Obituaries

Please click here to view the service recording.

Helen (Needleman) Sawyer, 95, of Cambridge, Massachusetts passed peacefully on March 28, 2024, surrounded by loving family. She is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Sawyer and his wife Cathi, and Matthew Sawyer and his wife Sharon, three grandchildren Natalie, Andrew, and Hannah as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was married for 62 years to Robert Sawyer who passed in 2016. She is a graduate of Smith College and earned a Master of Library Science from Boston University. For over 25 years, Helen was a librarian in the Brookline Public Schools.

Graveside service at 1:00pm on Monday, April 1, 2024 at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North St.,  Randolph. Following the service, family and friends will gather in the Beal Family Interfaith Chapel at Newbridge on the Charles,  5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, MA from 3:00-8:00 pm.

Donations in Helen’s name may be made to Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind or the Baker School Library in Brookline, Massachusetts.

To view the service recording please click here.

Charles (Chuck) Goodman, age 88, of Sharon, Massachusetts, beloved husband, much loved Dad, and cherished and adoring Papa, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly surrounded by his loving family on March 27 due to complications from a fall.

He leaves his wife of 64 years, Carolyn (Chartor) who he met on a blind date in 1958 in Chicago and was his partner in all ways in life. Chuck was very proud of and devoted to his four children who adored him, Michelle of San Francisco and Chestnut Hill, Lawrence (Lisa) of Sharon, Ronald (Marie) of Sharon, and Andrea of Brookline; and grandsons, David, Daniel, Tyler, and Jake; and brother-in-law Joseph Chartor (Phyllis).

Born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, Chuck was the only child of I. Leo and Sylvia Goodman. He was extremely proud of his Chicago roots. Chuck graduated from Senn High School and the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana where he was a member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. He was known for his athleticism in intramural sports and also served in ROTC, eventually becoming a Captain in the U.S. Army.

After beginning to work as a CPA and marrying Carolyn, they moved to Milton, Massachusetts. Chuck started his family while working full-time, going to law school at night earning his JD degree from Boston College Law School, and serving in the Army Reserves before moving to Sharon where he resided in the same home for 53 years. Chuck was a partner at several accounting firms before forming Goodman & Goodman. He was a wise and trusted advisor to clients, with many of these relationships lasting 40-to-50, even 60 years.

Family came first for Chuck, and he enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and world with Carolyn and on memorable trips with the entire family. He was always an active and steady presence in the lives of his children and grandchildren, and a regular on the town ballfields, as a coach and fan. He was one of the founding members of the Brotherhood at Temple Israel in Sharon, and a longtime member of many Town of Sharon Committees, including the Finance Committee in which he was a past Chairman and most recently the liaison to the Library Trustees.

Chuck was truly a good man, humble and modest, and he will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by many.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 1 at 1 pm at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel followed by interment.

Memorial observance will be held at his late residence on Monday, April 1 from 6 – 8 pm, and Tuesday, April 2 from 2 – 5 pm. Remembrances in Chuck’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Leonard “Lenny” Bernheimer, cherished husband, adored father, adoring grandfather, loving brother, and exemplary friend passed away on March 26, 2024. He was 82 years old.

He leaves his wife and best friend of over 60 years, Marilyn Bernheimer, who he met as a shy 16-year-old and who was the light of his life. He also leaves his two children Beth (Mike) Harrington and Jonathan (Ingrid) Bernheimer, three siblings Walter (Roz) Bernheimer, Robert (Nancy) Bernheimer, and Susie (Mike) Steinberg, and seven grandchildren Caroline (Graham) Reynolds, Molly, Megan, Kerry, and Mark Harrington, and Maya and Anya Bernheimer.

Born in Newton on October 13, 1941, Lenny was a lifelong athlete and lover of all sports. While at Williams College, from which he graduated in 1963, Len discovered his lifelong passion—squash. Lenny’s legacy in squash will live on for years to come, thanks to his long-term involvement with SquashBusters, including serving as its first chairman of the board for 11 years, his more than 35 state, national, and international singles and doubles championships, and his tireless work on behalf of the sport. In recognition of his many contributions, Len was inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame in 2012.

Lenny was also a graduate of Stanford Business School, longtime member of both Belmont Country Club and the University Club of Boston, and had a long and distinguished career as owner and president of United Lithograph, an innovative commercial printing company in Somerville.

Lenny’s greatest achievement, however, was his love for his family and his friends. He would stop at nothing to support those around him. Universally loved by all who had the good fortune of knowing him, Lenny will be remembered for his unwavering spirit, his unmatched kindness, and his incredible love of humor, especially puns. Lenny was truly one of the good guys.

