Obituaries

Carrol S. Levin of Wellesley, most recently residing at Newbridge on the Charles, Dedham, passed peacefully on August 27, 2025, three days before her 98^th birthday. Carrol was born in Chicago, daughter of Robert and Dora Silverman. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in biology where she met her husband Robert (Bob) Levin, who was raised in the Boston area. After graduation from Wisconsin, Bob and Carrol moved to Boston and raised their son Richard (Rick) and daughter Cathy in Newton.

While raising her family, Carrol was active with various charitable activities and was a fashion model. When her modeling career ended, she worked at high-end clothing boutiques for many years. Her interest in fashion was a driving force throughout her life and she was very glamorous (and an enthusiastic shopper!). Bob and Carrol had an active social life and travelled extensively.  She loved entertaining friends and family, whether hosting large parties or weekly card games. When her children left the house, they maintained homes in Wellesley and Lake Worth, FL, and treasured time spent at their home on the Cape in Falmouth.

Carrol was predeceased by Bob after 64 years of marriage and by her daughter Cathy. She leaves behind her son and his wife Arlene; their children Matthew of Atlanta; and Scott and Scott’s wife Ariel Nelson and their daughters, Avery and Sylvie, of Boston; and her granddaughters Samantha Shuman of New York City and Rachel Sullivan and her husband, Michael Sullivan and their children, Carly and Tyler of Milton.

There will be a funeral service in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 1:00PM, where she will be interred. A reception will be held at the home of Richard and Arlene after the burial.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of their choice.

Musia Smukler Watkin, of Brookline, MA, formerly of Siauliai, Lithuania, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Newton, MA, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, at the remarkable age of 102.8 years old.

Born in Lithuania, Musia moved with her family to South Africa at age six. Her life was characterized by resilience, creativity, and a deep love for her family and community. She and her late husband, Joseph Watkin, who passed away in 2013, shared sixty years of marriage and raised four children. Her family grew to include ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, each cherishing her warmth, humor, and wisdom. In 1996, Musia relocated to the USA, where she became a beloved member of the Brookline community. For the past fourteen years, she called Goddard House Assisted Living her home, embracing life fully—painting in bold purple and blue, writing poetry, making music, participating in reading groups, knitting scarves for those in need, and forming friendships with all who welcomed her into their lives. She was admired not only for her longevity but also for her zest for life, her generous spirit, and her ability to find joy in the simplest moments.

Her cherished children include: Dr. Arnold Watkin of Newton, MA; Robyne Watkin-Anson of West Hartford, CT; Sharon Modlin of Chicago, IL; and Cliff Watkin of Boston, MA, along with their respective spouses. She leaves behind her beloved ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who will forever carry her spirit in their hearts.

A graveside service will be held at Lindwood Memorial Park (Temple Emanuel Section), 490 North Street, Randolph, MA, on Sunday, August 31st, at 10:30 a.m., followed by Shiva at 7:00 p.m. at 120 Rachel Road, Newton, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor can be made to Goddard House Assisted Living via the donate online portal page designated to “Resident -Care Staff Appreciation” or via check

to the above designation at 165 Chestnut Street, Brookline, MA. 02445.

Scott Lee Sokoll, age 67, of Fall River, MA, son of Robert Sokoll (deceased) and Marilyn Sokoll (Bachman), died peacefully after a long illness on August 28, 2025. Beloved husband of Frances Sokoll; Devoted father of Jason McGuire (Jennifer); Marque Scott (Kaitlyn Duart) and father-in-law of Jasmin Vazquez; Dear grandfather of Jaylen, Jayla, Ayva, and Adriana.  Loving sibling of Mark Sokoll (Marjorie); Dear uncle of Talya Sokoll (Tim Follo), and David Sokoll (Danielle Weiss).

Scott was a graduate of Somerset High School. An avid golfer, Scott had the uncanny ability to put an errant shot or a bad hole behind him immediately as he moved on calmly to play the next hole. That was his gift.

He worked for many years at Nate Lion’s Warehouse Sales and was a member of Fall River Country Club.

Scott gave much to his children and grandchildren, serving as a role model for offering unconditional love and support to them always. He was always ready to roll up his sleeves and partner in creating a powerful and nurturing family dynamic.

Scott and Frances were married in September of 2001. During the almost two decades Scott lived with Parkinson’s Disease his wife and partner Frances was a devoted advocate, providing him with loving care beyond measure.

Remembrances may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Assoc./ Mass Chapter: apdaparkinson.org

Services will be held privately.

