Obituaries

Dennis Greene, a retired attorney and cherished family man, passed away in his sleep on August 14, at the age of 80. Dennis is survived by his loving wife Eileen, daughters Alex and Beth, and brother Steve and his wife Sylvia. Born in New York and raised in Dartmouth and New Bedford MA, Dennis was a respected partner at Mintz Levin, where he practiced corporate law for more than 40 years. He earned an undergraduate degree from Lafayette College, followed by both an MBA and law degree from Boston University. Dennis was a gifted lawyer and writer, thoughtful, funny, and always ready to share a story or three. An eagle scout and avid fan of speculative fiction, Dennis was known for his unwavering kindness and loyalty. He was a pillar in both his professional and personal circles. Dennis resided in Wellesley for 45 years, where he was an active member of Nehoiden Golf Club, and served for a time as president of the Men’s Club. In addition to daily golf, Dennis enjoyed a fulfilling retirement of intellectual curiosity through teaching and learning in classes at Bolli. He loved his two daughters more than anything and was a beloved father and husband, always there to support his family. He is remembered fondly by friends and family for his generosity and goodness, and for his never-ending storytelling. Dennis’s unexpected passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of those who were touched by his life. A shiva will be held at the family’s home on Monday, August 19, 2024 from 7:00-9:00pm and a Memorial Service will be held at a later date, with details to follow.

Dr. Eileen Frances Wolf Feldman, daughter of Helen and Gerald Wolf of Natick, MA, died on August 11, 2024, at the age of 70. Despite the challenges she faced in life resulting from a chronic neurologic condition, transverse myelitis, that she developed at the age of 42 and later a progressive lung disease that ultimately took her life, she lived a life of courage and determination.

Eileen was born in Boston, MA on August 4, 1954. She was the product of Boston Public Schools including Girls Latin before her family moved to Natick, MA at the end of her 8^th grade. Eileen excelled academically graduating Valedictorian from Natick High School in 1972, Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Tufts University in 1976 where she pursued her love of biology to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (class of 1980). There she would meet and later marry Dr. James Feldman. She completed her residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, MA, because the author of the renal textbooks she loved, Dr. Bud Rose, who would develop UptoDate and change the practice of medicine, was a member of the faculty who became a lifelong mentor. She completed her renal fellowship at Boston University.

Following her renal training, she served as Chief of Nephrology at Worcester City Hospital, then was part of the Department of Nephrology at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Dr. Wolf was recognized for her excellence as a clinician and educator. She was outspoken in her advocacy for women in medicine.

After she retired from renal medicine because of her neurologic disabilities, she was a volunteer at Temple Beth Am in Framingham and co-leader for the Jewish Coalition for Literacy teaching math and reading to students in an elementary school in Framingham.

Eileen was gifted with an effervescent personality and an ability to engage people. Her Barbara Walter’s style of connecting with and interviewing people led her to lifelong relationships with many people. Once learned, she never would forget someone’s birthdate or details of their lives.

Eileen readily shared her knowledge of and love for flowers and her expertise informed the careful plantings of the home that she designed in Framingham and culminated in her visit to Monet’s Gardens at Giverny during a trip to Paris that she won from WBUR. She excelled at games and loved doing word and math puzzles. She was also passionate about Boston sports teams especially the Boston Red Sox and was among the fans who stayed up in 2004 and never gave up hope and then travelled to Florida to see “her boys” at spring training before beginning chemotherapy for breast cancer. When younger she loved playing tennis and remained an avid fan rooting for her favorites, Rafa and Serena, as well as watching her daughters Stephanie and Hope play tennis for Framingham High School.

Her wicked sense of humor carried her through even the most difficult of times and arduous treatments including the several life-threatening events that she endured over the last two years of her life. She was devoted to Judaism and its rituals and holidays and being a part of the lives of her large and extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Eileen said that of the many titles that she held in life, that of mother and grandmother were the ones she most valued. She took great pride in seeing her daughters Dr. Stephanie Feldman and Dr. Hope Feldman pursue their careers in medicine and in seeing the kind of patient centered and humanistic approach that they demonstrated. She welcomed son-in-law Dr. Joshua Allen Dicker into the family and above all she cherished being part of the lives of her grandchildren, Vivian and Zachary. Eileen especially treasured the deep bond that she shared with her sister Marcia and brother-in-law Barry Gilbert and nephew Joshua. Dr. Wolf also leaves her husband of 44 years, Dr. James Feldman and the blessing that was their life together and Hope’s beloved grand dog Dexter.

