Obituaries

Jerome W. Rosenberg, Framingham, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, Minneapolis, MN, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Scranton, PA, died peacefully on November 9, 2024, at age 94, after a long battle with dementia.  Beloved husband of the late Lois (Feldstein) Rosenberg for over 70 years. Loving father of daughter Barbra Rosenberg (Scott Kloter) and son J. Richard Rosenberg (Elyse).  Also survived by 4 granddaughters and 8 great-grandchildren.

Jerry was an astute, intelligent, caring businessman and role model who took care of his family, friends, and employees.  A late blooming artist, he also loved music, theater, museums, reading, watching sports, the ocean, good food, and being with family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at Beit Olam Cemetery, Wayland.  Shiva will be held on Wednesday from 4-6pm at Barbra and Scott’s house.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Jewish educational institution of your choice or your favorite charity.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Gail Gilman on November 9, 2024 at Newbridge on Charles in Dedham, just days after observing her 75th birthday on Halloween.

Nancy’s friends will remember her radiant smile and her signature look—her long, flowing dark hair streaming in the wind as she cruised in her blue convertible, undeterred by season or weather. She was preceded in passing by her parents, George and Esther Krasner; her beloved siblings, Irving and Miriam; and her partner, Gary Coken. She is survived by her cousins, Lana Epstein (Alan) of New York City and Lynda Gordon of Chicago.

Nancy was more than a friend; she was a confidante, a mentor, and a source of wisdom and laughter for all who knew her. Her warmth extended to her family, friends, and former colleagues, touching a broad circle of lives.

A graduate of Newman High School in Boston, Nancy went on to have a diverse career. She managed Catch A Rising Star Comedy Club in NYC and Darts in Boston, bringing joy and laughter to so many. She also served as a manager at Mill Falls Restaurant in Newton, and later took on the role of commercial collections specialist at McKenzie, Baker, and Stevens in Connecticut.

In January 2023, Nancy joined Temple Shalom in Medford, where she found a welcoming community and cherished the new friendships she built over mah jongg and book club gatherings.

Nancy was a passionate follower of Boston sports, an admirer of the arts, and a lover of life’s simple pleasures. She enjoyed the theater, dance, museums, and was a formidable Scrabble player. She traveled widely, delighted in movie outings, and enjoyed long walks by the ocean. She loved decorating her yard for the delight of passers-by and tending her home garden.

A service in her honor will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, at Temple Shalom, 475 Winthrop St., Medford, MA followed by interment at B’Nai Brith Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts. Memorial donations  in her name may be sent to the Medical Oncology Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center noting Dr. Deepa Rangachari Oncology Research Fund.

Nancy’s strength, humor, and integrity will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

of Brookline passed away on November 8, 2024. Formerly of Brockton. Connie was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Lester Gilson, and brothers Bernard (Claire) and Julian (Carol) Cohen. She was the daughter of the late Abraham and Frances (Cooper) Cohen of Brookline. Born in Boston, Connie graduated from Wheaton College in 1949. She is survived by her children Nancy Gilson Slate (Ronald), James Gilson (Joan) and Barbara Gilson (Richard). Proud grandmother of Abigail Slate Ciampa (Michael), Jenny Slate (Benjamin), and Stacey Slate, Emma and Anna Rollins and Benjamin Gilson. Beloved great-grandmother to Madeleine, Ruby, Samuel, Ida and Nadine.

Connie will be remembered as an empathic, nurturing and compassionate woman who was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Above all, she was an unselfish woman devoted to finding the good in any person she met. She was dedicated to her family first and foremost, the Jewish community and her wider community at large. She was an advocate for many causes, assuming leadership in Jewish and non-secular organizations. At the mere mention of her name, people would remark what a unique and genuine true friend she was.

Funeral service will be at 8:30 am, Sunday, November 10, 2024 at Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard St., Brookline, MA. Burial to follow at Lindwood Memorial Park, Randolph, MA. Shiva will be observed at her late residence from 1-4pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in her memory to the Anti-Defamation League, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Hadassah, Hospice of the Good Shephard. Connie’s family wishes to thank Caroline Williams and Mary Primus for their devotion and support. We are also extremely grateful to the care Connie received from the Hospice of the Good Shephard and nurse Judith Arneson.

Dorothy Freedman, lovingly known as “Nanny,” passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024, just days shy of her 100th birthday. Born in New York and spending her early years in Great Barrington, MA, Dorothy later moved to Boston, where she met and married the love of her life, David Freedman, who predeceased her. Together, they built a family centered on love, resilience, and a deep appreciation for each other’s unique personalities and passions.

