Obituaries

Solon, Suzanne (Wenk) Of Newton (formerly of Oceanside, NY, Brooklyn, NY and Boston, MA) at age 93. Wife of the late Arnold Solon, mother of the late Lee Solon Callaghan, and mother-in-law of the late Robert Callaghan. She leaves her brother Jay, her daughter Carol, her son Joel and daughter-in-law Ana Zarina, her nieces Sarah and Emily, her granddaughters Julie Beth and Elana, her grandsons Daniel, Julian, and Maximiliano, her grandson-in-law Ryan, her grand-nephew Conor, her 10 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Jessica, Kathryn, Joseph, Aidhan, Mason, Abigail, Margaret, Rebekah, and Brooklyn, and her lifetime friend, Helen Segall. Remembrances in Suzanne’s memory may be made to Senior Citizen Fund of Newton  (www.newtonma.gov/gov/seniors/faq.asp), Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, National Wildlife Federation, or a charity of your choice.

Charlotte  Kaswell  Margolis-of Chestnut Hill, on January 23, 2015. Beloved  wife of the late Harry Margolis and Harold Kaswell. Devoted  mother of Martin Margolis and his wife Bonnie, Geri Brown, and Stanley Margolis. Dear grandmother of  Lisa Brzakala and her husband Tom, Adam Margolis and his wife Natalia, Matthew and Justin Margolis, and Andrew Brown and his wife Ashley. Also survived by 7 great grandchildren. Dear sister of Irene Hill and the late Herbert and Irving Cohen. Services in The Beth El Chapel, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, Thursday, January 29, 2014 at 1:00 pm. Interment to follow at The Kopaigorod Cemetery. A memorial service will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215, attn: Mackenzie Clark – www.bostonchildrens.org/giving

Melvin J. Gordon, who helped turn the enduring popularity of the humble Tootsie Roll into a candy empire, has died. He was 95.

The longtime Tootsie Roll Industries Inc. chairman and CEO died Tuesday in Boston after a brief illness, said Brooke Vane, a spokeswoman for the company’s public relations firm. Gordon ran the Chicago-based confectioner for 53 years, overseeing the manufacture of 64 million Tootsie Rolls a day and other sweets including Junior Mints, Charleston Chews and Tootsie Pops.

The penny candy patriarch worked a full schedule until last month, the company said. He was the oldest CEO of a company trading on a major U.S. stock exchange, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Gordon celebrated the Tootsie Roll’s 100th anniversary in 1996 by touring the Chicago factory with an Associated Press reporter. He scooped up one of the warm, gooey candies from the assembly line and tasted it, saying: “There’s nothing like a hot Tootsie Roll.”

He boasted that Tootsie Rolls were almost indestructible.

“Nothing can happen to a Tootsie Roll. We have some that were made in 1938 that we still eat,” Gordon told the AP in 1996. “If you can’t bite it when it’s that old, you certainly can lick it.”

Tootsie Rolls were invented in 1896 by New York City candy maker Leo Hirshfield, who named it for his 5-year-old daughter, Clara, his little Tootsie.

Tootsie Pops, which are lollipops with Tootsie Roll centers, have been around for more than 80 years. A 1970 TV commercial posed the question: “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” The company says on its website that it’s received 20,000 letters from children claiming to have solved the mystery, and the gimmick has migrated to social media, where a bespectacled character named Mr. Owl tweets the question.

Tootsie Roll has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1922. Gordon, a Boston native, married into the business in 1950 when he wed Ellen Rubin, whose father, William Rubin, was president of Sweets Co. Of America. Gordon changed the company’s name to Tootsie Roll in 1966.

Gordon’s wife of 65 years, Ellen Gordon, has been named chairman and CEO by its board, the company said Wednesday. She had been serving as company president and chief operating officer.

“Melvin’s life represented the very highest values in business, wisdom, generosity, and integrity. Tootsie Roll has seen great growth and success during his time as Chairman,” Ellen Gordon said in a statement.

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Irwin Lewis Glazier passed away at age 73 in San Antonio, Texas, on January 20, 2015 after a long and heroic battle with cancer.  Irwin, son of the late Mary and Charles Glazier, was born in Boston, MA and lived in Newton for 60 years, spending many summers as a child and an adult in Hull, MA. Irwin spent almost 40 years practicing law after graduating from Marietta College in Ohio and receiving a doctor of jurisprudence from Boston University.   In his spare time, Irwin enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking, beading, antiquing and making stained glass.   He was a true renaissance man. After recently relocating to San Antonio, TX, Irwin began taking Spanish lessons and volunteering and could be found rooting for his grandsons on the soccer pitch or the hometown Spurs. Irwin is survived by his wife of 50 years, Renee Brezniak Glazier, of San Antonio, TX, formerly of Newton, MA.  Irwin is survived by his children Robyn Glazier and Charlie Hecht of Needham, MA, Jocelyn Glazier and Steve Goldberg of Durham, NC, Elizabeth Glazier and Michael Piesman of San Antonio, TX, Jonathan and Alysha Glazier of Westford, MA, and his sister, Cecile Mendelsohn of Newton, MA.  Irwin will be fondly remembered by his seven grandchildren: Sam, Jason, Ben, Tyler, Hannah, Weston and Matthew. Services on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 2:30 pm at Temple Emanuel, 365 Ward Street, Newton Centre, MA.  Burial will be at Staro Konstantinov Cemetery, Baker Street, West Roxbury.  Immediately following the burial the family will sit Shiva at Temple Emanuel until 7:00 pm. Memorial week will continue in Needham, MA at the home of Robyn Glazier and Charlie Hecht on Fri. 1-4 pm, Sat. 6:30-9:00 pm, Sun. 1-3 & 7-9 pm, Monday through Wednesday 7-9 pm. as well as in San Antonio, TX at Elm Creek on Tuesday and Wednesday 1/27 & 1/28.  Donations in Irwin’s honor may be made to Temple Emanuel, 365 Ward St.,Newton Centre, MA 02459, Congregation  Agudas  Achim,16559 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78248 or a charity of your choice.

