Obituaries

of Newton, passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease with family members by her side Wednesday evening, July 20, 2016. She was 87.

She was born Marcia Naomi Lubets on December 23, 1928 to Lillian and Robert Lubets. Marcia and her younger brother, the late Richard Lubets, were raised in Brookline and Newton.  She attended Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, where she studied philosophy. In Baltimore, she met her husband of 60 years, Manfred (Goldberg) Goodwin, who passed away in 2011.  in 1964, she and Manfred found their dream home in Newton, where she resided until moving into assisted living six years ago.

Family was the center of Marcia’s life. She and Manfred took great pride in their five children, Amy, Karen, Julie, Laura, and Robert. Marcia’s nine grandchildren, fondly recall Grammie/Gramma’s “huge energy.” For Marcia, family life was not complete without family celebrations and she was known as an accomplished hostess. She also loved to dance, keeping time to music on the dance floor until only recently when her health declined. Marcia was also a successful realtor,  at one time running her own business. She found houses fascinating, and, more important, drew satisfaction from making her clients happy.  Even in retirement, she received numerous calls from former clients asking for her advice.  Marcia was a “doer,” and an engaged community member, who volunteered for Meals on Wheels, among other activities. With remarkable physical health and strength, she maintained her endearing personality and famous energy until only recently. Marcia spent the last six years comfortably cared for by beloved caregivers and by her children, who will miss her but remember her spark. She was one of a kind who touched many lives.

Services at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, Sunday, July 24, 2016, at 11:30 am. Burial will be private. Memorial observance will be at the home of Laura and Tod Woolf on Sunday from 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, 57 West 57th St., Suite 904, NY, NY 10019 – www.alzdiscovery.org

Ralph Jacobson- Of Framingham, formerly of Boynton Beach, FL, on July 18, 2016.Beloved husband of the late Roslyn (Myers) Jacobson. Devoted Stepfather of Sheri Drogin and her husband Ronald.Dear grandfather of Whitney Leigh Shopnick and William Evan Shopnick. Graveside service at Roxbury Mutual Cemetery, 19 Washington St., Woburn,on Wednesday July 20, 2016at 11:00 am.Following service, memorial observance at the home of Sheri and Ronald Drogin until 9:00pm and Thursday 7-9pm.In lieu of flowers remembrances to,Jimmy Fund,10 Brookline Place West, 6th Flr, Brookline, MA 02445 or Jewish National Fund, 77 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110.Ralph was associated for 42 years with Louis Clothing, Veteran of WWII.

Caplan- Anne (Miller), age 105, of Sharon, formerly of Brookline, on July 17, 2016. Beloved wife of the late Louis Caplan. Devoted mother of Phyllis Braverman (Curt) of Sharon. Loving sister of the late Esther Rosenberger, Beatrice Nueman, and Frank Miller. Dear grandmother of Dana Braverman of Brookline, and Robert Braverman of Falmouth. Aunt of Howard Rosenberger (Sandra), Donald Rosenberger (Rhonda), Alan Nueman (Linda), Elliot Nueman (Theresa), Marvin Caplan and Sidney Caplan. Loving great aunt to many. Services in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 12 Noon. Remembrances may be made to Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

of Brookline, on July 16, 2016. Beloved wife of the late Werner I. Frank. Devoted mother of Richard Frank and his wife Elizabeth Salmon Frank of Lexington, and Gerard Frank of Lexington. Loving grandmother of Michael and Peter Frank. Dear sister of Jean-Claude Salomon and the late Andre Salomon. Services at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 11 am. Memorial observance at her residence, 80 Park St., Apt. 45, Brookline, Tuesday 1:00 – 3:30 pm and 5:30-8:00 pm. Donations in her memory may be made to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Of South Natick, passed away July 16, 2016. Cherished husband of Roberta “Bobbi” (Lerner) Fisher. Loving father of Mark and Pam Fisher and David Fisher. Adoring grandfather of Sara Fisher and Andrew Fisher. Beloved son of the late Jack and Rose Fisher. Beloved son-in-law of the late A.I. “Bill” and Mildred Lerner. Devoted brother of Joyce and Paul Yaffe and devoted brother-in-law of Fred and Carol Lerner and Debbi and Jerry Sack. Fred earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering from MIT and enjoyed a lifelong career in building and construction. Services at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, MA, Monday, July 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Following interment in the Or Emet Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, memorial observance will be held at the home of Mark and Pam Fisher, Monday until 9 pm and Tuesday and Wednesday, 2-4 & 7-9 pm. Donations in his memory may be made to the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston, 333 Nahanton St., Newton Centre, MA 02459

Melvin Kaster-formerly of Lexington and Waltham, on July 14, 2016. Devoted son of the late Goldie (Fegelman) and David Kaster. Beloved husband of the late Ruth (Galen) Kaster. Dear brother of Leonard Kaster and his wife Ronnie. Dear uncle of Dr. Bruce Kaster and his wife Madelon, David and his wife Myra, and Robin Sue and her husband Gino .Loving great uncle of Josh, Sydney, Evan, Leah, Danielle, Mitchell, Alex and Amanda. Graveside service at The Custom Tailors Cemetery,776 Baker St.,West Roxbury, on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 1:00 pm.