Dorothy and David had two children, Stacy Freedman (who passed away earlier this year) and Steven Freedman. Dorothy leaves behind a legacy in Steven, her daughter-in-law Ruth, and her beloved grandchildren—Andrew Freedman, Samantha Eisenberg, and Joshua Freedman—along with their spouses Emily, Matthew, and Lisa, respectively. Her legacy also lives on through her great-grandchildren, Emma, Nora, Noah, Grant, Jack, and Aiden, who adored her dearly.

A lover of fashion, Dorothy was always dressed to impress, never leaving the house without her hair perfectly done and her lipstick flawlessly applied. She cherished shopping trips – particularly at “bloomies” –  and took pride in sharing her impeccable style with her family. Even at 99, Dorothy was fiercely independent and a captivating presence in any room. Her mind remained sharp and curious to the very end, as she kept up with everything from award show winners to politics and sports.

Dorothy’s warmth, wit, and zest for life will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her family invites those who loved her to celebrate a remarkable life well-lived, honoring her strength, style, and enduring memory. Graveside service will be private. Shiva will at the home of Ruth and Steven Freedman, Thursday, November 7, from 6-9 pm.

Of Brookline, November 1, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Harold Koritz. Loving mother of Carla Koritz and the late Allen Koritz and Karen Koritz. Devoted grandmother of Sarah Karen Patry. Sister of the late Henry Zuckerman. Funeral Service at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 1:00 pm.  Remembrances in memory of Sylvia may be made to Dana – Farber Cancer Institute at danafarber.jimmyfund.org.

Born to Molly and Philip Welber on May 7, 1941, Susan Youdovin grew up in South Bend, IN and went on to attend Wellesley and Barnard Colleges.  While a true Hoosier and diehard Notre Dame fan at heart, Susan also loved New York City and eventually settled in Westfield and then Montclair, New Jersey.  Toward the end of her life, she happily returned to Massachusetts to live near family and take in what turned out to be two more spectacular New England autumns.

An avid reader, Susan was a fixture at the library wherever she lived.  She was a fan of Shakespeare and science fiction and everything in between, with a special place in her heart for poetry.  She also was a longtime subscriber to The New York Times and proudly continued to do the daily crossword puzzle (well…all but Friday and Saturday, anyway!) until her last days.

A lifetime music lover, Susan was a devoted fan of opera and classical music, as well as folk, blues, and old school rock and roll.  She sang in a number of different choirs throughout her life and greatly looked forward to the bi-weekly folk singing gatherings at Orchard Cove, her final residence.

Most of all, Susan was committed to showing up – for friends, for family, for community.  As a teen she was active in NFTY (National Federal of Temple Youth) and later became involved first with Temple Emanu-El (Westfield, NJ) and then Bnai Keshet (Montclair, NJ).  Seeing her synagogue community as a second home, she jumped into countless projects, building deeply-rooted relationships with people who meant the world to her along the way.  Whether it was creating a newsletter, reimagining synagogue offerings, helping to run a regional Yom HaShoah program, or hosting a dozen+ friends for pre-Yom Kippur dinner in her small apartment, Susan saw what needed doing and quietly just got it done.

Susan always marveled at the fact that people would pay her to write for a living.  After working for the New York City Housing and Development Administration after college, she began her career in earnest writing articles and press releases for the New Jersey town she lived in, often taking and developing the accompanying photos in a makeshift darkroom in her family’s laundry room.

Susan went on to work as a staff writer at Drew University and project director for Foundations for Learning, Incorporated.  In 1983 Susan took a job at Coleman & Pellet Inc., a position that would launch her into the field of strategic corporate communications for global pharma/medical technologies companies. She would eventually go on to co-found B&Y Communications with her friend and colleague Nancy Blethen and ultimately retire as the Executive VP of Rosica’s healthcare division.  Along the way she also edited several books, including Learn. Pray. Do Justly. Temple Emanu-El and the American Jewish Experience.

As part of her commitment to smoothing the professional road for those coming after her, Susan worked tirelessly for gender equity in the workplace.  She was deeply involved with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and in 1999 was the first ever recipient of their Volunteer of the Year Award (now called Strategic Transformation Achievement Recognition).

Susan was married to Ira Youdovin for almost twenty years.  Even after they parted ways, they remained friends throughout their lives, staying connected through their children Julie (Justin) and Joshua, as well as grandchildren Annie and Michael.

Susan passed away on Friday, October 25 and will be deeply missed by her children and grandchildren, as well as her sister Barbara Asher, her brother Michael Welber, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be directed to Bnai Keshet (Montclair, NJ), Planned Parenthood, Toni’s Kitchen (Montclair, NJ), the Orchard Cove Scholarship Fund (Canton, NJ), or the cardiology program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA).

