Obituaries

of Newton, on August 16, 2017. Graveside service in the Shara Tfilo Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, Friday, August 18, 2017 at 3:00 pm.

Of Newton, formerly of Syracuse, NY, and Boynton Beach, FL, on August 14, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Myron Lichtblau. Devoted mother of Anita Lichtblau (Richard Brunell), Eric Lichtblau (Leslie Zirkin) and the late Mark Lichtblau. Loving grandmother of Noah Brunell, Jacob Brunell, Matthew Lichtblau, Andrew Lichtblau, Annabel Oppenheim, and Harold Oppenheim. Dear sister of Herbert Glanz and the late Milton Glanz. Services at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., Newton, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Following burial in the Beth Israel of Malden Cemetery, North Reading, memorial observance will be at the home of Anita Lichtblau and Richard Brunell until 9 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday 2-4 & 7-9 pm,and Thursday 7-9 pm. A minyan service will be held each evening at 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernice’s memory may be made to The Jimmy Fund, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Joseph Kansky-Of Holliston.Age 74.Joe passed away peacefully just like he wanted.  Beloved husband of 49-1/2 years of Barbara (Slotnick) Kansky.  Loving brother of Barbara Kansky, brother-in-law of Rita Slotnick and the late Steven Slotnick.  Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was genuinely loved by all for his playful attitude and keen sense of humor.Our family is especially grateful to the medical staff of the Newton Wellesley Hospital and the Vernon Cancer Center for their care and support.In lieu of flowers donations in Joe’s name may be sent to the Vernon Cancer Center, Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington  Street, Newton, MA  02462.A private memorial service will be held.

of Boston on August 13, 2017. Beloved husband of Esther (Boston, MA), father of Noah (Hamden, CT), and grandfather of Owen and Alex (same). Arnold, an accomplished attorney and teacher, a tireless traveler, and a passionate gourmet, was born in the Bronx, New York in September 1941. A memorial service for Arnold will be held at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA at 670 Highland Street, beginning at 2:30 PM on Friday, August 25. Arnold’s family will be sitting Shiva at 1 Charles Street S, Boston, MA from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on August 26 and from noon until 5:00 PM on August 27.

Armin Gerald Biller, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on August 12, 2017, surrounded by family in Truro,MA. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1928, he was the son of the late Dr. Jack and Mollie Biller and brother of  Frances Belinky and the late Judd Biller. While attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he graduated with a teachers certificate in English, he met the love of his life — a gem of a woman from El Salvador, adored by all who met her — Martita Freund. They were married in 1953 in San Salvador, El Salvador where they lived until the 1980’s when the civil war forced them to leave the country. Without any prior knowledge of Spanish, Armin joined his two brothers-in-law, Ernesto and Roberto Freund, in a family business. Armin eventually helped to create the first department store chain in El Salvador. He and Martita lived a beautiful life in El Salvador with their three children. Martita sadly passed away in 1990. Their love remained a vital source of life for Armin. He remained a widower until his death. He is survived by his three children: Michael Biller and his partner Nancy Anderson of Seattle Washington, Marga Biller of Boston, and Carolina and her husband Sandy Bloomberg of Brookline. His Grand children: Josh Bloomberg and his wife Julie Casper, Mikaela Bloomberg, Mia Raquel Rosenberg, Alex Biller, Nicholas Biller and Madeleine Biller. Armin was joyfully awaiting the birth of his first great-grandchild in October.The funeral will be on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 11:30am at Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, 2690 Centre Street,West Roxbury.  The family will sit Shiva on Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm at the home of Carolina and Sandy Bloomberg. On Thursday, Shiva will be held at the Interfaith Chapel at Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham from 6-8pm. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made on his behalf to the Armin G. Biller Fund at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where Armin was a member of the Board of Trustees, P.O.Box 849168,Boston, MA 02284. Armin possessed the most gentle spirit — a true heart of gold — and is remembered every day as kind, generous, suave, outgoing, creative, and of course, with a glass of Chivas Regal in his hand, as he engaged in thoughtful conversations with his family.

Formerly of Dorchester, Chelsea, and Medford, on August 12, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Herbert Sherman. Devoted mother of Leonard Sherman (Linda), Judith Atwood (Charles), and the late Neal Sherman. Loving grandmother of Adam (Marisa), James (Deni), Beth, Mark (Melissa), and Rachel. Cherished great-grandmother of Molly. Dear sister of Donna Schwartz and the late Gertrude Zelaznick, Dora Shapiro, and Simon Shapiro. Molly was a wonderful person who adored her children and grandchildren. Graveside service at the Chelsea Jewish Community Center Cemetery, 16 Buxton Rd., Danvers, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 12:30 pm.

