of Brookline, passed away on June 2, 2013 after almost 92 treasured years. Beloved husband of the late Ethel (Cudlitz) Pepper. Born in 1921 to Charles and Minnie Pepper, raised in the West End of Boston before moving to Brookline upon marrying. Brother of the late Samuel Pepper of Boston and Brookline. Dear Father of Marjorie Pepper of Brookline, Charles Pepper and wife Regina Bellavia of Brookline, and Susan Pepper Adler and husband Jeff Adler of Mamaroneck, NY. Grandfather of Joshua and Daniel Kaufman, and David and Michael Adler. Uncle to Arlene, Carl, Stuart, Ross and the late Elliott. Former devoted employee of the Town of Brookline School Department, Community Boating, and many other companies, where he saw the good in all of his colleagues as well as in everyone else he met. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. Visiting hours at his home on Tuesday following the service, Wednesday and Thursday 1-4pm and 6-8pm. Contributions may be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 300 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA 02215.
of Chestnut Hill, formerly of Andover, a lawyer in the Andover area and former radio and television personality in Portland, Maine in the 1950s died on Saturday, June 1, in Boston of heart disease.
Born in Boston, June 23, 1928, he was the beloved husband of Joan Eleanor (Steinberg) Lewis. They would have been married 62 years on June 6. Mr. Lewis will be missed dearly by his wife, his son Geoffrey Lewis and his wife Amy Caplan of Waban, his daughter Rose Lewis of Needham, and his three granddaughters whom he adored; Samantha, Jessica and Ming Lewis. Mr. Lewis was the son of the late Rose Mendelsohn Lewis and George Jacob Lewis. He was predeceased by his siblings Frances Rosenstein, Morton Lewis, and Miriam Marcus.
Mr. Lewis was a bright, warm and gentle man who was deeply loved by his family, friends and the communities where he lived. He was admired for his kindness, generosity and respect for all human beings. The Lawrence Bar Association honored him in 2008 for 50 years of extraordinary service. He was active in democratic politics, the local PTA in Andover and the March of Dimes. He served as president of Temple Emanuel in Andover from 1977-1979.
Mr. Lewis was a 1954 graduate of Bowdoin College and received his law degree from Boston University in 1957. Before and while attending Bowdoin College he was a radio reporter and announcer in Bangor, Maine. On a whim one day while visiting Portland where his parents lived, he walked up Congress Street to WCSH-radio and auditioned for a job. To his surprise and sheer delight, he was hired on the spot. He continued at WCSH radio for several years and was the first voice of television in the state of Maine. His radio voice was much admired and even after he left radio to practice law he was often asked to be master of ceremonies for readings during the Jewish High Holidays, and to serve as host on more than one occasion for the Miss Maine pageant with Miss America Mary Ann Mobley in the 1960s.
Mr. Lewis was an avid fan of 1940s jazz, considering Benny Goodman the most talented musician ever. He followed Goodman around in the same way his son would later follow the Grateful Dead. Among the older Mr. Lewis’ most prized possessions is a personal letter from Mr. Goodman thanking him for an album full of photos Mr. Lewis took of the musician at various concerts through the years.
Mr. Lewis maintained an extensive jazz library that included Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald and other prominent musicians of the 1940s. One of his greatest joys was sharing that music with his friends and grandchildren who spent hours with him listening to his music and to his critique of particular pieces. On the side of each CD was a small white sticker with a grade he gave to the CD. No one CD in his collection ever received anything below an A-.
Mr. Lewis was also an avid photographer and a devotee of Leicas. He spent his early years photographing his children and later his grandchildren and all of the wonderful places where he traveled around the world with his wife Joan.
Funeral services for Mr. Lewis will be held at Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover, on Monday, June 3 at 1pm. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Geoffrey Lewis and Amy Caplan, Monday through Wednesday from 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston, 333 Nahanton St. Newton, MA 02459
of Dedham, formerly of Brookline, on May 27, 2013. Beloved wife of the late Samuel Rosenfield. Devoted mother of Leah Lightman and her husband Hylton of Lawrence, Long Island, NY, Jonathan Rosenfield of Jamaica Plain, and Eliot Rosenfield and his wife Elisabeth of Newtown, PA. Dear grandmother of Rafaella Greenfield and her husband Aryeh, Naava Lightman and her fiancée Eric Keehn, Gabriella, Mishaella, Yaira, Elimelech, and Bayla Lightman, Samantha, and Hailey Rosenfield. Great-grandmother of Menachem Mendel Greenfield. Loving sister of Rhoda Ginsberg of Springfield and the late Arthur Rosenfeld. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 in the Crawford St. Cemetery, West Roxbury. Memorial observance will be at the home of Brenda Gershon, Chestnut Hill, on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 3-9 pm and will also be starting at the home of Leah and Hylton Lightman in Lawrence, NY. Memorial observance will be at the home of Eliot and Elisabeth Rosenfield in Newtown, PA on Friday, May 31, 2013 from 3-9 pm and Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 10 am – 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in her memory may be made to Hebrew Senior Life, 1200 Centre St., Roslindale, MA 02131.