There will be a private burial on Thursday, March 28, 2024 followed by a reception at the family residence from 3:30–6:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his name can be sent to SquashBusters at 795 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02120.

Deborah Faber, age 78, of Newton, Massachusetts, passed away on March 23, 2024. She was born on May 9, 1945 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Deborah is survived by her daughter Kathryn Litwak, son Jesse Chernis-Grant, daughter-in-law Robyn Chernis-Grant, her two grandchildren Rebecca and Lily Chernis-Grant, and her sisters Carol Johnson and Joan Faber, her brother-in-law Jeff Brewer, and her incredibly close extended family. She was married for 35 years to her loving husband, Lawrence B. Litwak who passed away in 2016, and she was also preceded in death by her dear brother-in-law Roger Johnson.

Deborah was a loving, witty, brilliant woman who lived a beautiful life surrounded by a tight-knit community of family and lifelong friends.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at noon at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., Newton, MA. Interment to follow at Newton Cemetery. Shiva will be at Deborah’s late residence on Tuesday following interment until 4:30 pm and continuing from 5:30-7:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (https://www.lbda.org/donate/).

Seena Abrams, of Brookline, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 89, surrounded by her family on March 21, 2024. Born in Providence, Rhode Island to the late Samuel and Anna (Karklin) Abrams, Seena led a life rich with passion and purpose.

As a psychiatric nurse with an MBA, Seena touched countless lives as a practitioner, manager, and teacher. Her sharp wit and keen intellect were matched only by her fierce independence. An aficionado of the arts, Seena had an eccentric and eclectic taste, collecting a variety of pieces that reflected her unique style and personality. She loved antiquing and adding interesting objects to her collection.

In addition to her passion for art, Seena was a talented and prolific knitter who could always be found working on her next creation. She loved pink, which she used in most of her projects. She also was a self-proclaimed cat lady who adored her feline companions.

She had a close and special relationship with her niece Lisa and her family.

Sister of the late Merna Green, Seena is survived by her nephew Chaim (Ricky) and Beverly Green of Mitzpah Navo, Israel; niece, Lisa Green and Rick Enfield of Weston, Massachusetts; nephew Robert J. Green of Warwick, Rhode Island; and niece Dawn and Ramon Shepard of Ocala, Florida. She is also survived by her great-nieces and nephews, Yossi, Amichai (Penina), Netanel (Rivki), and David Green; Jenny, Rachael, and Jonathan Enfield; Robert, Victoria, Raymond, and Adrianna Green; and Kyle Green Cowdell, Ramon, Julius, and Samuel Shepard.

Graveside services are at Independent Pride of Boston Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA, on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 2:00 pm.  Following interment, memorial observance will be at the home of Lisa and Rick.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Seena’s memory may be made to the Brookline Food Pantry (https://brooklinefoodpantry.org/) or Compassionate Care ALS (https://ccals.org/

To view the service recording please click here.

On the morning of March 18, surrounded by his loving immediate family, David Alan Porder, 71, passed away suddenly.

David had a spice for life and always had a zinger waiting on the tip of his tongue. He loved yelling at the tv on football Sundays, playing with his dogs, and was an avid golfer. More than anything, David loved being with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Sheri Kates of Newton, children: Heather Porder and Rich Olivieri of Newton and Brooke Porder and Ari Winograd of Holliston, grandchildren Devon and Sivan and fur baby Winston.

David’s surviving family includes his mother Betty Porder and his siblings Carol Porder-Zani and Barry Zani, Ami Porder and Michael Schochet, Andy and Carrie Porder, and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:45 am. Shiva immediately following  on Wednesday 2-6 pm and Thursday 5-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory may be made to The Animal Rescue League of Boston, 10 Chandler St., Boston, MA 02116.

Lester S. Cohen was born in August 1941 to Hyman and Mildred Cohen of Brookline, MA. He passed away surrounded by his family on March 17, 2024 in Boston, MA. He was proud of his Boston roots and his childhood on St. Paul Street working at the family business, Park Pharmacy. Lester graduated from Brookline High School and then the University of Vermont. After graduation from college and ROTC in 1963, Lester served as a lieutenant in the US Army. While stationed in Fort Knox, KY he met and courted Susan Waldman, a Louisville native. Susan was skeptical that she’d ever see him again once he was stationed overseas but Lester knew they would survive the long distance and eventually marry!  His time serving as a lieutenant in the US Army 3rd Armored Division in Germany produced some of his fondest memories. Lester took great pride in being an Army veteran.

Susan and Lester married in 1966 and raised their young family in Sharon, MA. He continued post-graduate business studies at Boston College while working as an executive at Filene’s Department Store and Morton Shoe. In the late 1970s, Lester moved the family to Ridgewood, NJ where he eventually founded a wholesale footwear company, Grand Imports, Inc.

