Obituaries

Mort Rosenthal

of Cambridge, MA, on March 19, 2015. Wonderful and greatly loved husband of Maryann Thompson,  father of  sons, Alex, Ben and Solomon, and stepfather of Emma and Michael Rose. Services will be at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston (parking on the Riverway), on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 10:00 am. Following the service, the family will be receiving visitors at Eric and Lori Lander’s home at 74R Fayerweather Street in Cambridge on Monday  until 4pm .

Mort, a business visionary, founded a company called Corporate Software in 1983 that revolutionized software distribution by packaging and licensing software in a business-friendly way.  Corporate Software made personal computers a standard part of the office environment by making software more affordable. A serial entrepreneur, Mort continued to create new companies up until his untimely death. Funny, engaging, truly out-of-the-box, Mort was always looking for imaginative solutions to all sorts of challenges.

In addition to being a titan in the software world, Mort was also often found at school events or shuttling a carload of children.

Passionate about his family, he actively participated in his children’s lives, spending time playing, talking and being with them. He worked to make serious illnesses more manageable and served actively on committees and Boards of Cambridge-Ellis School, Shady Hill School and Cambridge School of Weston. Mort took joy in watching his five children become the wonderful people they are and felt deep gratitude that he was able to be part of their lives.  He was also a deeply loving and supportive spouse of his wife, Maryann.

In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 (www.jdrf.org), or Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, New England Chapter, 72 River Park St., Needham Heights, MA, 02494 (ne@ccfa.org)

Of Deerfield Beach, FL, formerly of Randolph, on March 19, 2015. Beloved husband of Sylvia (Baronick) and the late Rhoda (Slypack). Dear son of the late Bessie and Morris Flatto. Devoted father of Michael and Arlene Flatto. Stepfather of Judy Phillips, David and Christine Phillips, Gayle Campbell, and Nathaniel and Diane Phillips. Dear grandfather of Russell and Maria Flatto, Scott Flatto, Eric and Carissa Campbell, Jonathan Campbell, Kyle, Courtney, Hunter and Trevor Phillips, Rebecca and Hannah Phillips. Great grandfather of Noa and Ethan Flatto and Lia and Ezahn Campbell. Loving brother of the late Herbert and Ida Flatto. Brother in law of Marlene and Alan Davidowitz, and Evelyn and David Finn. Uncle of Nadyne Finn, Mark and Julie Flatto, Richard and Laura Flatto, Dennis and Katie Kissen, Steve and Evelyn Kissen, and Richard and Karen Kissen. Services at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Following interment at Baker Street,West Roxbury, memorial observance will be at the home of Michael and Arlene Flatto, and will continue through Tuesday evening. Remembrances may be made to The Bridge Center (formerly Handi- Kids), 470 Pine Street, Bridgewater, MA  02324, or to Hebrew Senior Life, 1200 Centre St., Roslindale, MA  02131. Mr. Flatto was a member of Teamsters Local # 259.

Sylvia ”Cecelia”(Kaplan)Kramer of Brookline, March 17, 2015.Beloved wife of the late Harold “Hecky” Kramer. Devoted mother of Stanley Kramer and Phyllis Pond. Cherished grandmother of Nicole Shea and her husband Jon, Andrea Payette, and Larry Kramer and his wife Chloe. Loving great grandmother of Olivia, Caroline,Nathan and Patrick. Dear sister of Sidney”Sonny” Kaplan and his wife Pat, Esther Feldman and her late husband Sidney, The late Benjamin “Benny” Kaplan and his surviving wife Barbara, the late Alice Rosenthal and her late husband Samuel” Sammy”, the late Etta Swiecicki and her late husband Stanley. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. Services private.In lieu of flowers remembrances to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center c/o Development Office, 330 Brookline, Ave. Boston, MA 02215.Sylvia was a proud American, Loyal Boston Sports fan and a faithful West Ender

Blank, Martin T. Of Framingham, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Beloved husband of Marcy (Ackerman). Loving father of Cheryl, Dale (Tom Fox), Elyse (Michael Smith) and David (Craig Crawford). Cherished grandfather of Lindsay Yakavonis (Frank Metcalfe, Jr.), Michael Yakavonis and Mackenzie Smith. Son of the late Hyman and Jennie (Grossman) Blank of Bronx, New York. Devoted uncle, cousin, and friend. Korean War era veteran, US Army, 696th Ordnance Ammunition Co. recipient of the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Services at Temple Beth Shalom, 50 Pamela Road, Framingham, on Friday, March 20 at 11am. Burial in Framingham-Natick Jewish Cemetery. Memorial observance at his late residence immediately following the burial through 5:30pm and continuing on Saturday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 4:30 pm and 6:30 to 8:30pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Disabled American Veterans www.davma.org or to the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Hilda (Gardy) Silberman-of Brookline, MA, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on March 17, 2015. Beloved mother of Marcelle Watkin and her husband Arnold, Rena Lieberman and her husband Aubrey, Mervyn Woolf and his partner, Angela Thomas, and Laurence Woolf. Also survived by her former daughter-in-law, Jennifer Woolf. Cherished grandmother of Heath Watkin and his wife Katie, Charla Turgel and her husband Michael, Ryan Lieberman and his partner Chris Allen, Jarod Lieberman and his wife Karen, and Danielle and Jason Woolf. Loving great-grandmother of Ella and Abigail Watkin, Jeremy and Eli Turgel, and Jackson Lieberman.
Hilda was passionate about many things….bridge, music, dancing, travel, game shows, telling anyone who would listen about her life, and telling jokes. But most of all she loved being surrounded by her extensive, devoted and loving family, as well as her extended family at Goddard House. She will be sorely missed. Graveside service on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 11:00 am at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North St., Randolph, MA. Memorial observance at the home of Marcelle and Arnold Watkin on Sunday and Monday 7:00-9:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Goddard House, c/o Employee Appreciation Fund, 165 Chestnut St., Brookline, MA 02445.