Edna Nollman, of Newton, MA, died after a short illness on August 25, 2025. Her passing has invoked an
outpouring of tributes from her family and from others who knew her. Edna was born on July 25, 1925 to
Bessie and Benjamin Sherman. She survives her husband of 58 years, Herbert (affectionately known as
“Uncle Herbie” by her many nieces and nephews). She leaves behind her son David and his partner,
Cheryl and her son, Richard and his wife, Rene, as well as her grandson, Jordan and his wife, Larissa and
great granddaughters, Maya and Ava. She was predeceased by her grandson, Adam.
Edna grew up in Dorchester, MA, with her sisters Rose, Lee, Kay and her brother Kenny. An excellent
student with a strong bent for the artistic, she painted and did extraordinary needlepoint. She also had a
flair for design, having won at the age of seventeen, a “Boston Globe” dress design competition.
Additionally Edna designed flower arrangements that were displayed at the annual Boston Museum of
Fine Arts  (MFA) “Art In Bloom” exhibition.
Also a political activist, she worked as a volunteer on national political campaigns notably for Adlai
Stevenson, John F. Kennedy and George McGovern. She also worked in public relations for a Newton
City Council candidate. Having grown up at a time when women were not encouraged or given the
financial support required to go to college, she switched to a business curriculum and after graduating, got
a job as a draftswoman at MIT’s Radiation Lab where she worked as a draftswomen on the project that
created radar and television.
However, in the eyes of her children, Edna’s greatest achievement was how she finally went to and
graduated from college. Unable to do so when she was younger, and now with two children still in public
school, she defied all her friends who wondered why she would do that given that she enjoyed a great
social life, lived in the affluent Boston suburb of Newton and had a husband who earned enough to
support all this.
But, as always, she had a plan. She enrolled in Boston University in what was then called its School of
Public Relations and Communications (SPRC). Upon graduating, she again ignored her friend’s
admonitions and entered the worlds of public relations and publishing. She began as a technical editor,
and later worked at Bentley College in media relations as the school expanded to what is the present day
Bentley University.
Edna had a wide circle of friends as well and had a large and close extended family. She had a great
sense of humor and brightened all gatherings with her dry wit and keen sense of humor. She loved
spending time on the golf course, reading a good book and watching classic movies. Her favorite movie
was “Aunty Mame” to which she took her son to see when he was in grade school, after which he turned
to her and said of the character, Aunty Mame, “that was you!”
A graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park on Thursday, August 28 at 12:45pm.
Remembrances of Edna may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Center.

Ron Sockol of Needham, MA, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025.

Beloved husband of Lois Sockol for 71 years. Devoted father of Eric Sockol and his wife Judy, Jon Sockol and his wife Vivian, Jim Sockol and his wife Margie, and the late Michael Sockol. Cherished grandfather of Alyson, Jessica, Matthew, Thomas, Gerad, Michala, Ben, Brian, and Danielle, and proud great-grandfather of Colby, Luke, Jackson, and Sloane. Loving brother of the late Dorothy, Alton, and Maynard Sockol.

Ron was born in Newport, Vermont on May 6, 1930, and moved to Brookline, MA at a young age. He graduated from Brookline High School and went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Babson College. He proudly served his country as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

In 1963 he started a home remodeling business with the notorious tagline, “Remodeling Can Be Fun”.

A resident of Needham for 58 years, Ron was deeply dedicated to giving back to his community. His extraordinary record of service included leadership roles as President of the Needham Rotary Club, Town Meeting Member for more than 30 years, Trustee of Memorial Park for over two decades, and Board Member of both the Needham Community Council and the Needham Educational Foundation. He also served as President of Needham Pop Warner Football and spent over 20 years coaching Needham football and Little League.

Ron spearheaded and organized numerous community initiatives, including Community Weekend, during which hundreds of volunteers came together to construct a new roof and second floor at Memorial Park. He led the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Needham High School Football game, which drew approximately 20,000 fans and earned him a letter of recognition from the President of the United States. He also oversaw the creation of a garden and memorial honoring the victims of September 11.

In recognition of his tireless service, Ron was honored with multiple awards, including but not limited to, Needham Volunteer of the Year, Rotarian of the Year Award, Richard Melick Award, Leslie B Cutler Service Award, Stephanie J Kalin Service Award, The 2021 Grand Marshall of the Needham Fourth of July parade and several state citations.

While Ron gave endlessly to his community, his greatest joy came from his family. He cherished time with Lois, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and he was happiest when surrounded by their love and laughter.