William J. Eisen passed away suddenly on August 10, 2017 while running along the beach in York, ME. It was one of his daily pleasures.

Born in Cleveland, OH in 1948, he graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, Amherst College (summa cum laude), and Harvard Law School. He joined the law firm Lourie & Cutler in 1975 and was a partner with the firm when he died. He also taught at the Harvard Extension School.

When asked what he did for a living, he would answer, “I help people.” He was unfailingly interested in people and their stories, and applied his boundless intellect to solving problems in ways no one else could. He made friends everywhere he went, with everyone he spoke to, regardless of background or walk of life.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan, of Wellesley, MA, his daughter Emily, son-in-law Chris and grandson Zachary, of Philadelphia, PA, his daughter Kate, of Ithaca, NY, many other family members, and countless friends old and new.

He was the kindest, wisest, most generous person we have ever known.

Service of remembrance on Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 10:00 am at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley, MA. Shiva will be at the Eisen residence on Monday, August 14 from 2-4 pm & 5-8 pm and on Tuesday, August 15 from 5-8pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program, c/o Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Rd., Wellesley, MA 02481.

Of Newton, on August 10, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Abraham Landsman. Devoted mother of Ruth Landsman and Alex Landsman. Loving sister of the late Edith Wyner, Charlie Paul, and Harry Paul. Services at Beth El Chapel, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 1 pm. Memorial observance at the home of Ruth Landsman on Sunday from 3-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an animal or environmental charity of choice. Hannah lost her parents at a young age and was brought up by her 2 brothers and sister.  She seemed to have an inner wisdom guiding her down paths that were not mainstream for women at the time. She went to BU in the 40’s and majored in Math, graduating in 1945. She got a job at MIT working on some of the original IBM computers and had an apartment with several other women.  She believed in the importance of exercise and went to a gym when she was in her 20’s. She met her husband Ebbie through a ski club.  They married and had children late in life and moved to Portsmouth NH where she raised her 2 children. When they went off to college, and she was in her 50’s, she went back to work in computers.  In the 1960’s she started doing yoga, which she did up until the age of 92, getting up and down off the floor.  She got into health foods in the 1960’s and transcendental meditation in the 1970’s.  She moved to Newton in 2010 to be near her children and continued to make friends and explore new things like Indian vegetarian cooking class.  She won people’s hearts with her spirit, vitality and smile right to the end.

of Boston and Stockbridge, MA died peacefully on Aug. 7, 2017 after a three year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in NYC in 1945 to the late Mort & Rita Jacobs, she was raised in Roslyn Hts, NY. Lauren graduated from the University of Buffalo and Boston University Graduate School of Social Work. She is survived by her sister Lisa Jacobs; her brother Robert Jacobs; her stepson Andy Komack; her daughters-in law Wendy Komack and Julie Ginn; her grandchildren Sam and Jessie; and her nieces Jamie Connors, Jennifer Castrillon and nephew Jason Jacobs.

 Lauren was a clinical social worker in private practice, had been an active member of NASW and taught at Simmons College. She was a founding member, along with her late husband Roy, of the Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) and she headed the Young Masters Classical Series concerts there. She was on the executive board of the National Celiac Association (NCA), played clarinet in the Metropolitan Wind Symphony (MWS) where she met her husband Roy, and was a member of the Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) where a path in Bullard Woods is being named in her honor.

 A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Sun. Sept. 24 at 5pm at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley MA. Any contributions in Lauren’s honor can be made to the organizations listed above, PFLAG and MGH Pancreatic Cancer Research Center.

Helen (Gersin) Cyker-of Chestnut Hill and Boca Raton, FL, on August 8, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Michael Cyker. Devoted mother of Mark and Diane Cyker, Eric Cyker and Terry Cater-Cyker, Howard and Julie Cyker. Cherished grandmother of Ariel Cyker and Keith Wood, Josh and Nicole Cyker, Mitchell and Jill Cater-Cyker , Zachary Cater-Cyker and Bernie Tretta, Jill Cater Cyker and Stephen Miller, Cameron Cyker and Jordan Cyker. Loving great grandmother of Devin, Selena, Kyle, Sophia, Michael, Elisha, Austin, and Jacob. Dear sister of the late Sumner Gersin. Services at Temple Beth Elohim,10 Bethel Rd., Wellesley, on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 10:00 am. Following interment at Baker St., West Roxbury, memorial observance will be at the residence of Howard and Julie Cyker until 9:00 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Dana Farber Cancer institute,  P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift