Obituaries

Eli Rubenstein, attorney, philanthropist and good friend

After a four and a half year struggle with pancreatic cancer that was marked by amazing good humor and grace, Eli Rubenstein, 68, died at home on January 27, surrounded by his loving family.

In addition to his wife of 46 years, Emily Broner Rubenstein, a former social worker who spent the later part of her career as The Volunteer Coordinator of The Bridge: A School/Community partnership in Melrose, his survivors include his children Isaac and Michelle Rubenstein of Framingham and Abigail Rubenstein and Maxwell Bogue of New York City; grandsons Jesse Rubenstein and Charles Bogue; sister Beth Rubenstein of Los Angeles and her daughters Ashlyn and Hannah Rubenstein; sister-in-law Cynthia Broner of Cambridge and her children Maya and Justin Florence and Adam and Sydney Alperowicz; and sister-in-law Audrey Broner of Belmont. He is also survived by a large, loving extended family of cousins; many of whom considered him their uncle, all of whom considered him a friend.  He was pre-deceased by his sister, Susan Rubenstein.

Eli was born in 1949 in Washington, DC and grew up in Silver Spring, MD. He shined at Montgomery Blair High School and went on to study at Columbia University where, in his sophomore year, a roommate fixed him up with his future bride, then a freshman at Barnard College. A month after he graduated magna cum laude with a dual major in economics and urban studies, they were married. That fall, he enrolled at New York University School of Law.

Eli spent his first three years after law school in the legal department at the real estate firm Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, after which he began his 40-year career at Goulston & Storrs. At G&S, he worked as a partner and director in the firm’s Boston and New York offices, applying his expertise in real estate development and financing strategies. When he joined, the firm had 16 lawyers; today, it has more than 200.

He was the gregarious patriarch of a large and loving family, who adored him for his warmth, wit, and joie de vivre.

He was a treasured friend to childhood pals and a large circle of people he met through his neighborhood, Temple Shalom, Belmont Country Club, and work – both colleagues and former adversaries won over by his skill and respect for the practice of law.

Eli loved a good dinner, many of which he cooked with great skill. He enjoyed hosting groups of family and friends. He also made a great martini and made sure that every child in his extended family could do the same as soon as they reached adulthood.

Having met in Manhattan, he and Emily spent time throughout their marriage in both Newton and New York, where they enjoyed walking around exploring the city’s many neighborhoods and attending the theater.

 Traveling was also one of the couple’s passions. Eli’s travel for both business and pleasure took him to every continent besides Antarctica.

 Following the deaths of his uncle, father and sister who all suffered from primary progressive multiple sclerosis, Eli knew that whatever course his life took, a substantial part of it would be dedicated to the movement to create a world free of MS. He served on the national board of directors of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and spent three years as the board’s chairman.  He also served for decades on the Greater New England Chapter board of trustees, with two terms as chapter chair.

He was honored with the National MS Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Norman Cohn MS Hope Award; he was inducted into the Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame; and he twice received the New England Chapter’s MileStones in Leadership Award for his contribution to policy vision and fundraising for the society.

A strong believer that people have an obligation to “give back”, Eli also donated his time, talents, and generous support to several other worthy organizations, including Dimock Community Health Center, the American Jewish Committee, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

Funeral will be held at Temple Shalom of Newton, 175 Temple Street, Newton MA on Monday, January 29 at 11 am. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, the family will be sitting shiva at the Rubenstein residence until 8pm, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm – 4pm and 7pm – 9pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater New England Chapter, 101A 1st Ave., Waltham, MA 02451 or http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/MAM/Donate

Bernard Moller-of Atlanta, GA, formerly of West Newton, on January 26,2018. Beloved husband of the late Ruth Charlotte (Mankin) Moller. Devoted father of Edward N. Moller and his wife Marsha, Amy Moller and her significant other Jeffrey Frank, and Louise Samsky and her husband Brett. Dear grandfather of Samuel Moller, Connor Samsky, Eli and Nora Frank. Loving brother of the late Frances Press and Melvin Moller. Devoted brother-in-law of Janice Levine and Harriet Dulaney. Dear uncle of Arthur and Robert Levine, Pauline Daglio and Kara Moller. Services at The Wilson Chapel,234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, MA, on Sunday, January 28, 2018, at 2:30 pm. Following interment at The Beth Israel Cemetery, Everett, memorial observance will be at the home of Edward and Marsha Moller until 8:00 pm Sunday, and Monday 2-4, 7-9 pm.In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Boston University Questrom School of Business, Rafik B. Hariri Building,595 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215 or The Piedmont Atlanta Hospital,1968 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309.