Miller-Lissa G., of Canton, formerly of Randolph, on March 11, 2015. Dear daughter of Arthur J. Miller and the late Roberta (Kriedberg) Miller. Devoted mother of Justin L. Miller of Canton. Loving sister of Michele B. Miller of Canton and Jami L. Miller of Walpole. Services in the chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 43 Dedham St., Sharon, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 12 Noon. Following services, memorial observance will be at the Clubhouse of Greenbrook ll Condominiums, 400 Island Street, Stoughton. Memorial observance will continue on Thursday at the home of Arthur and Barbara Miller, Canton, from 1-4 & 6-9 pm. Remembrances may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA  02284.

Loving husband of 60 years to Rosamond (Flash) Grant of Newton. Devoted father of Michael S. Grant and his wife, Susan, and the late Michele E. Grant-Epstein. Dear grandfather of Shayna, Eli and Netanya Epstein and Rachel and Jacob Grant. Dear brother of the late Charlotte G. Carpenter. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Harvey was a WWII veteran, a  graduate of Bentley College and Boston University. He was a practicing C.P.A. for over 65 years in Newton and Worcester. Services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 11 am. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, the family will return to Temple Emanuel until 5 pm. Memorial observances will continue at his late residence on Thursday 2-4 &  7-9 pm, Friday 2-5 pm and Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the Rosamond and Harvey Grant Fund in memory of Michele Esta Grant-Epstein, c/o Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459.

Thelma E. Goldberg of Cambridge and Centerville, formerly of Brookline, died peacefully on March 14, 2015 after bravely living with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Disease for a number of years.

She was born in London in 1934 and was sent to the countryside to escape the German bombing of London in World War II.  Her family moved to New York at the end of the war and she attended school in the United States, graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 1955, the first in her family to graduate college.

She was passionately engaged in the Boston musical world — as chair of the Brookline Youth Concerts, Executive Vice President and Trustee of the New England Conservatory, and as an active member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra community for over 50 years, starting as a volunteer.  There she was elected to the Board of Overseers in 1982, served as the Chairman of Overseers from 1992 to 1995, was elected a BSO Trustee in 1994, and become a Life Trustee in 2010.  At the BSO, she established the Archives Committee which now serves as the advocate for the BSO archives, resources, preservation and outreach activities.  Her work there was featured on an October 2000 WCRB broadcast.  Active on the Education and Buildings & Grounds Committees, she was also intensively involved in planning the BSO’s centennial celebrations.   Mrs. Goldberg is credited with conceiving of the idea for “Salute for Symphony” and was the creator and founder of the Symphony Shop at Symphony Hall.  Mrs. Goldberg was the co-author of the guidebook for Symphony Hall and was a noted tour giver.  According to the BSO, “in her eyes no task was too small – no request too daunting – no goal too impossible to reach.”

In addition to the BSO and the New England Conservatory, Mrs. Goldberg held numerous other leadership roles at musical organizations including Longy School of Music, Project STEP, Boston Music Education Collaborative, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and Spoleto Festival, USA in Charleston, SC.  During her lifetime, two traditions were established in her honor at Harvard University – an annual undergraduate composers’ concert and an award for Arts-In-Education.

She was also an intensely creative person, producing sculptures, paintings, needleworks and calligraphy, often for her family who were central to her life.

She is survived by Ray, her husband of 58 years, her son Marc and his wife Lorri, her daughter Jennifer and her husband Bill, her son Jeffrey and six grandchildren – Rick and his wife Amy, Alyssa, Meredith, Michelle, Nicole and her fiancé Pablo, and Gabrielle – as well as her sister Patricia Main.

Burial will be private; a memorial service will follow at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Richard Giesser- of Newton, on March 12, 2015. Beloved husband of Connie (Silverman) Giesser. Devoted father of James Giesser, Eric Giesser and his wife Janet, and John Giesser and his wife Erin. Loving grandfather of Ella, Hadley, Benjamin, Aidan and Neil Giesser. Services at Temple Shalom,175 Temple St.,West Newton, Monday, March 16, 2015 at 11:00 am. Interment at Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery,147 Wordsworth St., East Boston. Memorial observance at the residence of Eric and Janet Giesser on Monday 7-9 pm and Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Dartmouth College Fund, Class of 1953, Hanover, NH 03755; Anti –Defamation League, 40 Court St., Boston, MA 02108 or a charity of your choice.

Seltzer-Victoria (Jacobs), of Newton, formerly of NYC, on March 12, 2015. Loving sister of Sally Abrahams of Newton. Loving aunt of Marc Abrahams and his wife Carol, and their children,  Michael and Marie, and loving aunt of  Gary Abrahams. Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 1:45 pm. Memorial observance will be omitted. Remembrances may be made to a charity of your choice.