Obituaries

Burton Goldberg-Of  Washington, DC, on February 8, 2024. Arrangements pending.

To view the service recording please click here.

Edward Kaplan, a scholar of 19th Century French Literature and Religious Studies, died at NewBridge on the Charles surrounded by his family on February 7, 2024. The cause of death was Lewy body disease.

Edward Kaplan taught at the Department of Romance Studies, and in the Religious Studies Program which he founded, at Brandeis University where he was Kevy and Hortense Kaiserman Professor in the Humanities, and a Fellow at the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry.

Internationally known for his research on the French Revolution historian Jules Michele, and especially on the 19th Century Romantic poet Charles Baudelaire, Kaplan published seminal books on Baudelaire’s prose poems, Le Spleen de Paris, Petite Poems en Prose. Kaplan’s English translation the latter, The Parisian Prowler, won the National Lewis Galantière Prize for the best work in translation in 1990. Kaplan’s signature approach to literary scholarship and teaching was to illuminate the intersection of the ethical, esthetic, and religious aspects in the creative process.

Early in his career, teaching at Amherst College in Western Massachusetts, while still immersed in the study and publishing books on Michelet, Kaplan ventured into the scholarship on the nature of religious experiences. This interest started in the mid-1960s when Kaplan, then a graduate student at Columbia University working on his PhD in French literature, met Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. The personal, intellectual, and scholarly relationship that developed between the esteemed theologian and the nascent graduate student has changed and profoundly shaped the entire trajectory of Kaplan’s life and career.

Under the influence of his father, Kivie Kaplan who was National President of the NAACP, Edward developed deep commitment to social action and interest in the spiritual roots of non-violence. With Kivie Kaplan, He attended NAACP conventions and marched in Selma. Knowing his son’s emerging interest in religious mysticism, Kivie Kaplan on MLK’s advice introduced Edward to Heschel.

Heschel’s writings on the religious aspects of non-violent resistance to injustice, to the blaspheme of racism and the evil of the War in Vietnam, brought Edward into the orbit of Heschel’s students, mentees, and disciples. It was at that time that Kaplan started his scholarship of Heschel’s life and work, resulting in many books, scholarly articles, lectures and conferences. Kaplan’s definitive two-volume biography of Abraham Joshua Heschel was published with Yale University Press. Volume 1, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Prophetic Witness, coauthored with Samuel H. Dresner, came out in 1998 and was a National Jewish Book Award finalist in Jewish Scholarship Category. Volume 2, Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America, 1940–1972, published in 2007, was a winner of the National Jewish Book Award in the American Jewish Studies category. Kaplan’s one-volume biography of Heschel, directed for general readership was published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2019, his last book. In all, Kaplan authored 18 Books and almost 200 scholarly articles and reviews.

Edward Kivie Kaplan was born in Boston on March 4, 1942. His father Kivie Kaplan was a successful Jewish businessman in the leather tanning industry. Edward’s mother, Emily (Rogers) Kaplan was a homemaker. Edward attended Newton public schools, high school at Deerfield Academy, and Brown University where he majored in French and graduated in 1964. It was during his Junior Year in France that he became determined to pursue academic career in French Literature as a teacher, scholar, and writer. As the first person in his family to go to college, this was as bold a decision as it was risky. But that year at the Sorbonne formed in him an irresistible interest in literary scholarship, and in study of literature’s profound effects on human experience and the history of ideas. After completing his PhD degree in French Literature at Columbia University in 1970, he taught French at Barnard College, and then at Amherst College in l97l–l978. Since 1978, he was at Brandeis University in Waltham MA until his retirement in 2015.

Edward married Alexandra Gilden in 1968. They divorced in 1975, and she died in 2002. In 1986, Edward married Janna (Lipmanov) Kaplan, a Brandeis neuroscientist and a Jewish refugee from the former Soviet Union fleeing antisemitic persecution. In addition to his wife Janna and son Jeremy (Rebecca Ballantine) Kaplan and their children Eli, Lhakyi, Dechen, Bella and Cassie Ballantine-Kaplan, Edward is survived by his two children from his second marriage: son Aaron (Será Godfrey) Kaplan and their children, Zeppelin Godfrey-Grantz, Kivie and Fox Godfrey-Kaplan, and daughter Sima (Ryan Dobran) Kaplan.

A devoted family man, Edward was able not only to think deeply, but also to feel deeply. As his disease progressed and his ability to think coherently diminished, his unique capacity to feel deeply – his profound sensitivity – remained at the core of his sweet, thoughtful, loving nature.

Services at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, MA on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 12:00 noon. Interment at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva at his late home, Sat-Wed 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), 2027 Massachusetts Ave. NW at Kivie Kaplan Way, Washington, DC 20036.

Kaplan, Leonard “Lenny” of Waltham, MA, formerly of Lexington, MA, passed away February 5, 2024. Beloved husband of Judith (Smith) Kaplan. Devoted father of Marcia Kaplan and her husband Todd Fishman, Mark Kaplan and his wife Helaine, and the late Wendy Kaplan and her wife Kris Wyatt. Proud grandfather of Sydney Fishman, Bella Fishman, Alexa Tanzer, and Matthew Kaplan. Loving brother of the late Bernard Kaplan. Services at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lenny’s memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, or the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Theodore S. Berenson of Boston, MA & Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.  For 47 years the beloved husband of Cynthia L. Berenson. Devoted father of Wendy Berenson and her husband Gene O’Brien, Cathy Seligson and her husband Fred Seligson, Patrica Berenson and her husband Jeff Carp, Dana Berenson and her husband Gabe Coleman. Cherished grandfather of Gregory O’Brien (Andrea), Daniel O’Brien (Erica), Dylan O’Brien, (Maddie) Erica Seligson (Tom), Matthew Seligson, Andrew Seligson, Adam Seligson, Evan Carp, Abigail Carp, Fiona Coleman and Elias Coleman. Great-Grandfather of Elia and Noa. Dear brother of the late Helaine Allen (Alvin Allen). Dear uncle of Elizabeth Nash, Matthew Allen, Douglas Allen and Emily Wolff. Services at Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Theodore S. Berenson may be made to  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by visiting https://www.bidmc.org/giving  by check made payable to “Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center or BIDMC” with  Theodore S. Berenson /“donation designation “ in the memo line. Contributions can be mailed to: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center or BIDMC, Office of Philanthropy, 529 Main Street, 4th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129 or Brandeis University, 415 South  Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

A link to view the livestream can be found here.