Ron was a man of warmth, generosity, and quiet strength. He deeply believed in the importance of giving back. As one community member once told Lois, “Ron taught me what volunteer means”. His devotion to Needham, particularly its youth, has left a lasting legacy that cannot be measured.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Burial services to immediately follow at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Memorial observance will begin following the burial services at Temple Beth Shalom from 1:00 – 4:00pm. On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, a memorial observance will be held in the evening at Temple Beth Shalom from 6:00 – 8:30pm. On Thursday a memorial observance will be held in the evening at the family home from 5–8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s memory may be made to the Michael Sockol Writer’s Fund at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, MA 02492.

May his memory forever be a blessing.

To view the livestream service, please click here.

Steven Terry Greene, 76, of Wayland, MA, died unexpectedly on August 23, 2025. His sudden passing has left an immeasurable void for his family, friends and all who loved him.

Born on December 23, 1948 to Milton and Esther, Steve grew up in Dartmouth, MA, with his brothers, Dennis and Rick. He went on to graduate from Dartmouth High School, Lafayette College, and Northeastern University School of Law.

Steve’s greatest devotion was to his family. He shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with his wife, Sylvia, and was a proud father to his sons, Max and Jacob, and father-in-law to Caroline. His heart was fullest as “Poppy” to his grandson, Nathan, with whom he shared a special bond. He was a loving uncle to Alexandra, Beth, Benjamin, Sophie, Zach and Ariel and brother-in-law to Eileen, Sam, Sarah, Stanley and Susan.

Steve dedicated his professional life to the practice of law, building a remarkable 47-year career as a partner at Riemer & Braunstein LLC. He was deeply respected for his integrity, sharp mind, and tireless work ethic, qualities that earned him the admiration of colleagues and clients alike.

Steve treasured his friendships throughout every stage of his life. From his childhood days in Dartmouth and New Bedford, to his brothers at Pi Lambda Phi, to his golf partners and the many colleagues and classmates he met through college, law school, and his long legal career, Steve built lasting connections wherever he went.

Steve had a gift for making people laugh in any circumstance, brightening countless moments with his wit and humor. He loved spending time on the golf course, reading a good book, browsing the library, and watching classic movies. But above all, his family remained his pride and joy, and his loyalty to them knew no bounds.

Steve will be remembered for his laughter, his love, and his unwavering devotion to family; a legacy that will live on through all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A funeral service will be held at Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Road, (Rt. 20) Wayland, MA on Wednesday, August 27, at 10:30 AM ET, followed by the burial at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland, MA. Sylvia, Max, and Jake will be holding a shiva call for family and friends at their home in Wayland, MA on Wednesday (August 27) from 6-8pm and Thursday (August 28) from 4-7 PM.

Remembrances may be made to The Friends of Wayland Free Public Library.

Of Needham, passed away at the age of 91 on August, 21, 2025. After 69 years, he leaves the love of his life, Bunny (Barbara Davidson). Devoted dad to his children Howard (Kim) and Jayne. Proud Papa of Jack, Nicole and Will. An avid golfer, duplicate bridge player and mentor. Remembrances in his name may be made to the charity of your choice.

Rebecca Amy Speiser Elswit, 46, beloved daughter, sister, and friend passed peacefully of cancer on Friday, August 22, 2025.

She was a native of Wellesley MA and long-time resident of California. Rebecca was a charismatic presence with deep insights into people. She used her Jewish heritage as a steppingstone to explore a rich spiritual world. Her insightful wellness practice enabled her to integrate her vast knowledge and experience to inspire and improve the lives of many.

Rebecca traveled the world, making friends and lifelong connections along the way. Whenever she reached a crossroads she would explore the path least travelled. She found awe in nature and in everyday life. She will be deeply missed.

Rebecca is survived by her parents, Bernice Speiser and Larry Elswit; her brother Justin and sister-in-law Maria, her uncles Fred and Bob, and other extended family members.

Donations in her memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Deborah “Debbie” Bern was born on August 23, 1931, in the city of Hartford, Connecticut. She was the daughter of the late Rebecca (née Lattman) and Rabbi Jesse Schwartz, and beloved spouse of 65 years to the late Charles Bern.  Debbie grew up in Montreal, Canada. She earned her college degree at McGill University and her master’s in social work at Smith College in Massachusetts.