In lieu of flowers, Eileen has requested donations to a charity of choice, or consider Act Blue, Crohn’s Colitis and Arthritis Foundation, the American Lung Association, The Mass General Hospital Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Clinic, the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association and the MSPCA. Funeral service at Temple Beth Am, 300 Pleasant St., Framingham, MA, on Tuesday, August 13 at 11 am. Burial at Beit Olam Cemetery, Wayland. Visiting hours at Eileen’s home following internment until 7pm and Wednesday and Thursday 1pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm.

GREIFF, Daniel Yehudi Died peacefully on August 7, 2024, at 85. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; their children, Jared, Zoe, and Joshua; and his sons, Andrew and Mitchel, from his first marriage. Their sister, Amanda, had predeceased her father. He also leaves his two grandsons, Jacob and Harrison. Daniel was buried on August 11, 2024, at a private graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Daniel and his parents, Belle and Philip, along with his brother, Barrie, and sister, Barbara, moved to W. Hartford, CT, when Daniel was 16. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Daniel began his illustrious work career after moving to the Boston area in 1960 at Bellesteel Industries, a distributor of flat-rolled steel located in E. Boston, and remained there until 2001, serving as its President and CEO beginning in 1986. From 2001 through 2024, Daniel remained successfully involved in various metal-related businesses. Daniel was involved with several nonprofit organizations, serving on the Board of The Brain Tumor Society, now the National Brain Tumor Society. Daniel was an avid tennis player and a huge Boston sports fan and loved a good poker game with friends. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to either The 100 Club of Massachusetts or The National Brain Tumor Society.

Larry  Marks, age 71. Of Brookline, formerly of Newton, on August 10, 2024. Loving son of the late Sidney and Nancy (Jacobson) Marks. Adored brother of Susan and Harvey Lazarus and Robert Marks. Larry faced his challenges with a positive attitude. He was beloved by his caretakers and all who knew him. A private burial was held at Sharon Memorial Park. There will be no memorial observance.

Of Newton, formerly of Chelsea, on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The beloved wife of the late Lawrence C. Zalcman. Loving mother of Amelia Zalcman & Lawrence Lewis of Newton, James Zalcman of Mamaroneck, NY, and Janey & Eric Goldberg of Merrimack, NH. Adored “Bobi” of Samantha, Theodore and Jackson Lewis & Madison Florence, and Tallin, Josephine and Lucas Goldberg. Dear sister of Ellen Boone Samuels and the late Fred Boone. She is also survived by many adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Service at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street, Newton, on Wednesday, August 14, at 11:00 AM. Burial in Everett. Memorial observance at the residence of Amelia Zalcman following the Burial until 9pm, and continuing Thursday, from 12-5pm & 7-9pm. Please omit flowers. Remembrances would be appreciated to Days for Girls International, PO Box 2622, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

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Barbara May Karas was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, bubbe and a much loved and respected member of every community she chose to join.

Born on September 22, 1930, in Chelsea, she spent her childhood in a small apartment with her mother, father, brother, grandparents and assorted uncles and aunts.

She would never call herself a feminist, but she was one.

Barbara was the first female president of Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill. She was a sought-after public speaker, who spoke from her head and her heart, never from a script.

In her forties, she went to work at her family’s glass company, Karas & Karas Glass, but most of her years were spent volunteering for whatever struck her passion—as a ward manager for her friend Theodore Mann’s many successful campaigns for mayor of Newton, as a board member of the pioneering Newton Television Foundation, which funded original programming in the early years of cable TV, or operating the Mishkan Tefila gift shop with her best friend, Charlotte Kaitz.

When she saw a problem, she fixed it.

She spent days standing on the corner outside her house on Great Meadow and Brandeis Roads in Newton, lobbying for a stop sign. She got it—and it’s still there.

