, Samantha and Jake Magier, Amanda and Jordan Magier. Dear great-grandmother of Isabel and Ilana Fisher and Isaac D. Zaplin. Loving sister of Roberta Chernov and the late Charlene Magier. Service at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Tuesday, January 21,2020 at 12:00 noon.Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be at the home of Marc and Nancy Magier on Tuesday 5:00pm-8:30pm and Wednesday 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Remembrances in her memory may be made to United States Holocaust Memorial, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126.

A Woman of Courage and Strength

Linda “Minky” Abramson, age 72, of Burlington, formerly of Lexington, deceased January 16, 2020, peacefully at home with her family by her side. Linda maintained her “attitude of gratitude” to the very end. She lived a full and joyous and productive life despite having brain tumors, lymphoma, and leukemia for twenty-nine years.

Linda was the hilarious and very devoted wife of Larry Abramson for forty-one years; loving mother of Jennifer Abramson, Matthew Abramson and his wife Caitlin Abramson; doting grandmother of Rose Ellen Abramson and Ryan Andrew Abramson; dog Mommy of Tippy the Wonder Dog (deceased) and Bruce Springersteen. Loving sister of Richard Minker.

Linda and Jennifer were mother and daughter, best friends and virtual sisters. Matt and Linda shared a wonderful relationship. Caitlin has been a great addition to the family and a fantastic mother to Rosie and Ryan, who represented new vigor in Linda’s life. Linda loved the time when she could still dance, cook, read and do projects with the grandkids. As Linda’s disabilities progressed, she just enjoyed cuddling with them.

Linda courageously bounced back from each of her neurosurgeries. That bounce-back would sometimes take eight months. She would seamlessly return to her activities as classroom mother, field trip chaperone and PTA representative. She would attend (and applaud and encourage) every one of the kid’s activities: athletic events, plays and recitals. She loved having their friends over and we would sometimes have up to two dozen kids camping in our basement playroom. The following day we were very apt to proceed en masse to Fenway Park and cheer from the bleachers. Many of those “kids” still stay in touch with her.

Linda had numerous volunteer activities. She visited shut-ins, served as a companion to a blind lady through MAB (Mass Association for the Blind), and gave much time to Kids-in-Need. Right up to fall of 2019 she was in training to become a “peer visitor” to brain injury patients at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

In her twenties and thirties Linda had been an elementary school teacher. Her former students, now aged 40 to 50, still recognized her in restaurants and other public places. They would introduce themselves and tell Linda what a wonderful teacher she was, how much fun they had in her classroom and how Linda gave them so much self-confidence. This happened as recently as November 1, 2019 at Larry’s birthday dinner. In later years, Linda had the same effect on the pupils she helped while she was a reading tutor.

Linda loved the outdoors, theatre, ballet, book group and skiing (but only in perfect conditions and only at Waterville Valley). Most of all she enjoyed tap dancing. Every year her group from the Dance Inn performed at the Hatch Memorial Shell, providing some of the entertainment during the annual Making Strides Walk. Linda practiced for months and then performed, proudly wearing her “Survivor” sash.

She also loved to travel, even to the point of going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for three weeks while she was confined to a wheelchair. In more active days her other favorite travel adventures with Larry included Torres del Paine (Patagonia), Bali, Galapagos, Carnival in Rio, Great Barrier Reef, Grand Canyon, Canadian Rockies, Tasmania and Paris, always Paris.

Over the past few years Linda took up “bicycling” (really tandem tricycling) through Spaulding Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports Program. Jenny would be the steerer, and would also provide most of the power, as they would rip through the Charlestown Navy Yard or the Lexington Bike Path.

Most of all, Linda enjoyed friendships. Each visit with a friend, each telephone conversation, concluded with Linda saying, “I love you”, and meaning it.

Services will be held at Temple Isaiah, 55 Lincoln Street, Lexington, MA, on Monday at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA. Shiva will be observed directly after burial until 8:00 pm and on January 21st from 3- 7 pm at Seven Springs Clubhouse, 1 Seven Springs Lane, Burlington, MA. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to: Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Attn: Adaptive Sports Program, 1575 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.