Goldstein-Caryl (Seskin), of Canton, formerly of Waltham, on January 18, 2015. Beloved wife of the late Carl B. Goldstein. Devoted mother of Stanley Goldstein (Janice), Marjorie Fradin (Gary) and Dan Goldstein (Debbie). Dear grandmother of Aaron Goldstein (Jessica), Louis Goldstein, Joshua Goldstein, Benjamin Fradin, Isaac Fradin and Elysa Goldstein. Dear friend of Nicole Gedeon. Loving sister of the late Joel Seskin. Services at Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 1:00 pm. Following the interment at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, memorial observance will be at the home of Stanley and Janice Goldstein, on Tuesday until 9 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 2-5, 7-9 pm, Friday 2-4 pm. Remembrances may be made to the Carl Goldstein Prayer Book Fund, C/O Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard St, Waltham, MA  02454, or to Orchard Cove Library Fund, One Del Pond Drive, Canton, MA  02021.

age 69, of Middleboro, formerly of Randolph, on January 17, 2015. Born May 24, 1945 in Boston, the son of the late Morris and Mollie (Wax) Liss and the husband of the late Virginia Rose (Hill) Liss. He was a graduate of Northeastern University where he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration. He was a financial advisor for United Fruit Company, MONY, and later in private practice. Robbie was an avid Boston sports fan, and was a collector of sports cards, stamps and coins, but his favorite pastime was spending time with his two grandchildren, Kaleb and Kaylin.  Mr. Liss is survived by his beloved children, Justin Liss and his significant other  Nicole White of Middleboro, and Janelle Liss of Abington; his sister and brother-in-law, Renee Ann (Liss) and Edward Brown of Newton, his niece, Julie Melissa Brown Gagnon and her husband Chad of Newton; his grand-niece Audrey Gagnon; and many other nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Services at Temple Beth David of the South Shore, 1060 Randolph St, Canton, on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 11:00 am. Memorial observance will be at the home of Renee Ann and Edward Brown, Wednesday 6-8:30 pm, Thursday 6-8:30 pm, Friday 1:30-3:30 pm, and Saturday 6-8:30 pm. A minyan service will be held each evening at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to the National Autism Association, 1 Park Ave., Suite 1, Portsmouth, R.I. 02871.

born October 6, 1937 to Barney and Lillian Robbin in Washington, DC, died peacefully January 17, 2015 in Jamaica Plain, MA.  Carolyn is survived by her brother, Tony Robbin of New York, NY; her husband of 44 years, John Grace of Belmont, MA; children James Carr of Brookline, MA, Julie Carr of Denver, CO, Anna Grace of Washington, DC, and Claire Grace of Middletown, CT; grandchildren Benjamin, Alice and Lucy Roberts of Denver, CO, and Nina and Jonah Carr of Brookline, MA; her former husband, Steven Carr of Cambridge, MA; and many other relatives and friends.  Carolyn graduated from Kubasaki High School, Okinawa, Japan (1955), Stanford College (1958), and Northeastern Law School (1976).  In the 1960s, Carolyn helped produce science programs at WGBH TV and edited acclaimed ethnographic films by John Marshall.  She also worked against the war in Vietnam and was active in efforts to elect black candidates to public office.  Beginning in 1976, Carolyn practiced law at Foley, Hoag & Eliot, at the US Attorney’s office, and as a founding partner of Shapiro & Grace, (now Shapiro, Haber & Urmy).  In 1992, John and Carolyn founded the Atlantic Blanket Company of Swans Island, ME, creating their award-winning Swans Island Blankets.  Carolyn was buried January 22, 2015 at Walnut Hills Cemetery in Brookline, MA.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  To receive notice of the memorial service or leave condolences, please send email to carolyn.grace.memorial@gmail.com. Donations in Carolyn’s memory may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (www.aclum.org) or to the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org).

Fern E. (Lakin)Williams – Of Medway, on January 15, 2015. Beloved wife of Edmund A. Williams, Jr. Devoted mother of Marissa Mahan (Steven) and Rachel Morgan (David). Adored Mimi to Lily Mahan and Halley Mahan. Loving sister of Jon Lakin. A memorial service will be held at Primavera Restaurant, 20 Pleasant St. Millis, MA, on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 12 Noon. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society , 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701, or Stanley R. Tippett Home, 920 South St., Needham, MA 02492.

Lawrence M. Green -age 85, of Newton Centre, on January 16, 2015. Beloved husband of the late Esther (Gorenstein) Green. Devoted Son of the late Bertha (Cohen) and Benjamin F. Green. Loving father of Kenneth B. Green and his wife Chris, and Howard M. Green and his wife Beth. Loving grandfather of Andrea Pogorek and her husband Brian, Erica Newman and her husband Brandon, and Emily and Laura Green. Dear great grandfather of Henry Newman. Services at Sharon Memorial Chapel, 120 Canton St., Sharon, on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 12:00 noon. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be at his residence until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances to a charity of your choice.

Frances Levine-of Natick, on January 12, 2015. Beloved wife of Philip Levine. Services were held at The Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd.,Newton Centre, on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Interment was at  New Tifereth Israel Cemetery,Everett.