When she wasn’t running something or other, she was reading. The lending library at Lauriat’s bookstore would call whenever a new book was in. She would rush over and walk out with two or three books in her hands. A week later she’d be back for two or three more. She did her best to pass her love of reading on to her four children, some with more success than others.

When she wasn’t reading, she was at the stove in her Kosher kitchen. She was known by her family for her brisket and chicken soup, and by her kids’ friends and camp buddies for her brownies and blondies.

Her husband, Leo Karas, loved her for almost everything she did, but perhaps nothing more than the Hebrew National hot dogs she made for him every Thursday night for most of their 70-year marriage.

Barbara loved the beach. She grew up on it, but never learned to swim. She joined her family on skiing trips to Waterville Valley, but never left the lodge.

She loved throwing parties and was no stranger to the world of adult beverages.

Barbara loved fashion, and the Max Mara store on Newbury Street loved her. They called whenever something new came in, and she never hesitated. Any color would do, as long as it was black or beige.

She had a lifelong love of music, especially Frank Sinatra, whom she saw multiple times—starting in high school, when her great uncle, Max Tennis, persuaded her mother to let her go into to Boston unchaperoned to see her idol. She also saw the Beatles at Boston Garden, though not completely willingly.

After she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she continued to find joy in singing, and she was able to remember 70-year-old lyrics and melodies long after so much else had slipped away.

But above all else, Barbara loved Leo. She didn’t always agree with him, but she always supported and defended him, even when she knew he was wrong. If she happened to be voting for a Democrat, which she usually was, instead of one his favored moderate Republicans, she did the polite thing and didn’t tell him—until later in life, when he finally came around to her side.

Barbara and Leo loved to travel, especially to their beloved Israel, which they visited at least a dozen times and where they had many friends, not all of whom were Jewish.

They were philanthropists, giving generously to Jewish causes, educational institutions and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, whose New England chapter they founded with three other couples in 1969.

Barbara and Leo had a magical marriage, full of love and laughter and holding hands. Her only regret was that they wed on December 25 and therefore had to celebrate every anniversary at a (decidedly non-Kosher) Chinese restaurant, since nothing else was open.

In her last days on earth, she told her children she had no fear of dying and no idea what happens to us when we die. “But,” she always said, “I hope I can see Leo again.”

The passing of Barbara May Karas leaves a hole in the lives of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her great grandchild: Susan Karas, Claudia Beldengreen, Linda Karas, Joey Karas, Judi Karas, Matty Karas, Allix Karas, Robby Borowski, Ben Karas, Jess Marsh Karas, Ethan Beldengreen-Karas, Brandon Beldengreen-Karas, Julia Beldengreen-Karas and Charlie Karas.

Graveside service will be held at Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, 2659 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at noon. Shiva will be observed following services at Joseph and Judi Karas residence in Boston Sunday 2 pm- 8 pm and Monday  evening 6 pm-8 pm. Donations may be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, curealz.org, or to VNA of Boston, vnacare.org.

Graveside service on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Beth El Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA.

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In Loving Memory of Jack Rosenfield (Oct 18, 1925-Aug 3, 2024)

Jack Rosenfield (Yakov ben Zvi v’Sora), age 98, of Newton, MA, passed away peacefully with family by his side on August 3, 2024.

Born on October 18, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, Jack was the devoted father of Harvey Rosenfield and his wife Georgia Bragg, of Los Angeles, CA, and Robin (Rosenfield) Blatt and her husband Dr. Charles Blatt, of Newton, MA.

Loving grandfather of Hannah (Blatt) Strashun and her husband Cliff; Gideon Blatt and his wife Hanna Coxon; Zoe Blatt; Maisy (Bragg) Jones and her husband Ian; and Cody Rosenfield and his partner Katya English. Proud great grandfather of Penelope, Heidi, and Wyatt Jones; Bennett and Jackson Strashun; and Noah Blatt. He leaves his loved ones, including many nieces, nephews, and special friends with memories of the importance of family and family gatherings that lasted until the end of a life fully lived.

He is survived by his former wife, Sonya (Wexler) Rosenfield of Newton, MA. He is predeceased by his parents, Sarah (Pally) Rosenfield, of Romania, and Harry Rosenfield, of Russia. “Jackie” was also the loving youngest brother to three special sisters – the late Nina Shore, Grace Rubin, and Bea Katz.