Lester’s enthusiasm for life was contagious and he was eager to share experiences with family and friends. He was always up for trying new restaurants, new golf courses, new theater productions, and new travel destinations. He kept a mental database of the best and the worst of what he had seen and done over the decades. Even in his final weeks he was advising his daughter on places to stay and eat in Bangkok.

Lester was a lifelong Red Sox/Celtics/Patriots fan but if you’d spent any time with him in the past 20 years, you know that his favorite sporting events were those featuring his grandchildren. His fandom was not limited to sports:  He was just as happy to cheer for his grandchildren who performed or worked behind the scenes in the arts. Lester’s children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. They knew that “Pop Pop” would kvell over their accomplishments as adults just as much as he had done when they were kids.

Lester was proud to have been a member of the NY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation board of directors, a life member of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, a member of the executive committee of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, and a longtime member of Apple Ridge Country Club in Mahwah, NJ.

Lester is survived by his wife of 58 years Susan Cohen; brother Edward (Dianne) Cohen; sister Inez (Alan) Grimaldi; son Lee (Kristen) Cohen; daughter Beth Schunke; granddaughter Georgia Waehler; and grandsons Daniel, Thomas, Peter, and Charlie Cohen.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lester’s memory can be made to New England Donor Services, 60 First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451 (neds.org), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation MA/RI Chapter, 220 N Main St Ste 104, Natick, MA 01760-1100

(www.cff.org/chapters/massachusetts-rhode-island-chapter), or to the charity of your choice.

Graveside services will be private. Friends, family, and loved ones are invited to celebrate Lester’s life at a luncheon on Sunday, March 24. Please contact Lee Cohen for details if you wish to join us.

Jane Coles Ryter of Newton passed away lovingly surrounded by her family on March 16, 2024. She was the adoring mother of Michael and Carrie Ryter, the loving wife of David Ryter, and the devoted daughter of Elinor (Golden) Coles and the late Harris Coles. She is predeceased by her brother Kenny Coles and husband David Aronson. Services will be held at Temple Shalom of Newton on Tuesday, March 19, at 1 pm, with burial following at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva will be held on Tuesday evening until 7 pm at Temple Shalom and on Wednesday from 3 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm at the family’s home. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute or the Marginal Way Preservation Fund (Ogunquit, ME).

Of Chestnut Hill and North Truro, on March 16, 2024, 4 days short of his 90th birthday. Herb was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Dr Aaron Hechtman and the late Betty Solomon. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School, Princeton University and Harvard Medical School. He was a Surgical Oncologist and spent the bulk of his career at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  He also held the title of full academic professor at Harvard Medical School.

He was the devoted husband of the late Mina Hechtman and devoted partner, since Mina’s death, to Susan Calechman. Cherished father of Julia Hechtman Sall and her husband, Eric, Daniel Hechtman and his long-time partner Marilyn Feuer, and Abigail Hechtman. Loving grandfather of Madeline and Charlotte Sall, Rachel and Joshua Hechtman, and Laura Hechtman Ross.

Funeral services will be private. Shiva is 3:30-6:30 Monday at the Salls.

In lieu of flowers, kindly send donations to Hadassah Medical Organization

Age 97, of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of Geneva, Switzerland, on March 16, 2024.  Born on April 18, 1926, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Joseph and Sarah Rice, surrounded by his loving older sisters Sylvia, Renee, Doris, and Natalie.  He attended Brookline High School and attended Northeastern University, where he was a track star and served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.  While attending Northeastern, he ran several Boston Marathons.  After graduating with honors, he went to work as a junior engineer at Sylvania in Salem, firing up the boilers early each morning.  As the years progressed, his sales and marketing skills became evident.  He quickly moved up the ranks at Sylvania, moving with his family, including the late Virginia Snow Rice and sons, Joseph and Thomas, to Panama, Puerto Rico, various U.S. locations, and ultimately to GTE Sylvania’s European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where he served as President and Director General, with responsibilities for company operations and over 100,000 employees in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  Upon his retirement in 1991, he moved with the family back to the US and settled in Boca Raton, with frequent travels back to see his extended family in Boston and the North Shore.  In 2009, his beloved wife Virginia passed away.  In time he found love again with his wife of 14 years, Jami Huryan Rice.  Elliot is survived by his loving wife, Jami, and his loving son, Joseph Rice; daughters -in-law Joanna Rice and Sharon Rice; grandsons Zachary and Devan Rice; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He will be sorely missed by the entire extended Rice family. Graveside Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Temple Israel Cemetery, 492 North Ave., Wakefield, MA.