Obituaries

age 96, passed peacefully on Monday, May 14, 2018, after a short illness. She was a most beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and dear friend to many. She spent her life helping others in various volunteer capacities, especially with the mentally ill and the blind. She spent most of her life on Long Island with her loving husband Irving, and then many years after his death was able to enjoy her eighties in a loving partnership with Al. Her last seven years were spent at the Scandinavian Living Center in West Newton, close to her daughter Jane, son-in-law Robert, granddaughter Greta and husband Matt, and her three great-granddaughters, Gracie, Harper, and Georgia, and on the phone frequently with her son River in California. She is described by all who knew her as loving, kind, generous, dynamic, sweet—a positive encouraging spirit to all. She always dressed impeccably and was interested in everything. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Donations in Yvette’s memory may be made to the Perkins School for the Blind.

of Lexington, formerly of NY, on May 13, 2018. Beloved wife of the late David E. Haft. Devoted mother of Rachel Haft and Daniel Haft. Loving grandmother of Julia, David, Benjamin, and Lara. Services will be held in New York.

SOOLMAN, Harvey of Medford died unexpectedly on May 13, 2018 at age 68.  Son of the late Florence (Lazarus) Soolman and the late Louis Soolman, both of Brookline; beloved brother of the late Marsha (Soolman) Markir of Onset; Arnold Soolman of Needham; Roberta Soolman of Ashland; and Marilynn (Soolman) Bianchini of Taunton.  Uncle to David Wakstein of Natick, David Morrison of Milford, Zachary Soolman of Wenham and Jonah Soolman of Needham.  Devoted parent to his cherished cat Rascal.  Harvey was an accountant by day and a writer by heart who authored many stage plays and published two detective novels.   He was also a player and coach in the Boston Park League for 50 years, a junior varsity baseball coach at Newton South High School, a coach at Brookline High School and an umpire for several baseball leagues.  In 2015, he was elected to the Boston Park League Hall of Fame and Yawkey League Hall of Fame – only the 12^th person to be inducted into both.  Harvey leaves his aunts, Paula (Lazarus) Corwin of Tarzana, CA; Celia (Soolman) Turok of Stoughton, Barbara (Soolman) Goodman and his uncle Charlie Goodman of Stoughton; many cousins and countless friends and colleagues around the world who will profoundly miss him.  Remembrances may be made in Harvey’s memory to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or Kitty Connection, a cat shelter where he volunteered (www.kittyconnection.net).

 A memorial service and reception in honor of Harvey Soolman will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the State Street Pavilion Club at Fenway Park, 20 Jersey Street entrance (formerly Yawkey Way). Courtesy parking is available after 5 p.m. in the lot at 73 Brookline Avenue (cross street is Jersey Street, formerly Yawkey Way).

Myrna (Oven) Alford – age 73, of Newton, MA, on May 11, 2018. Beloved wife of Harvey Alford for 56 years. Devoted mother of Stuart Alford and his wife, Laurie, Larry Alford and his wife Jordana, and Julie Stonehill and her husband Ari. Dear Nana of Jacob, Shira, Hannah, Noah, Arielle, Leah, and Mikayla. Daughter of the late Ida and Jack Oven, daughter-in-law of the late Sylvia and Arnold Alford. Loving sister of Roberta Brener and Eliott Oven and his wife Jenice. Loving aunt, cousin and friend to many. Services at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA, on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Interment to follow at Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, Grove Street, West Roxbury. Memorial observance at the home of Julie and Ari Stonehill on Monday, May 14 following interment until 8:00 pm, continuing on May 15 and 16 from 10:30 am to 1 pm and 6-8:30 pm, and at the home of Larry and Jordana Alford on May 17 from 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm and on May 18 from 2 pm to 4 pm. Minyan at 7 pm on Monday and at 7:30 pm on all other days.In lieu of flowers, donations in Myrna’s memory may be made to the General Israel Orphan Home for Girls, 132 Nassau Street Suite 725, New York, NY 10038 www.gioh.org.

Opper, Alfreda (Selib), age 105, of Brockton, & Hull, MA, on May 11, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Edward J. Opper. Devoted mother of Barbara Spector and her late husband Elliot, Susan Minkin-Saari and her late husband Richard, and John Opper. Dear grandmother of Anne Spector, Joseph Spector and his wife Marilyn, Seth Minkin and his wife Jill. Proud great grandmother of Jessica, Lauren, and Evan Spector. Loving sister of Elaine Rosen, Dolly Singer, and the late Marilyn Cardis, Sara Sheinfeld, Edward Selib, and Doris Goldberg. Graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Monday May 14, 2018 at 2:45 pm. Following services memorial observance at Heights Crossing, 35 Christy Pl., Brockton, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alfreda’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472, or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

Fineman, Elmer (Al), age 93, formerly of Delray Beach, Florida and Randolph, passed away surrounded by his family on May 9, 2018. Beloved husband of the late Laura Fineman. Dear son of the late Harry and Ida Fineman. Devoted father of Carol Fineman, Michelle Weisman and her husband Alan, and the late Muriel Fineman. Proud and loving Papa of Alixe Weisman, all of Stoughton. Loving brother of Rita Sherr and the late David Fineman. Al was a proud World War II Army Veteran. Services at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 2 PM. Following services, memorial observance at the home of Carol Fineman through Monday evening. In lieu of flowers donations in Al’s memory may be made to:  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168 , Boston, MA 02284.

Pinansky, Dorothy (Jacobs), age 101, of Randolph & Brockton, MA, on May 9, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Samuel Pinansky. Devoted mother of Harold Pinansky and his wife Natalie, and Ruth Keating and her husband Mike. Dear grandmother of Lisa, Laurie, Tara, Matthew, and Jennifer. Proud great grandmother of 11. Graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 10:45 am. Following services, memorial observance will be at the home Harold & Natalie Pinansky. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HSL, 1200 Centre St., Roslindale, MA 02131.

Stephen Bortman, of Natick, formerly of Brookline, MA and Delray Beach FL, May 9th. Loving husband of 66 years to Eunice (Feinsilver) Bortman of Natick. Father to Lisa Bortman and her husband Richard Trombino of Thousand Oaks, California; Mark Bortman of Walpole, MA; Marci Bortman and husband Max Strieb of Huntington, NY. Grandfather of eight: Joshua Harris and his fiance Kasina Tremblay, Daniel Harris, Lamarr Monterio, Nico Bortman, Antonia Bortman, Jacob Strieb, Ariana Strieb, and Ty Bortman. Graveside service on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 11 am at Kopaigorod Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA. Memorial donations in Stephen’s name may be made to the COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, Florida 33134, DONATE@COPDFOUNDATION.ORG.

Weinreb, Gloria (Berger), of Brookline, MA, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, on May 9, 2018. Beloved wife of Sam Weinreb. Devoted mother of Linda Weinreb and her husband Bradley Rose, and Stewart Weinreb and his wife Barbara. Proud grandmother of Hannah Rose. Graveside services were held at Sharon Memorial Park. Memorial observance will be held at her late residence Thursday May 9th & Friday May 10th, 3-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gloria’s memory may be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW., Washington, DC 20024.

Graveside Services at Kesher-Zion Cemetery, Shillington, PA on Friday, May 11, 2018