Obituaries

Richard Joseph Hamilton, 65, died of cancer at his home on September 3, 2013.

He was born on January 25, 1948 in Marlborough, MA, the second son of Austin and Rita Hamilton. He attended Conard High School in West Hartford, CT, where he was the captain of the varsity cross country team.  After graduating Conard in 1966, Richard attended Boston College, where he graduated in 1970 with a degree in English.

After college, he became a homesteader and a communal farmer in Clinton, ME. In 1973, Richard relocated to New York City, where he first met Fredda Fiedler, whom he married on January 19th, 1974. After a short stay in New York City, the couple moved back to the farm in Clinton, ME, for the next several years, during which time Richard worked as a part time reporter for the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Sentinel newspapers.

In 1978, Richard relocated to Portland, ME, and began working as a reporter for the York County Coast Star. In 1979, Richard completed his conversion to Judaism. In 1981 he was awarded first place for investigative reporting by the New England Newspaper Publishers Association and a third place national award in the same category (National Newspaper Publishers Association). He also won several awards for news and feature writing from the Maine Press Association.

In 1982, Richard began work as a private investigator. The following year, he started his own private investigation firm, Investigate Research Incorporated. In 1984, he and his family relocated to the Boston area. He continued to work in this field until his death, specializing in defense work. Richard was the lead investigator in a number of high profile cases during the course of his career. In 1995, he co-authored a chapter on criminal defense investigation for a lawyers manual entitled “Criminal Practice Handbook.” He also served as the lead investigator for the New England Innocence Project.

Besides his wife of 39 years, he leaves four children, Aurora Corsano, Gabriel Hamilton, Meir Hamilton, and Natan Hamilton; three siblings, Robert Hamilton, John Hamilton, and Gurubani Khalsa; three beloved grandchildren, Alice Hamilton, Beatrix Hamilton, and Enzo Tummino Hamilton; several nieces and nephews, and many loving friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Mazon, and American Jewish World Service.

Alan S. Prager, MD, of Waban and Wellfleet, MA died on August 29, 2013 at the age of 87 from complications of Alzheimer’s. Beloved by his family, he leaves his wife Jane, daughter Laura, her husband Frederick Millham and their children Samuel and Lucia; daughter Sarah, her husband Steven Smith and their children Benjamin, Jessica, and Nathan; daughter Margaret, her husband, William Paine and their children David and Susannah; sister, Ruth Zachary, nephews Andrew and Michael Zachary, and niece Eve Zachary Mykytyn.

Born in Boston, Dr. Prager attended the Boston Latin School, Hebrew College, and Harvard College. While enrolled at Harvard Business School, he served as a lieutenant in the Navy during WWII. When he left the service, he studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, but then decided on a career in medicine and completed his pre-medical studies at the University of Chicago before ultimately returning to Boston to attend Boston University School of Medicine. He was a true renaissance man. Fluent in both French and Hebrew, he studied economic theory and political philosophy, and loved poetry, music and history. Always interested in the processes of child development, he trained in psychiatry at Boston State Hospital and then in child psychiatry at Children’s Hospital, Boston. A masterful clinician-educator with an appointment at Harvard Medical School, he served on the faculty at the Judge Baker Children’s Center, in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital, Boston, and as a lecturer at Simmons College. His family, friends, patients, supervisees and psychiatric colleagues sought his wise counsel and admired his joy in learning, his wit, fondness for puns and silly jokes, his broad, infectious, enveloping smile, and his amazing ability to understand and connect with people, particularly children.

Services at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA on Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 10:30 AM. Burial will be private.

Memorial observance will be held on Sunday, September 1, 2013 from 2-7 PM and Monday, September 2, 2013 from 4-8 PM at the home of Laura Prager and Frederick Millham, 8 Pilgrim Road, Waban, MA.

Donations in Dr. Prager’s honor may be made to “Stand for Children Massachusetts, 38 Chauncy Street, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02110, Attn: Laura Gardner.

on August 28, 2013. Beloved wife of Isaac Sobel. Devoted mother of Fran and John and Lisa and Phil. Cherished grandmother of Matthew and Robert. Funeral services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Clara’s memory may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel St. #200, Newton, MA 02458.

