Obituaries

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.

Gerstenblatt, David P., of Needham, MA, formerly of Newton, MA, on January 10, 2020. Beloved husband of Arlene (Cohen) Gerstenblatt. Devoted father of Jared Gerstenblatt and his wife Leigh, and Darren Gerstenblatt and his wife Jill. Proud grandfather of Stella, Julia, Ian, and Evie. Brother of Joanne Gerstenblatt. David leaves beloved family Darin, Michelle, Hallie, Ella, and Beanie. Service at Temple Beth Avodah, 45 Puddingstone Lane, Newton, MA on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm. Following interment at Or Emet Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, Shiva will be at Charles River Landing, 300  2nd Avenue, Needham, MA until 9:30 pm and on Tuesday 6-9:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA 02445.

Sheila Arons (formerly Lewinger, nee Schriber), loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, passed away January 10, 2020 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL surrounded by family at age 79. Her generosity to family, friend and stranger and her strength of spirit will be greatly missed. Funeral services to be held at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., Newton, MA, on Tuesday January 14, 2020 at 11 am, with burial following at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva at daughter Beth Dyer’s home, 10 Terrace Avenue, Newton Highlands, Tuesday and Wednesday 5-8pm. Donations in her memory may be made to Temple Reyim; Temple Beth David, Palm Beach Gardens; or Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation, Bethlehem, NH.

Howard Levingston died on January 10, 2020. He and his wife Ellie (Eleanor Clebnik) resided in Lexington, MA for over 50 years. A physical metallurgist, he worked with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (The Manhattan Project) and served on the faculty of Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). Later at General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division in Groton, CT, his work included materials selection, corrosion prevention, and failure analysis. In addition, he was responsible for specifications for the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Seawolf. He graduated from M.I.T. with an S.B. in Mining and Mineral Engineering, an S.M. in Physical Metallurgy, and an Sc.D. in Materials Science. His expertise in materials and environmental sciences led to the formation of Howard Levingston & Associates, a company that specialized in the analysis of failures in metals as well as non-metallic materials such as wood, plastics, ceramics/glass, fabrics, and composites.

A strong and effective leader, he was an active M.I.T. alumnus, class of 1951, and elected president of his class. Also involved in the community, he was Chair of the Town Meeting Members Association, sat on Lexington’s Appropriation Committee, and was a member of the Human Resources Committee. A former member of Temple Emunah, he was president of the Brotherhood and elected to serve as president of the temple.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, his sons David, Judd and his wife Hillary, Scott and his wife Amy, and his grandchildren Ivan, Miranda, Serena, Zaccary, and Olivia. The family is grateful for the exceptional care and deep compassion that was extended to Howard by Denise Coveney.

Services at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Rd., Lexington, MA on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the The U.S. Holocaust Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126, Yad Lakashish (www.lifeline.org.il), or The Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118.

Age 88, of Dedham, MA, formerly of Newton and Hull on January11, 2020. Beloved husband of 57 years to the late Charlotte (Finland) Rittenburg. Devoted father of Amy Schlager and her husband Robert of Palm Beach, FL; Jonathan Rittenburg and his wife Linda of Henderson, NV; and Andrea Segel and her husband Jay of Wayland. Cherished grandfather of Scott and Spencer Schlager, and Jeffrey and Olivia Segel. Loving son to the late William and Ruth (Koplow) Rittenburg. Dear brother to Susan Epstein of Hull, Jane Delaney of Cambridge and the late Paul Rittenburg of Sharon, and the late Robert Rittenburg of Reading. Service to be held at the chapel at Sharon Memorial Park on Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. Following the service, memorial observance will be held at NewBridge on the Charles Community Center, Great Meadow Hall, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, 3:30-7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Fund, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115

SHERMAN, SARA JANE (JANEY)
Of Dorchester passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 10, 2020 after a short illness with ALS. Cherished daughter of the late Saul and Sybil (Seltzer) Sherman. Loving sister of Suzanne Sherman-Finnerty and husband Paul and Judy Oriel and husband Ricky. Adored Aunt of Dr. Brad Oriel and wife Jennifer and Amanda Katz and husband Michael. Proud Great-Aunt of Benjamin Oriel and Sloane Katz. Janey was a pet lover and unconditionally loved her beloved dogs Tasha and Audra Rose. She was the former principle owner of Sherman-Bridges Real Estate Company in Dorchester. She was a great friend and will be dearly missed by all. Services will be held on Monday, January 13 at 12:30 pm at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd, Newton. Following interment at Baker St., West Roxbury memorial observance will be held at the home of Judy and Ricky Oriel until 5:00 pm and 7-9 pm and Tuesday 1:00-4:00 pm and 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Janey’s memory to MSPCA-Angell, Attn: Donations, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130 or “MGH ALS” Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua St, Suite 540, Boston MA 02114, Attn: Kylie Wojcicki. Donations may also be made online at giving.massgeneral.org; please be sure to indicate that the gift is a tribute gift in memory of Sara Jane Sherman.

Of Durham, North Carolina, on January 7, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Louis Pave. Devoted mother of Judy Moneta of Durham, North Carolina and the late Linda Greenberg. Dear grandmother of 6 and  great-grandmother of 5. Graveside service at Hebrew Volin Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA, on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00 am.

Maxwell R. Morton of Dover, MA on January 3, 2020. Beloved husband of Judith (Rosenblatt) Morton. Devoted father of Keith and Joshua Morton. Proud grandfather of Elijah and Gossamer Morton.

Services will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Rd., Wellesley MA. Interment will follow directly at Beit Olam Cemetery in Wayland. Shiva will be held at Maxwell and Judith’s house directly following until 5pm and then later that evening from 7pm-9pm. Wednesday from 1pm-5pm and again 7pm-9pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mazon.org or Cantor Sufrin’s Discretionary Fund at Temple Beth Elohim.

Of Auburndale, MA, on January 2, 2020. Beloved wife of the late David Kolodney. Devoted mother of Lawrence, Michael and Jeff. Dear grandmother of  Jacob, Alex, Nathan, Sophia, Owen, Ryan, Brandon and Madeline. Loving sister of the late Anne Turkel and Sol Lessinger. Memorial service will be held at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA, on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 2:00 pm. Interment private. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Jeff Kolodney and Marcia Tabenken, 11 North St., Newtonville, MA, Sunday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to the Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton, MA 02459 www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/donate

Gilman, Janet (Shapiro), of New York, formerly of New Jersey, and Peabody, MA, on January 1, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Aaron Gilman. Devoted mother of Amy Gilman, Suzanne Gilman, and Laura Anne Gilman. Proud grandmother of Daniel and Evan Klein. Loving sister of Dorothy Schiff-Shannon, Larry Shapiro, and the late Judy Krupp. Service at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA, on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 12 noon. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be at the home of Amy Gilman, 5-7:30 pm, Minyan at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452.