Obituaries

Our beloved Michael Leroy Lopin, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, a.k.a., Grampa D, passed away peacefully the morning of November 7, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his wife Nancy, sister Lynn Haims, three children Naomi, Jonah and Aaron, children-in-law John, Jordyne and Julie, and six beautiful grandchildren Noah, Wanda, Kai, Maya, Burt, and Cody. We were blessed to be with him in the last days before he passed.

Michael was a brilliant electrical engineer who earned his Bachelors and two Masters degrees from MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Michael devoted the majority of his professional career to his position as Principal Electrical Engineer at Zoll Medical Corporation. As a leading battery expert devoted to developing life-saving medical devices, Michael designed and developed the portable heart monitor now standard in emergency vehicles, and the first portable defibrillator, the AED Plus (automated external defibrillator), with voice commands. His pioneering technology has saved countless lives.

Michael deeply enjoyed playing bridge, cribbage, scrabble, and other card games. He regularly competed in bridge tournaments in Waltham, Needham and Clearwater Florida, and often placed in the top three with his longtime bridge partner, proudly sharing his scores with family over emails. He was a wonderful silversmith and craftsman, creating many beautiful pieces of jewelry, metal art and handcrafted woodworked furniture. A voracious reader of crime and mystery novels, he and his sister would often trade favorite books back and forth. Michael was also a longtime camper and 43-year veteran of Sandy Island Family Camp in New Hampshire. He loved spending time every summer with his family at Camp on beautiful Lake Winnepesaukee.

Funeral Services will be held at Temple Shalom of Newton, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 10, 2019. A reception will follow. Please join us to honor and celebrate his life.

Shiva in memory of our beloved Michael Lopin will be at Nancy Lopin’s house, 25 Hibbard Rd., Newton, Monday through Thursday from 7:00-8:30 pm.

Shiva has been extended to Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 – 8:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be made to: Sandy Island Camp Improvement Fund https://bit.ly/2Q1iNge. Toward the bottom of the giving page is a place where you can select Honor / Memorial Gift. Select yes, and then fill in the available space with the name Michael Lopin. Thank you for honoring his life. May his memory be a blessing.

George J. Marshall, 91, of Newton passed away on November 8, 2019. He was predeceased by his wife, Sarah (nee Kushner) the love of his life, who passed away in 2012.

George was a loving father to three sons and three daughters-in-law: William & Patti (nee Gack) Marshall; David & Ariela (nee Kohen) Marshall; and Lawrence Marshall & Michelle Oberman. He was a source of joy to his grandchildren: Rachel Marshall; Jesica Marshall; Steven & Jaclyn Marshall; Dina Marshall; Jonathan Marshall & Elizabeth Klein; Traci Marshall; Hanna Oberman; and Noa Oberman. He also leaves three great grandchildren: Jason Jope; Joel Marshall; and Lily Marshall.

A proud veteran of the National Guard, George served a term as Commander of the Massachusetts region of the Jewish War  Veterans and countless terms as Commander of Post 211. He breathed new life into the Post through his vision and tireless work. For example, George was an early originator of the program  distributing socks to needy veterans.

George worked mightily to raise funds for Israel and he and Sarah traveled to Israel 10 times. He was twice honored as Man of the Year by Israel Bonds and also awarded the City of Newton Peace Award.

Professionally, George founded The Marshall Company, a CPA firm. He was immensely proud of his two sons William and David who later joined the practice.

Services will be held at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA on Sunday, November 10 at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park in West Roxbury, MA.Following Interment, Shiva will be held at his residence until Thursday evening. Donations are encouraged to the George J. and Sarah K. Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund, Jewish War Veterans Post 211, c/o David Marshall, 4 Royal Court, Franklin, MA 02038.

Brought joy to all

Gill Fishman fought a valiant, three-year battle with cancer that ended peacefully this week. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara; their children Justin and his wife Zoe, and Jillian and her fiancé Jesse; and Gill’s brother, Richard.

Gill was a life-long Bostonian. He grew up in Roxbury, learned to play golf and fly a kite at Franklin Park, and attended The Boston Latin School. He went on to graduate from Harvard College with a degree in Economics and the Harvard Graduate School of Design with a Master’s in Architecture. He also studied at the Harvard School of Education and MIT, and as an Associate in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard.

His gentle humor and natural elegance, his keen intellect and his intuitive sense of design helped him develop multiple successful businesses, including his eponymous, nationally-recognized graphics, design and branding firm. Over Gill’s career, he was honored to receive over 400 design awards for helping clients – corporate, startup, and nonprofit – define and craft their mission and their brand.

As a serial entrepreneur, he founded Rainboworld, a game-changing greeting card publisher, and co-founded the Water Music/Concert Cruise/JazzBoat.  He also served on the original founding committees of the Great Boston Kite Festival and of First Night, which enhanced Boston public spaces and brought many communities together.