Of Chestnut Hill, formerly of Needham, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2016 at the age of 86. Beloved husband of Carole Goldenthal Aronson and sons Stephen (Andrea) of Westfield, NJ, Daniel (Martha) of Minneapolis MN and the late David. Adored Papa Phil to Michael, Alexandra, Julianne, Sam, Robbie and Max, and brother to Lois Lopatin of Worcester. Born in Boston, MA, to Samuel Shimer Aronson and Mildred Aronson, Phil graduated from Phillips Andover, 1948, Yale University, 1952, and Babson Graduate School, 1956.  Phil trained at OCS in Newport RI and served in the US Navy from 1953-1956 as a supply officer. Phil spent his professional life in the financial services industry telling his clients that if they followed his advice, they might be bored but they would never go broke.  Loved golf, visiting casinos with friends, following the Red Sox, playing bridge, and being with his family and friends. His great sense of humor, easy going manner and sound advice will forever be remembered by those close to him. Services will be held on Monday, July 18, 2016, 11:00 am at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton, followed by interment at Sharon Memorial Park.  Following burial, the family will gather at 280 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill until 7:00 pm, and will continue Tuesday through Thursday 7-9 pm. Donations in Phil’s memory may be made to Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, MA 02494; Phillips Academy, 180 Main St., Andover, MA 01810; The National Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE First St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131, or to a charity of your choice.

Leon Rothenberg, of Newton Highlands, MA died suddenly, but with family by his side on July 13, 2016.  He was born on February 18, 1940 in Boston, the second son of two 1st generation Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine, Rose Mezikofsky Rothenberg and Morris Rothenberg.

Leon grew up in Roxbury and Brighton. He was a member of the Boston Latin High School Class of 1956, Hebrew Teachers College Class of 1956, and Harvard College Class of 1960.

Leon had strong ties to Camp Yavneh (as a camper) and Camp Bauercrest (as a counselor, camp rabbi and Color War Captain).  He married his beloved wife Judy Rothenberg (née Rosen) on June 30, 1963.

Leon’s professional career morphed through three stages – he was a system manager at ADP, Executive Director at Temple Israel, and for nearly the past two decades found his true vocation as a tax accountant with Raphael and Raphael LLP (where he continued to work).  He took great pride in his ability to engage in a personal “metamorphosis” (in his words) as he changed careers; in addition he enjoyed applying his greatest ability – to systematically take on – and solve the most complex business problems.

Leon loved exercising his brain and photographic memory through playing poker, handicapping the horses, trading stocks and doing as many daily crossword and KenKen puzzles he could get his hands on (in paper form!).  It was his unique form of exercise.

Leon had a soft spot for many charities and always donated more than he was asked.  His political view was first and foremost to be a humanist, with a particular focus on those in need.  For Leon being dependable was an understatement- his friends and family always counted on him, especially in times of trouble or need.

He also loved to complain about the Red Sox, and even amid the rare extended winning streak, he would find faults. He lived and played in the Boston area his entire life, which also included the unincorporated areas of Suffolk Downs, Foxboro Raceway, Lincoln Downs and Rockingham Park.

Most of all he loved his grandchildren: Owen, Olivia and Gracie.

Leon is survived by beloved wife of 53 years, Judy; sons and daughters-in-laws: Steve and Kimberly Hannon of Hopkinton, NH, and Mike and Rachel of Valley Village, CA; brothers and sisters-in-laws: Eugene and Judie of Rumson, NJ, and Stanley and Carol of Waterford, ME; three grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston (parking on the Riverway) on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 10:00 am. Following the interment at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, the family will sit Shiva at their home in Newton until 8:00 pm, and will continue Monday and Tuesday from 2-8 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances  in Leon’s honor can be made to the Mayhew Program, P.O. Box 120, Bristol, NH 03222 www.mayhew.org

Of Waban, on July 13, 2016. Devoted son of the late Attorney Quincy I. and Sally (Laskoff) Abrams. Devoted brother of Helen Holzwasser of Waban, Stefan Abrams of NYC, and the late Barbara Feldman of Los Angeles, CA. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Services at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 10:00 am. Memorial observance at the home of Helen Holzwasser on Sunday until 4:00 pm. Remembrances may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114 or to a charity of one’s choice.

“In battle, in forest, at the precipice in the mountains,

On the dark great sea, in the midst of javelins and arrows

In sleep, in confusion, in the depths of shame,

The good deeds a man has done before defend him.”

J Robert Oppenheimer, translated from the Bhagavad Gita

Lee Polisner, loved father of Carol and Jill Polisner-Kruljac, revered grandfather of Annabel, Alex and Vance, adored father- in-law of Mike Kruljac, passed on July 7, 2016, just shy of his 94^th birthday. Janice Polisner, his wife of 64 years, died in 2012.Born in Brighton, Massachusetts, Lee attended Boston Latin, Boston University and received an MBA from The Harvard Business School in 1949. He served as a 2^nd lieutenant during WWII, was a debating champion during his university days, a Scarlet Key recipient, Honor Society member, Eagle Scout, and long distance runner. His infectious smile, great sense of humor and grounded advice will be ever present in the hearts of his family. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 17, 2016, at 12:45 pm at Sharon Memorial  Park, 40 Dedham Street,  Sharon, Massachusetts. Following interment the family will be at 4 Sterling Lane, Walpole, Massachusettes.