Of Framingham, formerly of Brooklyn, NY, on May 26, 2013. Beloved wife of the late Daniel. Devoted mother of Renee Berger and her husband Joel, Ira Steckler and his wife Randi, and Lisa Glaser and her husband Dr. Alan.Cherished grandmother of Josh and Ben Steckler, Sabrina, Daniel and Isabella Glaser.Graveside services were held at Beth David Cemetery, New York. Memorial observance will be at the home of Lisa and Dr. Alan Glaser Thursday 7-9pm and Friday 3-5pm.Remembrances to a charity of your choice.
GLASSNER IDA (SHEER)
Of Dedham, MA, formerly of Squirrel Hill, PA, on Sunday, May 26, 2013. Beloved wife of the late Robert Milton Glassner; loving mother of William Glassner (Barbara) and Louise Glassner Cohen (Harvey); sister of the late I. J. Sheer (Reba), Fannie Sheer, Jean Landman (Marcus), Florence Sheer, and Abraham Sheer (Mildred); grandmother of Robert and Adrienne Cohen, Robyn Glassner and Richard Meth and Leah Cohen. Also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services in Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Interment Tree of Life Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha Congregation, 5898 Wilkins Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or Hebrew Senior Life Development Office, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02131.
Neuman-Robert, of Canton, MA, formerly of Washington D.C, on May 24, 2013. Beloved husband of the late Arline (Ross) Neuman. Devoted father of Elizabeth Reichman and her husband David of N. Easton, MA, and Martha Welsh and her husband Dr. Michael of Ann Arbor, MI, and Savannah, GA. Proud grandfather of Ted & Daniel Reichman, Mary Nyhan, and Rebecca Reesman. Loving brother of Dr. Alice (Neuman) Bessman of Los Angeles, CA. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Orchard Cove Staff Appreciation Fund, 1 Del Pond Dr., Canton, MA 02021 or Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail, PO Box 916, Gardiner, ME 04345.
Sylvia J. Riese of Watertown, MA, was born on August 24, 1924 in New York, NY, and passed away on May 24, 2013 in Newton, MA. She was preceded in death by her husband I. Leo Riese. She is survived by her children, Deborah Riese Litvin and her husband Joel Litvin of Newton, MA; Mitchell A. Riese of Seattle, WA; and David R. Riese and his wife Eva Bak of Windham, NH, as well as her grandchildren, Sam Litvin, Sarah Litvin, Madeline Riese, and Jacob Riese. As an administrator, she devoted many years to synagogues in Greater Boston, and then moved to Academia to serve the Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, from which she retired. A graduate of the High School of Music and Art and Hunter College in New York City, she was a lifelong lover of French, music and art. Gifted in languages, she was a passionate reader and opera-lover. With awe-inspiring organizational skills and a “steel-trap memory” that astounded her family, she lived an independent life to the end.
Services at Temple Sinai, (25 Canton St., Sharon, MA), on Monday, May 27, at 1:00 pm. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park (120 Canton St., Sharon, MA), memorial observance will be at Mrs. Riese’s residence, 7 – 9 pm and will continue May 28, 3 – 8 pm at the home of David Riese and Eva Bak, and at the home of Deborah and Joel Litvin on May 29, 3–9 pm. Donations in memory of Sylvia J. Riese may be made to the Boston Symphony Orchestra or the charity of your choice.
Fairchild-Portugal, Steven, of W. Newton, formerly of Norwood MA, on May 23, 2013. Beloved husband of Richard Erickson. Dear son of Grace Portugal. Loving uncle of Nicole (Coskren) Boss and her husband Michael, Melissa Coskren and her fiancé Kyle Rusk, and Peter Coskren. Proud great uncle of Emma and Chloe Boss. Brother of the late Carmen Coskren. Services will be private. A celebration of Steven’s life will be held for family and friends at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vernon Cancer Center-Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington St., Newton, MA 02462.