Richard I. Steinberg of Brookline, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in Boston. He was 80.

Born in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late Eugene and Marion (Rutt) Steinberg and the brother of the late Lewis Steinberg, of West Hartford, CT.

He leaves his wife of 28 years, Harriet (Shain) Steinberg; his children, Gregory Steinberg (Marcie) of Cheshire, CT; Michael Steinberg (Jennifer), of Boca Raton, FL; and Rebecca Bregman (Josh), of Acton, MA; his grandchildren, Amanda, Jake, Edward, Chloe, Samuel, Alexis, and Jack.

Richard graduated in 1961 from Avon Old Farms School in Avon, CT, a place he cherished. He was a member of Temple Israel in Boston, he loved to travel, he was an avid bridge player, and he enjoyed collecting antique clocks, pocket knives, and watches. Richard had an insurance sales and management career that spanned five decades.

Richard married his second wife in 1996. He embraced Harriet’s children and their families and also leaves Laura Hyman (Scott) of Natick, MA, and Andrew Bramson (Kate) of Providence, RI, and their children, Evan, Gabriel, Ilana, and Jonah.

Richard also leaves his first wife, Susan Lederman, with whom he raised their three children in Simsbury, CT.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Israel, Boston, MA, on Friday, February 9, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in the Baker Street Cemeteries. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice, in Richard’s memory.

To view the recording click here.

Marcia (Paley) Camac died on February 3, 2024 at the age of 94. For 58 years, the beloved wife of the late Morton Camac.  Devoted mother of Norman and Jody Camac, Ann and Gideon Ben-Horin, and Joyce and Gary Weiser. Loving grandmother of Jeremy, Michael, Adam, Rebecca and Lisa. Loving aunt of many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Lesser and Zelda (Fine) Paley, her brother, Hiram Paley, and grandson, Daniel. A graveside burial will be held at Westview Cemetery at 1:30 PM on February 6th. Shiva will be at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington 02421, on Tuesday, February 6 from 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. with remembrances at 7:00 p.m. and minyan at 7:30 p.m. Donations may be made to the organization of your choice.

Gerald Sterling Fain, 76, January 31, 2024. Funeral service will be held Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 1 PM in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Burial to follow. Shiva will take place at the home.

Donations in his memory may be made to Congregation Agudath Israel’s (Caldwell, NJ) Fain Family Fund, or to the fund of your choice at Temple Israel of Natick.

Maslow, Joan B, formerly of Florida and Cape Cod, passed away on Feb 2, 2024 at age 92.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Alan, and by her parents, George and Pauline Palais.  Joan is survived by her daughter Lori Paul, and her husband Bob, and by her sons Paul and Jonathan, and Jonathan’s wife Shana.  She also leaves her grandchildren Susan and husband David, Samantha and husband Kenny, Tim and companion Mallory, Zachary, Kayla and Lindsey, as well as 5 great grandchildren.

Joan spent the last few years at Waterstone of Wellesley where she made many friends.  We would like to thank her aide Genevieve, and all the hospice workers and staff at Waterstone.  Burial will be private.

Bob Kutner, age 72, of Wayland, formerly of Auburndale and Plymouth, passed away on January 31, 2024. Bob was the beloved husband of Lenna (Boroff) Kutner and the devoted father of Daniel Kutner. He also leaves his brother Richard Kutner and wife Susan of San Marcos, CA, his sister Janet Kutner of Wayland, niece Lindsay Talley, her husband Eric and their sons, niece Lauren Ogden, her husband Tobias and their daughter.

Bob had been a partner in the law firm of Casner & Edwards for over 30 years, retiring in 2017 from his practice of professional liability and real estate-related litigation. He grew up in Newark and Wilmington, Delaware, son of the late Abraham and Dorothy Kutner.  Falling in love with the Boston area while attending Harvard University, Bob returned to the city after obtaining his degree from Columbia Law School, settling first in Brighton and then in Newton with Lenna.

Bob was an avid sports fan with a passion for Boston teams, which he shared and nurtured in his son Dan. He also loved travel, and over the course of his life visited many far-reaching corners of the world. In later years he and Lenna purchased a lakeside summer home in Plymouth and enjoyed the more serene lifestyle of boating and entertaining friends.

Bob continuously amazed and inspired family, friends and colleagues with his resilience and determination to live life fully in the face of 28 years of medical challenges.

Condolence calls may be made at the home of Lenna Kutner on Friday, February 2nd from 4pm to 8pm. A celebration of life is being planned for a date in late May. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Bob’s memory to support cancer research and patient care at:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift.

Kaplan, Jerome “Jerry” of Newton, MA formerly, of Philadelphia, PA passed away January 30, 2024 at the age of 97. Beloved husband of the late Edith (Jaffy) Kaplan. Devoted father of Paul Kaplan and his wife Lisa Rothstein of Auburndale (Newton), MA. Cherished grandfather of Isabel and Zachary Kaplan. Loving brother of the late Raymond Kaplan.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Philadelphia or the American Civil Liberties Union.