Gill was deeply involved in the startup and biotech community, as well as a strong advocate and passionate contributor to many local nonprofits. He did extensive volunteer work for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; New Center for Arts and Culture; the Museum of Fine Arts Council; the National Board of the American Technion Society; the Boston Preservation Alliance; the Historic Fisher Hill Neighborhood Association; New England-Israel Business Council; and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, among other organizations. His friends and colleagues would say that his talents for design propelled countless philanthropic organizations forward.merica

Gill brightened every room he entered with his smile and sharp wit.  He touched the lives of so many with his light and his laugh. He was an extraordinary man, husband, and father. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service and celebration of Gill’s life will be held at Wilson Chapel,234 Herrick Rd. Newton Centre,Sunday November 17th at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, you may send a donation to one of Gill’s favorite causes, such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, American Technion Society, or Boston Preservation Alliance.

Retired Colonel US Army

Sam D. Starobin-of Chestnut Hill, on November 6, 2019.Beloved husband of Ina (Rosen) Friedman Starobin. Devoted father of Debra Pullen and Nancy Starobin. Dear stepfather of Ronne Friedman and his wife Irene, Wendy, Lynn, and Loren Friedman and his wife Patricia Rodriques. Loving grandfather of Phelan Pullen, Zachary Friedman, Rachel Lerch, Amelia and Joaquin Friedman, and the late Jesse Friedman.Loving brother of Aaron Starobin and his wife Caryln. Services at Temple Israel,477 Longwood Ave., Boston (parking on the Riverway),on Sunday, November 10,2019 at 1:30 pm. Sam was the recipient of The Distinguished Service Medal and Purple Heart for service in Vietnam.He served as former Director of General Services for the District of  Columbia, Washington, DC. Interment at The West Point Military Academy Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers remembrances to  American Parkinson Disease Association,72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118.

Liane Reif-Lehrer, scientist, feminist, wife, mother, teacher, poet, ballroom dancer, and longtime Lexington resident, died on November 6, 2019, after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84. Born to Gerschon Reif, a dentist, and Klara (Chaja Lea) Gottfried Reif, she lived with her older brother Frederich (1927-2019) in Vienna, Austria until 1939. She fled the Nazis with her mother and brother on the ill-fated S.S. St. Louis, which was bound for Cuba with 937 Jewish refugees but forced to return to Europe, where they disembarked in France. In September 1941 they managed to emigrate, sponsored by relatives (the Klinghoffer family) in New York City. She attended Erasmus Hall High School, Barnard College (BA, 1956), and the University of California, Berkeley (PhD, Chemistry, 1960). After a year of round-the-world travel with her husband Sam, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, from 1966-1985 she was Research Scientist at the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Schepens Eye Research Institute, and a faculty member (1978-1985) and Director of the Office of Academic Affairs (1981-1983) at Harvard Medical School. She then started the consulting firm Erimon Associates, specializing in grant writing, and published “Writing a Successful Grant Application”. In 1981 she founded the Women in Science Network, to help navigate the challenges of career advancement. She is survived by her husband of 59 years Sherwin (Sam) Lehrer, her children Damon Lehrer of Lexington, MA (wife Aimee LeBrun and grandson Nathan Huckleberry Lebrun Lehrer), and Erica Lehrer of Montreal, QC. A donation in Liane’s memory may be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at https://curealz.org/giving/donate/. Liane will be buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. An informal shiva to remember her will be held at NewBridge on the Charles, Health Center, 7000 Great Meadow Rd., Dedham, on Sunday, November 10, 2019 from 1:00-5:00 pm.

Robert S. Snyder 1932-2019

died peacefully at home November 3 after a courageous battle with kidney disease. Beloved husband of Bonnie Clendenning Snyder, cherished father of Nadine Nesbitt and David J Snyder and stepfather of Max Clendenning. He leaves his grandchildren Amber Stefaniak, Genevieve Heaps, Matthew Heaps, Alexandria Heaps and Autumn Pirie, his great niece Sophie McCardle and great nephew Jack McArdle.
Robert served with distinction as a mechanic in the Korean War and graduated from Boston University. After a long career in the packaging and paper machine industries Robert used his gifts as salesperson and entrepreneur to create Engineered Tooling Company which he ran for thirty years as President and CEO. Above all, he was a constant friend, mentor and partner to his extended family and friends.
Services at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA on Wednesday November 6 at 12:30 pm. Interment will follow at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street. Afterwards family and friends are invited to gather at his late residence.
A public Shiva will be held on Sunday November 10, at Congregation Shaarei Tefillah, 35 Morseland Avenue, Newton Centre from 5-7:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society or a charity of your choice.

