Obituaries

Gloria Kirson

Judith Ellen Blumsack,74, currently of Sarasota, FL, passed away June 26, 2019. She was the daughter of Ruth and Walter Steiner of Brookline, MA. She received a business degree from Boston University. Judy was married to her devoted husband, Joel Blumsack of Lynn, MA for 54 years. She was preceded in death by her son, Craig.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Linda and William Lichtman and their children Joe and his wife Jen and Seth and his wife Pam. She is survived by her husband Joel, son Todd, daughter-in-law Laurie and grandchildren Connor and Aidan. An integral part of the Blumsack family, Judy was predeceased by her sister-in-law Sheila Abel and is survived by her brother-in-law Jerry and their children Lisa and Ron. A woman beloved by her family and friends for her caring soul, giving heart, compassion and feisty spirit. Her life was marked by her commitment to  life, family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

Service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA (gather at administration building), Monday, July 1, 2019 at 11:45 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452.

Charlotte (Fox) Shrier-of Newton, on June 27, 2019.Beloved wife of the late Sidney H. Shrier. Devoted mother of Lolly Fox Shrier,Scott Shrier and his wife Joan,and Jodi Shrier Savill. Proud grandmother of Alison, Olivia, Tristan, Jason  and  his wife Hannah, Elizabeth, Alexander, and great-grandmother of Violet Rogers. Loving sister of the late Eleanor Litman and Harvey Fox.

Graveside service at 10:45 am on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Shiva following service at the home of Scott and Joan Shrier until 8 pm.

Dr. Harry Reiss of Concord, MA, formerly of Manhattan and New Rochelle, New York, passed away at the age of 94 on Monday, June 24, 2019.

The youngest of twelve children, Harry was born in Toronto to Rose (Roth) and Avigdor Reiss. He attended medical school at the University of Toronto where he met his wife, Ruthetta Kaplan. The couple were married in 1949. After completing residencies in general medicine and psychiatry, Harry trained in psychoanalysis at Columbia Psychoanalytic.  He served as Captain in the U.S. Air Force in St. John’s, Newfoundland where the couple’s two children were born. He worked as a psychiatrist with extraordinary care and empathy in New York for almost 60 years.  His office was a few blocks from the Metropolitan Museum; he loved to spend time there, instilling a love for art and and appreciation of world civilizations in his family. Harry was also an avid tennis player, and a gardener who prided himself on his tomatoes. He loved to give tours of his garden, teach visitors botanical names, and recruit their help in weeding, mulching and harvesting.

Harry is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruthetta (Kaplan) Reiss. He leaves his children Rosemary (Avner Ash) and Jonathan (Micki) and his grandchildren Alexandra Ash (Michael Pearlstein-Gluck), Ellie Ash, Teddy Reiss and Sophia Reiss. He is survived by one brother, Irving Reiss of Toronto.   He also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Stacy Berloff, 42, of Brookline (formerly of Framingham) passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle, surrounded and adored by her loving family. She was the beloved daughter of Myra and Howard Berloff and loving sister of Andrea Berloff and brother-in-law, Drew Filus. She cherished her niece and nephew, Sasha and Dashiell, enjoyed the love and support of her aunts and uncles and several cousins, and was profoundly grateful for the companionship of her faithful service dog, Billy.

She was a graduate of Framingham High School and attended Boston University and UMass Boston. Those who knew Stacy were struck by her strength and grace as she battled significant health issues for more than 30 years. She was a fierce advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and worked with numerous organizations in the city of Boston to assure equal access for all. Her legacy will impact people for years to come.

Services at Congregation Or Atid, 97 Concord Rd., Wayland, on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Beit Olam East Cemetery, 42 Concord Rd., Wayland. Following the funeral, shiva will be observed at the family home until 7:00 pm and will continue on Thursday, June 27, 2-4 & 7-9 pm, and Friday, June 28, from 2-4 pm.

Stacy will be forever missed by her family and friends. For those who would like, donations in Stacy’s memory may be made to the NEADS service dog program, PO Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541, www.neads.org.

Jack Tishler, of Hyde Park, on June 23, 2019. Loving brother of Phyllis H. Dvorkis. Dear uncle of Alan Dvorkis and Linda Edwards. Also survived by many devoted cousins. Graveside services at the Lord Rothschild Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 11:30 am. Following the service Jack’s family will receive visitors at West On Centre, 1732 Centre St., West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, 17 Court St., Boston, MA 02108.