The family will be observing shiva on Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 PM, with a minyan at 7:30 PM, at Bnai Keshet (99 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ).  The funeral will be held at Bnai Keshet on Sunday, November 3 at 2:30 PM.

Gertrude (Kaplan) Greenman, age 103, died October 30, 2024, in Framingham, MA. Born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY, Gertrude graduated from Tilden High School. During WWII, Gertrude worked for the Army Air Corps. In 1946, she married Theodore Greenman. The couple had three children: Karen (Allen) Block, Bernard “Bud” (Melinda) and Marlene (Gary) Heller. The couple lived in Brooklyn, NY; Colorado Springs, CO; and settled in Valley Stream, NY, in 1953, where they were among the founders of the Tree of Life synagogue. They stayed in Valley Stream for 33 years, before retiring to Boynton Beach, FL, in 1986. After her husband’s death, Gertrude relocated to Framingham, MA. Gertrude worked for the Town of Hempstead for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was an avid card and mah jongg player. She and her husband loved to travel and visited many countries by plane and cruise.

Gertrude is survived by a sister, Myrtle “Mimi” Taylor. She is the grandmother of Myles (Edie) and the late Gary Block, Robyn (Mathieu) Gerbush, Jeff (Rebecca), Aileen (Matthew Gordon), Scott (Evelyn) and nine great-grandchildren.

To view livestream of funeral service click here

A Life in Full Bloom

Susan Satz Kaplan, 88, of Needham, MA, passed away on October 27, 2024. Sue was born on May 10, 1936, in Poughkeepsie, NY to Elizabeth and Louis Satz. She was the beloved wife of Jay Kaplan, loving sister to Naomi and brother-in-law Paul (predeceased), dear mother and mother-in-law of Peter and Mary, Bill and Catherine, and Jim and Caroline, precious grandmother of Drew, Ben, Frances, Lily, and Hattie, and extraordinary aunt to SaraJane and Ed Goldberg and Richard and Bonnie Lapidus.

Sue was a natural teacher, brimming with curiosity and can-do spirit. As an undergraduate at Connecticut College, she painted in oils and drew exquisite still lives and portraits. After earning her BA, in Education and Art History, she fell in love with a handsome young Coast Guard officer from Great Neck, NY, her dear Jay, and they were married on November 23, 1958.

After moving to the Boston area, for several years, to the delight of her many students, Sue taught Kindergarten at the public school at Hanscom Air Force Base, in Lincoln, MA. While raising their three rambunctious sons, Sue turned her creative gifts to floral design, becoming a central member of Temple Beth Shalom’s Garden Club. Her Highgate House studio brought joy and beauty to decades of happy customers as they celebrated their weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, and more. Sue taught, mentored, judged, and lectured widely, winning many awards, from the MFA’s famous Art in Bloom, the New England Flower Show, Maynard Winston Awards, and others. Of her many floral recognitions, Sue was perhaps most proud of her work with the Art Department at Needham High School, teaming up with students to create Art in Bloom, hosted annually at the Needham Public Library. In addition to her dearly beloved relatives, Sue loved her “Floral Family” deeply.

Sue also embodied a sense of adventure, learning to ski the icy slopes of New England when Peter, Bill, and Jim were small, then later in life traveling widely— to Alaska, Europe, Israel, and India, for instance, for a dear friend’s wedding, where she rode the rugged mountains by mule with Jay; whitewater rafting Washington’s Snake River in celebration of Peter and Mary’s marriage; hiking the White Mountains and sleeping in a high-mountain hut with Bill and Catherine; exploring Jewish history in Havana, Cuba, and the coastlines of Mexico, or hot-air ballooning in New Mexico with her grandchildren and Jim and Caroline, and sampling the many wines of Argentina, with her dear niece SaraJane, and so much more.

Her home was open to all and always filled with friends and neighbors who flocked to Sue, for conversation, a meal, comfort, laughter, joy, and, of course, bountiful, fragrant flowers, bursting with color and vitality that were and will remain a reflection of Sue and her spirit.

Sue’s funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, MA where Sue and Jay have been members for over 60 years. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, MA.

Sue’s family will be receiving shiva visitors at Temple Beth Shalom from 1-3 PM. and later at the Kaplan home, from 6-8 PM on Thursday. They will also be welcoming visitors at their home, on Friday afternoon from 3-5:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers—as much as Sue loved them!— donations in Sue’s memory may be made to The Sue Kaplan Art in Bloom Fund (https://www.giving.tbsneedham.org/donate; mail checks to: 670 Highland Ave., Needham MA 02494) and to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org; mail checks to: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.)