Services will be held in Maryland

Tracey Valentine-Gussman -age 38, of Newton, on January 23, 2018. Beloved wife of Robert Gussman. Devoted daughter of Jacqueline Coviello and the late Thomas Valentine. Cherished mother of Destiney Valentine Reardon. Dear sister of Jennifer Cook and her husband Shane and Gina Valentine and her fiance  Daryl DelGaudio. Devoted niece of Christina Valentine. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Sacred Heart Church, Watertown, on January 25, 2018.Remembrances in her memory may be made to St. Jude  Hospital for Children,262  Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.

Dr. Morris J. Karnovsky of Newton. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and teacher and mentor of generations of students and researchers at Harvard Medical School. Born in South Africa, educated at the University of the Witswatersrand and in England, he was a major contributor to the fields of pathology and cell pathology, among others. He leaves his wife Shirley, son David and daughter Nina, and grandchildren Rachel, Nathan, Max and Lillian. Service at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Road, Newton Center, on January 23, 2018 at 10:00 am, followed by interment at Newton Cemetery. Donations may be made to Doctor’s Without Borders.

Marilyn (Levine) Katz of Jerusalem, Israel, on January 21,2018. Beloved wife of late Menachem (Milton) Katz. Devoted mother of Ronna Katz, Lisa Katz Silverman and her husband Dr. Bernard Silverman, and Dana Katz and his wife Ariela Katz. Loving grandmother of Adi and Koren Shachar, Michael Silverman, Rachel and Adam Fusfeld, Becky and Jesse Davis, and Alex Katz. Dear sister of Malcolm Levine and late Philip Levine. Services in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Family and friends may visit at the home of Ariela and Dana Katz on Tuesday 6-9 pm, Wednesday 11-3pm and 6-9 pm, Thursday 11-3 pm and 6-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances to Alzheimer’s Association. 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452

Of Newton, on January 18, 2018, at 106 years old. Beloved wife of the late Samuel Goff. Devoted daughter of the late Abraham and Rose Berman. Dear sister of the late Viola Gordon and Irene Lazar, loving mother of Pamela Markson of Wayland, adoring grandmother of Jared Markson and Rachel Lutchko, and great-grandmother of Samuel Markson. Memorial observance at NewBridge on the Charles, Interfaith Chapel, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham,  Sunday, January 21, 2018 from 5:00-8:00 pm.

Steven Ayoub, age 60, of Dedham, passed away on January 12, 2018 after a brave two year battle with cancer.

Beloved son of the late John Ayoub Sr. and the late Theresa Ayoub. Devoted brother of the late John Ayoub Jr., cherished brother-in-law of Ann Marie Ayoub, and loving uncle of John Ayoub III.

Steven enjoyed spending time with his family and many friends. The legacy of his selfless spirit, and passion for laughter will live on through them.

There will be a celebration in honor of Steven’s life on Sunday, January, 21, 2018 from 1-4 pm at the Dedham Moose Lodge, 79 Lower E St., Dedham, MA.

To honor Steven’s memory, please consider making a donation to the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 – www.mspca.org

Barbara Dorothy (Leavitt) Gluck, formerly of Brockton, MA, died peacefully on January 15 in Memphis, TN, where she had lived for the past four years, near her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and David Schwartz.  Barbara was the loving mother of Elizabeth Schwartz and her husband David Schwartz of Germantown, TN, Susan Gluck and her partner Ruby Gainen of West Hartford, CT and Ronald Gluck and his wife Elizabeth Brody Gluck of Newton, MA. She was the cherished grandmother (“Omi”) of Jacob and Will Schwartz and Alison, Lauren and Matthew Gluck. She was the dear sister to her brother Edward Leavitt and his wife Marsha Leavitt of Boynton Beach, Florida and the very devoted daughter of the late Julian and Florence Leavitt. Barbara was born and bred in Boston and graduated from Fisher College. She worked tirelessly as a social worker for forty years and went on to become the Senior Adult Program Director at the Striar Jewish Community Center in Stoughton, MA.  Barbara loved the work, but mostly she loved enriching the lives of the seniors she served. Through her work, she created programming for the senior adult community, which included educational trips to Israel, annual trips to Browns Hotel in the Catskill Mountains as well as lectures and a Lunch and Learn program designed to offer culture and intellectual stimulation to those in their later years. Barbara was a life member of Hadassah and a cherished member of the Temple Beth Emunah community in Brockton for many years. Barbara will be remembered by all who knew her as a caring, selfless and thoughtful person whose life was dedicated to her family and the communities she served. Services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, Friday, January 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215 or The Memphis Jewish Home, 36 Bazeberry Road, Cordova, TN 38018.

Of Chestnut Hill, on January 15, 2018.  Beloved wife of the late Marcus Rabin.  Services at Floral Park Cemetery, Monmouth County, N.J.