Melvyn Steinberg of Dedham, formerly of Boca Raton, FL and Newton, died a month before his ninety-seventh birthday. Born Melvin, he changed the spelling to that of the actor Melvyn Douglas. Adoring husband of the late Jeannette for 72 years. Born in Boston to Samuel and Bertha. Caring father of Geoffrey of Delray Beach, FL and Roberta (Avishai Shafrir) of Boston. Proud Papa of Joy (Brandon Feingold), David (Farrah), and Gina (fiancé Rich Grogan) all of FL, Doree (Matt Mira) of Los Angeles, Michael (Alyson Luck) of Westport, CT, Karen (Steve Vladeck) of Austin, TX, and Marc of NYC. Attentive Great Papa of Hannah, Eliana, Lillie, Jacob, Samuel, Madeleine, Olivia, Sydney, and Henry. Big brother of Jordan (Toby) of Singer Island, FL and the late Helen Abrahams. Brother-in-law of Rose Rosenberg.

Melvyn was a Marine Captain who served in WWII in the Philippines and China. He was a graduate of Northeastern University. A world traveler and textile exporter, he visited 89 countries. He was a long-time member of Temple Emanuel in Newton and Temple B’nai Torah in Boca Raton. He was a President of the Northeastern U. Hillel Alumni Association, a 32 degree Mason and President of Boca Lago Country Club. He played golf until he was 90, having scored three holes-in-one and up to his death looked forward to his weekly bridge games and current events discussions. Enjoy a bowl of seafood chowder at Legal’s or eat a KitKat bar and think of Mel.

Graveside service at 10:45 am on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at Sharon Memorial Park. A luncheon will follow at the Steinberg-Shafrir residence. Shiva will continue Wednesday from 7-9 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NewBridge on the Charles, long-term care, 7000 Great Meadow Rd., Dedham, MA 02026, Northeastern University Hillel, 70 St Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115 or a charity of your choice.

Michael B. Brody, of Newton, MA, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on June 22, 2019, after a courageous fight with multiple myeloma. Beloved husband of Lisa (Allen) Brody, devoted father of Craig of Boston, Dana and his wife Lori of Sharon, and Jessica Dunn and her husband Jacob of New York. Proud grandfather of Alexandria, Barrett, Mackenzie, Derek, Mason, Sienna, and Morgan. Loving brother of Les and Amy Brody of Newton and James and Jane Brody of Summit, NJ.

Michael and Lisa were married 44 years and had a special kind of love. He was a family man who most enjoyed his time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. Michael’s passion was the company he helped build and where he worked for 46 years, M.S. Walker. As Michael always said, “Wine is fine, but liquor is quicker.”

Services at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon. Following interment, memorial  observance will be at Temple Sinai 1:30-4:00 & 6-8 pm. Memorial observance will continue on Wednesday from 5-8 pm at the home of Lori and Dana Brody. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana Farber Multiple Myeloma Department, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215.

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Sidney I. Katz, on June 20, 2019. He was 96 and resided in Sharon, MA. Sidney was born in Brookline, MA on February 28, 1923 to Max and Augusta Katz. He graduated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an engineer, was an Army veteran, and president of the family tire and auto service business, Merchants Tire Company. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Minna (Cofman) Katz. He leaves his children Andy, Gerry (Nichole Cirillo), and Ron (Diane Hurley Katz) and his grandchildren, Jen, Ben, Alex and Mark Katz. A long-time resident of Newton Centre, as well as Sharon, Sidney was known for his boundless curiosity, his passion for woodworking, and his love for people. He’ll be missed by those whose lives he knew and touched. Services at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 12:00 noon. Shiva will be at the home of Ron and Diane Katz following the burial until 8:00 pm, continuing Tuesday 2-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sidney’s memory may be made to Good Shepherd Community Care (www.gscommunitycare.org).

Marx, Joan (Stecker), of Newton, MA, on June 20, 2019. Beloved wife of Frederic Marx. Dear daughter of the late Sidney and Claire Stecker. Loving sister of Howard Stecker. Services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New England Chapter, 101A First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451.