Obituaries

Hyman (Hy) Silverstein, 90, passed away on January 26, 2017, at home after a long illness.  Hy, son of  the late Isadore and Jeanette Silverstein, was the beloved husband of Cynthia (Lampel), for 63 years, loving father of Steven and his wife, Debra; Michelle Silverstein Beyman and her husband, Rip, and his two grandchildren who he cherished, Silas and Ruby Beyman; his dear sister, Dorothy Lewe, and his nephew, David Greenberg and niece, the late Sheila Hans. He was also like a son to his in-laws, Wesley and Becky Lampel, who he cared for when they fell ill.

Hy was from Dorchester and met Cynthia of Mattapan, the love of his life. They married in 1953 and moved to Needham where they lived for 30 years and raised their children.  He was a Master Plumber who had his own business until they moved to Boynton Beach, Florida, where they resided for 28 years.  In 2014, Hy and Cynthia returned to Massachusetts to the Shillman House in Framingham to be near his family and friends who he treasured.

Lovers of the ocean from a young age, Hy and Cyn always headed to their favorite beaches.  Hy was a great dancer and would cha-cha with his daughter, Michelle, when she was a little girl.  He also loved music, especially listening to his son play, Steven, a jazz drummer.  He relished taking his grandchildren to the orange groves in Florida and playing card tricks on them. Hy loved a good time and was quite the comedian!

Hy enjoyed a childhood friendship with a group of 30+ guys who remained friends throughout war and peace and into their golden years, as well as the many close friends who he embraced over the years. Most importantly, he was a truly good-natured person who helped everyone and was loved by all.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 3rd at 11:00am at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Road in Newton Center. The Family would especially like to thank his wonderful aides, hospice nurses and staff who cared for Hy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in his memory to Seasons Hospice Inpatient Center in Milton, MA or to the Shillman House in Framingham, MA.

Shirley Rosenberg-of Newton, on January 23, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Irving.Devoted mother of  Cynthia Nyhen and her companion Albert Clough, Marjorie Cutler and her husband Michael, and Karen Ginsberg and her husband Robert.Dear grandmother of Sheldon Cohen,Meredith Cutler and her husband Simone, and Matthew and Reed Ginsberg.Dear great grandmother of Kyle and Alexa Cohen and Olivia Poliandri. Dear sister of the late Herbert Small. Graveside service at The Rabbi Isaac Elcohonon Cemetery, 232 Fuller St.,Everett, on Thursday, January 26, 2017  at 10:30 am.In lieu of flowers remembrances to Hebrew Senior Life,1200 Centre St., Roslindale, MA 02131 or Golda Meir House, 160 Stanton Ave.,Newton, MA 02466.

Charlotte (Finland) Rittenburg-of Dedham, MA, formerly of Newton and Hull, on January 22, 2017.  Beloved wife of Stephen Rittenburg for 57 years. Daughter of the late Sarah and Samuel Finland. Adored niece of the late Maxwell Finland, M.D. Devoted mother of Amy Schlager and her husband Robert, Jonathan Rittenburg and his wife Linda, and Andrea Segel and her husband Jay. Beloved grandmother of Scott and Spencer Schlager and Jeffrey and Olivia Segel. Private service at Sharon Memorial Park on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 2 pm.Following the service, memorial observance will be held Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, at NBOC Community Center Great Meadow Hall, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, 3:30-6:00 pm, and resuming at NBOC, Community Center, Winter Garden Area, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, 6:00-8:00 pm, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 NBOC, Community Center, Interfaith Chapel, 5000 Great Meadow Road Dedham, 1:00-4:00 pm . In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Eric Winer M.D. Research Fund, ℅  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284.

Slabodnick- Ann (Weiner), of Randolph, on January 19, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Harry Slabodnick. Devoted mother of Lisa Slabodnick Kelly of Braintree. Dear grandmother of Conner, Brett, and Alexis. Loving sister of Janice Rosen of Randolph, and Dr. Arthur Weiner of Ashland. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two other grandchildren, Bailey Rose and Jenna Marie. Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 9:45 am. (gather at the Administration Building). Following services, memorial observance will be at the home of Lisa Slabodnick  Kelly on Sunday and Monday. Remembrances may be made to Alzheimer’s Association of MA, 480 Pleasant St. Watertown, MA 02472.

On Friday, January 20, Mary Jane Harris died peacefully at age 92 from Alzheimer’s Disease in Dedham, MA. She was the widow of Morton B Harris with whom she had a long and deeply loving marriage. A longtime New Yorker, Mrs. Harris grew up in State College, PA, where she attended Penn State University. She moved to Massachusetts seven years ago to be close to family. In earlier years, having collected important European art with her husband, Mrs. Harris contributed their collection to the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, for which the Museum built the Harris Galleries. Mrs. Harris was also a contributor to the Central Park Conservancy and to other organizations in the arts and health care. Mrs. Harris is dearly remembered by her loving and admiring nieces and nephews and by her devoted friends for her fine mind, vibrancy, generosity of spirit and her grace. With deep intelligence and curiosity, she relished music and art, mastering Italian and studying art history in mid-life. Her interests, knowledge and passion for art and music led her to travel and to establish lasting relationships with art collectors, museum curators, art historians and others who have supported the cultural scene in New York, across the US and in Europe. Memorial donations may be made either to The Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, University Park, PA 16802 or to The Central Park Conservancy, 14 E. 60th St., New York, NY 10022. –