Zichronah Livrachah – May Sue’s memory always be for a blessing.

David Harold Gallant died on September 23, 2024. Born in New York City in 1931, he was educated there through college. At Yale University, he completed a doctorate in psychology. After moving to the Boston area, he worked as a clinical psychologist at Boston University and at what was then called Harvard Community Health Plan, now Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

A link to view the livestream link can be found here.

Don Glazer, lawyer, problem solver, magician, poet, passionate tennis player, father and grandfather died, surrounded by loved ones, on October 25th. He was 80 years young. Throughout his life Don valued friendship, family, and adventure.  In the final months of his long struggle with lung cancer and multiple myeloma, he continued to live life to the fullest. This included working tirelessly on the fourth edition of his book Glazer and Fitzgibbon on Legal Opinions, taking his tennis buddies to Wimbledon, playing cornhole with his grandchildren and having “movie nights” with friends.

Even when gravely ill, Don often declared, “I’ve lived a charmed life.” The first grandchild in an immigrant family that fled the Holocaust, Don was doted on by grandparents who celebrated his every achievement: graduation from Dartmouth College, Law Review at Harvard Law School, partner at Ropes and Gray. Later Don partnered on multiple business ventures, served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of mutual funds at Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo, authored, in addition to his Legal Opinions book, Massachusetts Corporation Law & Practice, served as advisory counsel to Goodwin Procter and co-founded a global biotech company, Beigene, that  develops life saving cancer treatments.

However, for Don, the “real” achievements were his lifelong friendships, his years coaching his daughters’ soccer teams, his travel adventures, and the creation of a family charitable fund helping save lives around the world. This past year Don took special pride in the publication of Uninvited Guests, a collection of poems that he said simply arrived in his head over many years.  The party that celebrated the book launch brought together “the luncheon club” –Don’s buddies from elementary school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, several of his Pi Lam fraternity brothers, the tennis crew, legal colleagues, his barber, his gardener, two ex-wives and more.

Don fell in love with tennis in his 30’s and it remained his passion for the rest of his life. He was elated to be able to have his own tennis court and used it daily, taking great pride to be playing with men decades younger than he was. These heated matches led to warm friendships and when Don became ill, the “tennis guys” dedicated themselves to keeping him on the court as long as possible.

Don was an indefatigable adventurer who loved to travel. He found as much wonder in an afternoon excursion to Quincy as in a trip to the Galapagos or Afghanistan. Although he always enjoyed discovering a new place, Don had a special love for the Caribbean and returned there often. Among his grandchildren’s favorite memories are their island vacations with G-Pa.  In 2021 Don found his own special piece of paradise in the Dominican Republic and began spending winters there. His home in Punta Cana became a cherished destination for family, friends and colleagues. Don gave back to the people of the DR in ways large and small. Currently there are five young men attending college in Puerto Rico thanks to “Mr Don.”

Taking Beigene public was a win-win-win experience for Don.  An amateur magician, who loved finding creative and practical solutions to problems, Don embraced the challenges of launching Beigene. When all eventually went well and his efforts yielded financial rewards, Don welcomed the opportunity to “do good with good.”  Don established the his family charitable fund soon after Beigene’s stock went public and remained on Beigene’s board so that he could better connect local cancer doctors—including his own—with Beigene’s resources.

There were so many people Don cherished in his life. He leaves his two daughters, Elizabeth Levesque (Joe) and Mollie Van Horn (Sawyer) and his five grandchildren: Ryan, Ethan and Jake Levesque and Wiley and Edie Van Horn. Don’s brothers, Neil Glazer (Pamela) and Steve Glazer (Wendi) also survive him as do their children, Kelly, Scott, Michael and Matthew.  Don also leaves his former wives, Ellen Glazer, Donna Serino and Jenny Hong, all of whom he remained close with throughout his life.  Don also leaves his wonderful caretaker and friend, Rosendo (Rossi) Maravilla and his large and varied extended family of friends, “the luncheon club”, fraternity brothers from Pi Lamda Phi at Dartmouth, his tennis buddies and all the strangers turned life long friends that he met along the adventure that was his long, meaningful and “charmed” life.

Don and his family thank his doctors, Andrew Yee, Justin Gainor, Susan Cheung, Laura Petrillo and are so grateful to Dr. Dan Cahill, who has been so important to the family.

Don will be remembered at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley on October 28th at 10:30 AM with luncheon following at the Temple.  Shiva will continue October 29^th and 30^th from 4:30-7:30 PM at Don’s home in Newton.

Donations in Don’s honor should go to HIAS or a charity that is close to your heart.