Debbie’s early career included work as a supervisor for Child Protective Services in the County of Westchester, NY.  Ever a forward thinker, Debbie was among the first to recognize—and brave enough to speak out about—the toll that addiction and mental health concerns could take on employee well-being and productivity. At a time when the “three-martini lunch” was still the norm and the very words “mental health” were discouraged in the workplace, she created Employee Guidance Systems, LLC, which went on to provide employee assistance programs for Pennsylvania Power and Light, General Electric, and NBC at Rockefeller Center in New York.

For the next 45 years, Debbie dedicated her life to helping people find solutions to the challenges in their lives or those of their loved ones, ultimately giving them permission to feel and, most importantly, to heal.

Debbie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Bern and sister, Carmel Schwartz.  She is survived by her three daughters, Elana (née Bern) Beckman and (her husband Evan), Judi (née Bern) Townsend, and Jessica Bern, her grandchildren Rachel, Adam (his wife Katherine Rich), Zachary, Emma and, Phoebe and by the many letters of gratitude and life updates she received from her patients throughout her many years of practice.

Funeral Services will be held at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10:30am. Friends and family are invited to sit Shiva at the house of Elana and Evan Beckman on Wednesday August 20, and Thursday, August 21, from 7-9pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Temple Emanuel 385 Ward St., Newton, Massachusetts 02459.

Robert “Bob” S. Swarz of Wayland/Natick, MA passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, on August 16, 2025.

Born on January 14, 1946, at Barnert Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey, Bob was the only child of Lottie and Monroe Swarz.  He attended River Dell High School in River Edge, New Jersey, where he met the love of his life, Lonnie, the first day of Latin class Sophomore year.  He went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from New York University (NYU), a Master’s degree in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a PhD from NYU, and an MBA from Boston University.

Bob focused his career on electrical engineering beginning at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, and then computer science, and systems engineering at the MITRE Corporation, and teaching at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  In the course of his career, he published four textbooks.

Throughout his life, Bob was an avid reader with an endless passion for learning across a range of topics, from foreign languages to music theory, to history, and computer and medical sciences.  Although he grew up in the New York area, he made the wise choice to be a dedicated Red Sox fan as he raised his family in Wayland, MA.  Ever proud of his early musical endeavors as a radio DJ and a drummer in a band called The Connotations, which included a professionally recorded and released 45 RPM single  (Two Hearts Fall in Love – Side A / Before I Go – Side B, easily found on Spotify), he amassed an incredible music collection and could often be found lying on his back on the floor with headphones on, tapping his feet to the music.  He good-naturedly accepted teasing about being a vegetarian and an accordion player. Many fondly remember his accompaniment to Dayenu at Passover seders and his birthday serenades under friends’ windows.  Bob also had a love of the outdoors, and spent over 30 years skiing at Loon Mountain and hiking all of New Hampshire’s forty-eight 4,000 footers with family and friends, a feat he was very proud of.  Bob and Lonnie were also proud to be founding members of Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA, where they built many lifelong and dear friendships.

Most importantly, Bob’s life was entirely centered around his deep and unwavering love and dedication to his family.  There was never a doubt to anyone that family was his priority. His love was felt equally and unconditionally, constantly keeping his children on his mind, and loving every moment with his grandchildren.  And, it is possible that there is no greater love in the world than the love between Bob and his life-long sweetheart, Lonnie, who has always been by his side.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 58 years and best friend, Lonnie, his children and their spouses, Jeff, Lynn (Philippe), Mark (Erin), and grandchildren, Sophie, Nina, Sara, Zoe, and Owen. Even in his last months, as Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s Dementia took hold of his body and mind, Bob continuously showed love for his family and friends and shared his sense of humor and passion for learning, music, and problem-solving, contributing to the lasting positive memories of who Bob was.

Bob’s family thanks Dr. David Simon for his medical expertise and compassion over these many years.  They are also most appreciative of the care that Bob received in his last months while he was a patient at Newbridge on the Charles.

Above all else, the words loving, kind, and curious will always rise to the surface for Bob.  May those words set his legacy and be a blessing to all who were lucky enough to have had Bob in their lives.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025 at Beit Olam Cemetery at 60 Old Sudbury Rd. in Wayland, MA at 1:30 pm.  Shiva will be observed in Club Nouvelle, 10 Nouvelle Way, Natick, MA, immediately following the burial and again that evening at 6:30 pm. Memorial observance will continue at the home of Lynne and Philippe Schenk Tuesday, August 19 beginning at 7:00 pm.

The family requests that if a donation is to be made in Bob’s memory, please donate to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,

Grand Central Station

P.O. Box 4777

New York, New York 10163-4777

Or on-line: Michaeljfox.org