Of Chestnut Hill, formerly of Sharon, on January 18, 2017. Beloved husband of Barbara (Fruman) Schwartz. Devoted father of Phyllis Garr (Steven) and Mark Schwartz (Jayme). Loving grandfather of Alison Kanarek (Denzil), Lee Garr, Emily Schwartz, and Rachel Schwartz. Cherished great-grandfather of Jordyn and Sydney. Dear brother of the late Richard Schwartz. Services at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 12:00 noon. Following interment in the Agudath Israel Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, memorial observance will be held in the Club Room at The Towers, 250 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill, until 8 pm and Monday 2-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.

of Needham, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., on January 17, 2017, beloved husband of the late Shirley (Jacobs) Meislich. Devoted father of Lynn Lewin (Seth) and Norman Meislich (Eve Hinman). Loving grandfather of Rebecca Scott (Jordan), Allison Lewin, Alex and Jesse Meislich. Cherished great-grandfather of Abigail and Charlotte Scott. Dear brother of the late Harry Meislich and Esther Diamond. Services were held in NY. Donations in Jack’s memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284

Harriet “Chasia”(Chernis) Segal-Age 103, of West Palm Beach, FL, formerly of Boston,on January 16, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Elijach. Devoted mother of Esther Ritchie and Ruth Shulman. Dear grandmother of Ronald Ritchie,Craig Ritchie,David Shulman,Mickey Shulman, and Dafna Petrover. Dear great-grandmother of Ariel Shulman,Dean Shulman,Max Ritchie,Landon Ritchie,Jake Ritchie,Mia and Ronnie Shulman, Noia and Ella Petrover. Graveside service at Chevra Shaas Cemetery,776 Baker St., West Roxbury, on Sunday, Jan.22, 2017 at 10:00 am.Following services family and friends are invited to the Newton Marriott until 2:00 pm.In lieu of flowers remembrances to The Yiddish Voice, c/o WUNR Radio, 60 Temple Place,Boston, MA 02111.

Phyllis (Kaplan) Wolfe-of Dedham, formerly of Newton and Needham and originally Brookline, January 17, 2017, just days short of her 90^th birthday party. Phyllis (“Nana”) was the beloved wife and companion of the late George Wolfe for almost 60 years. She was a devoted mother to Jessica Wolfe and her husband Tom Bloch, Andrew Wolfe,and the late James Wolfe. So much of her joy in life came from her two granddaughters, Alison Wolfe Bloch and Margot Wolfe Bloch, whom she adored enthusiastically, following their lives and adventures closely. Loving sister to Anne Berson and the late Edward (Eddie) Kaplan. Phyllis graduated proudly from Smith College, raised her family, obtained her Master’s degree and then went on to work as a highly regarded reading specialist at the Solomon Schechter Day School for more than 14 happy years. During her years at Newbridge on the Charles, she volunteered well into her late 80’s as a reading specialist at the Rashi School.Family was everything to Phyllis, and we were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from her during her 89 plus years. Among some of her more famous: always order dessert, good penmanship is everything, reading books can change your life, never turn down a free gift, always stand your ground, treasure your friends, and avoid spicy food at all costs. When it came time to write this, we had to include Nana’s most renowned comment: “I never said that!” Services at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 2:00pm. Memorial observance at the home of her daughter in Wellesley on Thursday evening (January 19^th) from 6:30 to 9pm, and at  The Interfaith Chapel Newbridge on the Charles,5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham on Friday afternoon (January 20th^th) from 1 to 4pm. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Phyllis’ memory may be donated to MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center, MSPCA-Angell Headquarters,(https://www.mspca.org/ ), 350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 .

Bruce Schweitzer of Lexington, MA, 62, on January 11, 2017. Bruce was a one-of-a-kind man whose passions included detailed quantitative analysis of any project ranging from warehouse logistics or survey results to purchasing the best appliance; helping others to achieve their goals as a parent, mentor and friend; making people laugh; and walking his dog, Walter. Even when battling cancer, Bruce had a smile on his face, bear-claw slippers on his feet and a Burger King crown on his head. Bruce made our world a kinder, better place and we will all miss him terribly.Bruce is survived by Lisa Shinefeld, his wife and partner of 45 years, his children, Karl and wife Rinad Beidas and Larry and partner Naama Kanarek, his grandchildren Ron, Miles and Emme, and his faithful dog Walter.A Celebration of Bruce’s Life will take place on January 22nd at noon at: Maxwell Auditorium, National Heritage Museum (Scottish Rite Masonic Museum &Library), 33 Marrett Road, Lexington. Casual attire—fuzzy slippers optional.In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to No Empty Bedsides at http://www.noemptybedsides.com .