Roger A. Litman of Needham and Falmouth, Massachusetts, 83, passed away on November 1, 2019 after a long struggle with dementia. Devoted husband of Beverly (Weinstein) Litman for 61 years. Beloved father of Peter Justin Litman and his wife Ann Harada of NYC, and Jill Litman Weiner and her husband Peter Weiner of Needham. Adoring Zayde or as he was affectionately known “Z” to Cole Maxwell Weiner, Dana Mackenzie Weiner and Elvis Harada Litman. Son of the late Max and Tillie (Rome) Litman. Brother of Dr. Michael Litman of Revere and Lynda Litman Saltz and her husband Dr. Stephen Saltz of Boca Raton, Florida. He also leaves Stephen and Lelia Weinstein and Ricky and Janice Weinstein, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Graduate of Northfield Mount Herman School, WPI with a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS from Northeastern University in Engineering Management. He worked as an engineer for firms in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Neuvo Laredo, Mexico. Upon the death of his father, he took over the management of North Shore Fuel, Inc., at 100 VFW Parkway, Revere (the site where his grandfather, Jacob Litman, founded North Shore Ice and Coal in the 1920’s) and ran the company for 45 years expanding from oil into HVAC Contracting. Services will be held at Temple Aliyah, 1664 Central Ave., Needham, where he was a founding member and past president, at noon on Monday, November 4, followed by interment at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva will follow at his residence Monday until 8pm, Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9pm and Wednesday 2-4 & 7-9pm. Donations in his memory may be made to Temple Aliyah in Needham or Alzheimer’s Association.

Titlebaum, Irene E., of Randolph, MA since 1956, passed away on October 31, 2019. Beloved wife for 68 years of the late Martin M. Titlebaum. Devoted mother of the late Lesley M. Berkovitz and her husband Stanley of FL, and Kenneth H. Titlebaum of Needham, MA. Proud grandmother of Jamie (Berkovitz) Pace of Los Angeles, CA, Alyssa Berkovitz of Brighton, MA, Stephanie Titlebaum of Boston, MA, and Abigail Titlebaum of Boston, MA. Loving sister of the late Charlotte Levy of Milton, MA. Services at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 10 am. Following interment at Zviller Cemetery, memorial observance will be at Irene’s late residence on Monday November 4th, until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Irene’s memory may be made to a cancer foundation of your choice.

Cynthia (Sroelov) Simon age 91 of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Newton, MA passed away in her home on October 31, 2019. Beloved wife of the late Harvey Simon. Devoted mother of Gary Simon of Sarasota, FL and Stephen Simon and his wife Frances Kuebler of Arlington, MA. Loving grandmother of Abigail and Amelia Simon. She is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She held many jobs but was most proud of her work in customer service for the Internal Revenue Service. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a great listener and good friend to all who knew her.

Graveside service at Baker Street Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA on Tuesday November 5, 2019 at 1PM.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

Alvin Goldfield, 89, of Lexington, MA, formerly Fairfield and Bridgeport, CT passed away peacefully on October 30, 2019. Beloved husband of Sarann (Klavir) Goldfield. Devoted father of Daniel Goldfield and Nancy Tauber and father-in-law of Tony Tauber. Cherished grandfather of Isaac and Jonah Tauber. Loving sibling of the late Elaine Bregman, Muriel Lessler, and brother-in-law Stephen Lessler. Brother-in-law of Herb Bregman. Caring son of the late Louis and Anna Goldfield. Alvin showed his deep love and devotion for his family and community throughout his life and his presence will be missed.

Alvin was a nostalgic man who loved to schmooze. He spoke fondly about time spent during his youth with family at Snow’s Farm in Easton, CT. He shared moving and humorous stories about his service in the Navy as an assistant to Newport RI Naval Base Chaplain.

Alvin grew up in a happy home, graduated from Bassick High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Bridgeport University in Connecticut.

His professional life included successes in the retail, real estate and automobile industries. He served his community with passion in many ways, most notably as President of the Jewish Family Service in CT where he spearheaded an affordable housing development for older adults in Bridgeport.

His favorite composer was Gustav Mahler, and he shared his love of music with his wife as active members of the South Shore Music Group in Westport, CT.

Alvin loved to drive and meet new people so, along with his wife, traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. He was happy behind the wheel while his wife pointed the way to their next adventure.

And nothing gave him more pleasure than his children and grandchildren.

Services will be held graveside at Temple Israel Cemetery, 492 North Avenue, Wakefield, MA at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 3. Shiva will be held at 137 Chestnut Street, Cambridge, MA from 4pm to 8pm on Sunday and Monday, November 3 & 4. A service celebrating Alvin’s life will be held at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA at 2:00pm on Friday, November 29.  Donations may be made to Temple Israel of Boston or to the charity of your choice.