Jack grew up in Dorchester and East Boston. He was raised with a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for family values and Jewish traditions.

As a Veteran, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School and received an honorable discharge as a Navy Seaman.

He received his professional degree from Bentley College and throughout his career he worked independently as Certified Public Accountant, doing so well into retirement. He especially enjoyed working with student run non-profit organizations.

Outside of work, Jack had a wide range of interests and hobbies. Throughout his later life, he sang and performed with multiple choral societies. Among the most meaningful performance was a narrative concert with a local choral group commemorating the role of music and survival of the human spirit in Nazi concentration camps.

He was an avid tennis player and animal lover. He received great pleasure asking questions and learning about and connecting with others.

Most importantly, Jack always loved talking with and spending quality time with his children, grandchildren and extended family. Whether it was holiday celebrations, gathering around the dinner table or other events, he cherished these moments and created lasting memories.  At his 90th birthday celebration he remarked, “While I may not be here when my grandchildren have children, I am quite sure they will be both great & grand!” He experienced immense joy becoming a great grandfather and meeting each great-grandchild, and always spoke of them with pride.

His love for his family was immeasurable, his presence will be missed, and his legacy will forever remain in the hearts of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all who knew him.

A graveside service will take place at Polonnoe Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, on Monday, August 5, 2024 at 10 am.

Following services, shiva observance will be at the home of Robin and Charles Blatt, from 3-5pm and 7-9pm. The family will continue shiva observance together in Maine.

The Life and Times of Henrietta “Herky” Silton

Henrietta “Herky” Silton, of Newton, Massachusetts.  Born in Boston to the late Regis (Corkery) and Chester MacDonald.  Devoted mother to five sons: Michael (Andrea) of Westford, MA, Jeffrey (Norine) of Newton, MA, Richard (Simmee) of Newton, MA, Peter (Sidra) of Bel Air, MD, and Jonathan of Chichester, NH.  Survived by her sister Lois Ferreira of Nashua, New Hampshire.  Predeceased by her sisters Teresa Weiss of Norwood, MA, Edna Quint of Center Barnstead, NH and brother Chester W. MacDonald of Wellesley, MA.  She will also be remembered by 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.

She graduated from the Boston City Hospital School of Nursing, in 1954 as a Registered Nurse. She put her nursing career on hold, after marrying the late Sumner Silton, to raise her sons.  She returned to nursing, settling in as the medical director for several rewarding and enjoyable years at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton.  After the Carroll Center, she returned to hospital nursing at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA, where the bustle and variety was more her nature.  After mandatory retirement, she continued to work part-time for several years at “St. E’s” as a Discharge Planning Nurse, and a fierce advocate for patients. She fully retired from nursing at age 75, after over 50 years of nursing.

Herky is remembered by all as honest, loyal, steadfast, and loving.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Carroll Center for the Blind (www.carroll.org).

Funeral service will be held on Sunday, August 4^th at 10:30 am at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., West Newton, Ma. A graveside service will follow at Baker Street Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA. Shiva will be held immediately following the graveside service at the home of Richard and Simmee Silton.

Nancy Gail (Hill) Matza, beloved sister, mother of Evan (Karyn) and Lexi (Jamison) and grandmother. A bright, witty woman who prevailed against the social mores of her time, Nancy was blessed with thirty years of marriage to Brian Matza. Together, they raised two children and founded a technical school which trained air conditioning technicians.  When Brian died suddenly, Nancy was left a widow in her 50s. She set her prodigious intelligence and energy to attending law school, while working full-time as a technical writer. It was then that Nancy met her second husband, Martin Dropkin, and they went into practice together. After his death in 2019, Nancy continued to practice law and found great meaning and satisfaction in her work supporting people with their legal needs. Nancy was very active in the Medford chapter of Hadassah for many years and was most recently a member of Shir Tikva in Wayland.

Funeral Service at Framingham-Natick Hebrew Cemetery on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11:30 am. Following services, memorial observance will be at Nancy’s late residence. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to New England Justice for our Neighbors, or any other non profit of your choice.