Gould-Marion S. (Lipof), of E. Falmouth, formerly of Newton & Brookline, MA , on August 26, 2013. Beloved wife of the late Manley Gould. Devoted mother of Jerry Gould & his wife Catherine, Arthur  Gould & his wife Randi, and the late Charles Marshal Gould. Dear grandmother of Benjamin, Lillian, Joseph, Kelly, Andrew, Jesse, & David. Proud great grandmother of Maximillian Manley, Adrianna, & Samuel Francis. Loving sister of the late Robert & Harry Lipof, Frances Hurwitz, and Bertram  & Michael Lipof. Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park (120 Canton St., Sharon), on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 9:45 am. Following services, memorial observance will be at the home of Arthur Gould on Wed. & Thurs, and will continue at the home of Jerry Gould, Sunday and Monday through Shacharit until 12 noon, and will continue 1-4 & 6:30- 9 pm, Shiva will end Tuesday morning after Shacharit. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Hebrew Seniorlife, 1200 Centre St., Roslindale, MA 02131.

Matthew Zion, of Boston, Devoted son of the late Sidney and Mildred (Levy) Zion. Dear brother of Ellen Zion Arnold. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. He was a graduate of Brookline High School where he was an avid tennis player. Matthew was a graduate of Harvard and University of California at Berkeley with a Masters Degree in Literature. He taught in Yugoslavia for ten years. Graveside services will be held at Sharon Memorial Park, (Opposite 41 Dedham St.), Sharon on Friday August 30, 2013 at 12:45 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the Pine Street Inn, 105 Chauncy St., Boston , MA 02111.

Sidney Short WORCESTER- Sidney Short, age 89, died on Monday, August 26th in the Jewish Healthcare Center. His wife of 64 years, Ruth (Kaplan) Short died in 2011. He leaves a son, Steven B. Short and his wife Fran of Windham, NH; a daughter, Sandra wife of Robert Gass of Holden; four grandchildren: Alisa wife of Ryan James of Pittsburgh, Jeffrey Gass and his wife Samantha of Holden, S. Brendan Short and his wife Sheryl of Somerville, MA and Sarah Short and .her Fiance Jeffrey Shattuck of Boston; and three great grandchildren: Molly James, Hannah James and Daniel Gass. He was predeceased by his brother, Meyer Short. He was born in Boston, a son of Joseph and Eva (Kravitz) Short and had lived in Worcester since 1950. He owned and operated A & J Auto Parts for many years, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Jewish Healthcare Center. He was an Army Veteran of World War II and served in Europe. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 28th in the Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury St. Under the direction of Richard Perlman of Brezniak-Rodman Chaples of Newton. Burial will be in the Holy Society Cemetery in Leicester. Immediately following the interment, Memorial Observance will be held at the Jewish Healthcare Center at 629 Salisbury St. and later on Wednesday from 7PM to 9PM at the residence of Robert and Sandra Gass at 36 Harvest Circle, in The Seasons in Holden as well as 2PM TO 4PM and 7PM to 9PM on Thursday, August 29th. Additionally Memorial Observance will continue from 7PM to 9PM on Saturday, August 31st at the residence of Steven and Fran Short, 44 Mountain Village Rd. in Windham, New Hampshire. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury St., Worcester 01609.

Services Pending

of Hudson on Thurs., Aug. 22nd, age 79. She was a public accountant. Beloved wife of the late Herbert Israel Fishman. Devoted mother of George Fishman and his wife Gina of Framingham and Deborah, wife of Kenneth Rooney of Gilberts, IL. Beloved sister of Hope, wife of Leslie Borsuk of Walnut Creek, CA and cherished grandmother of 3 grandchildren.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 12 o’clock noon on Monday, Aug. 26th in Framingham Natick Hebrew Cemetery on Fairview St. in Natick. Memorial observance will be held through Mon. evening, Aug. 26th and 7pm-9 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 27th at her residence, 3-G Strawberry Lane, Hudson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02101.