Obituaries

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Dr. Arthur Gelb, a prominent entrepreneur, scientist and philanthropist, who was devoted to his family, passed away on November 8, 2023 at his home in Belmont, MA.  A distinguished entrepreneur, who founded The Analytical Sciences Corporation or TASC, he leaves behind an amazing legacy of accomplishments that have advanced technology, higher education, medical research and culture.

Dr. Gelb was a man of many gifts. Among these tremendous qualities were his powerful intellect and curiosity, from mathematics and finance to music and politics. His quick mind and rational thinking made him highly sought out for advice on innumerable topics by countless family, friends, colleagues and leaders from many walks of life. His sense of humor, honesty and humanity endeared him to all.

Arthur Gelb was born on September 20, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY to his father, Charles Gelb, the child of immigrants from Galicia (now Poland), and his mother, Rose, an immigrant from Russia escaping the pogroms against Jews.  His father drove a delivery truck and later a taxicab. Both succumbed to cancer and Arthur was orphaned at the age of 16.  He attended City College of New York (CCNY), which he referred to as ‘the poor man’s Harvard’, and to which he later became a prominent donor. While at CCNY, Arthur met Linda Lewis, and they married soon after his graduation in 1958. That was the start of an incredible partnership and love story that spanned 65 years highlighted by three children and 10 grandchildren.

Following CCNY, Arthur received his S.M. in Applied Physics from Harvard University (NSF Fellow) in 1959 and went on to receive his ScD in Systems Engineering from MIT in 1961. A student in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ famed Instrumentation Program under Dr. Charles Draper, Arthur started what would become a lifelong relationship of learning with and giving back to MIT. He was a Life Member Emeritus of the MIT Corporation, a member of several MIT Visiting Committees; a member of the Lincoln Laboratory Advisory Board and a Member Emeritus of the C.S. Draper Laboratory Corporation.

In 1966, Dr. Gelb co-founded TASC and became its CEO and Chairman. Having worked on navigation systems at MIT and the Dynamic Research Corporation, Dr. Gelb quickly led TASC to become known for solving many of the most difficult problems in its industry. TASC’s activities included advanced navigation, guidance and communication systems for national defense; intelligence data collection, system design and operation; civilian weather data collection and distribution; and power utility software. Under his direction, TASC experienced 27 consecutive years of growth and employed over 2300 full-time employees in 25 locations worldwide.  In 1991, he received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award-Service Businesses, given by Inc. Magazine.

Following TASC’s acquisition by Primark Corporation, Dr. Gelb became president of Four Sigma Corporation which focused on development and use of quantitative trading methods for financial markets. While a seeming departure from advanced systems, Dr. Gelb had a long history of interest in financial markets, having even written a book in the 1960’s titled Making Money in Commodity Futures under a pen name.

A scientist by nature, Dr. Gelb published over 25 papers in technical journals, co-authored Multiple-Input Describing Functions and Nonlinear Systems Design (McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968) and was editor and co-author of Applied Optimal Estimation (MIT Press, 1974; 22^nd printing in 2012). He also held a patent in the area of medical instrumentation.

Dr. Gelb was a philanthropist, giving both time and financial support to the organizations he believed in or where he felt that his contributions would do the most good.  As he wrote in his autobiography, Making My Way, “each of us must recognize our duty to work for the betterment of society by sharing our one truly priceless asset: our time.”  From the 1970s through 2000s, he served on multiple public sector boards including the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education. He had a lifelong love of music often saying “music moves me emotionally the way few things can” and was an Overseer Emeritus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his multi-layered life of achievement, he was recognized by a wide range of organizations including as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where he also chaired the Investment Committee.

His passion was truly solving difficult problems and he turned his great philanthropic focus towards curing cancer, a disease that was intensely personal for him. A member of the Executive Committee of the Board and later a Distinguished Trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Gelb saw a rare opportunity to bring the talents of MIT’s Koch institute and the Harvard/Dana Farber Cancer Institute together in 2010 under The Bridge Project, which has become a highly successful collaboration attracting extensive funding.

Beyond his incredible accomplishments, Arthur Gelb will always be remembered as a caring husband, father, and grandfather. He was predeceased by his beloved son, Ronald Gelb. He and his devoted wife, Linda Gelb, raised their family in Lexington, MA: Ronald (Nanci Gelb), Caren (Gary Zakon), and Laurie (Richard Gliklich). He was a cherished grandfather to 10 grandchildren: Arielle, Andy, Sydney and Theodore Gelb; Meredith (Louis Arens), Allie and Daniel Zakon; and, Emily, Jennifer and Benjamin Gliklich.

A service will be held at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St, Auburndale, MA on November 12, 2023 at 1P.M. Interment to follow at Beit Olam Cemetery in Wayland. Shiva will be held at his late residence, 135 Marsh St., Belmont, following the interment until 8:00 pm on Sunday, Monday 3:00-5:00 pm and 7:00 -9:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Bridge Project, DFCI Philanthropy, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445 or Good Shepherd Community Care, 160 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459.                   .

Cleveland, Carol (Kossin), 92, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, passed away November 7, 2023. Beloved mother of Elyse Eisenberg, Ellen Eisenberg (Neal), and Andrea Carla Michaels. Proud grandmother of Gabby and Tom Feigenson.  Loving twin sister of Fran Fuhrer. Adored aunt and cousin to many. Best friend of loyal longtime aide Ketline Oscar.  Predeceased by siblings Gertrude Krentz, Jack Kossin, Willie Kossin; parents Maurice and Sarah; husbands M. Michael Eisenberg and Richard Cleveland MD; and longtime companion of the late Mort Kaufman.  Service at Beit Olam Cemetery, 60 Old Sudbury Rd., Wayland, MA on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Planned Parenthood or a charity close to your heart.

Bruce H Young, age 72, of Foxborough passed peacefully November 4, 2023 with his family at his side. He was the son of Leonard and Eleanor (Bloomfield) and for 43 years, the husband of Patricia (Laurie) Young.

Bruce began his career as a tool and die maker/precision machinist at American Stamping Co., later working at Northrop Corp and retiring from HealthStar.

Bruce loved 60’s rock; the Beatles were his favorite band, and he enjoyed watching sports, especially his sons’ and grandsons’ games. He volunteered for Foxboro Midget Football, serving on the Board, maintaining the field and doing whatever was needed for a number of years. In his retirement he took piano lessons and joined a gym where he worked out regularly, gained a gym family and came to be in the best shape of his life. Bruce was always there to help family and friends but would never ask for help from others. He loved spending time with family doing anything or nothing, but there was nothing better than being Buppa to his grandsons.

Along with his wife Patty, Bruce is survived by two sons, Matthew and his wife Janine of Braintree and Brian and his partner Katie of Blackstone, three grandsons, Grayson, Camden and August, and his brother Noah.

Friends and family are invited to attend graveside services on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11 AM at Rockhill Cemetery, 81 South St., Foxborough, MA. A reception will be held following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations in Bruce’s memory to Foxborough Discretionary Fund, P.O. Box 636, Foxborough, MA, 02035 or Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW120, Boston, MA 02215 would be welcomed.

Stephen P. Snyder -Of Dedham, formerly of Newton, Wellesley and Falmouth, on November 4, 2023.Beloved husband of Rosalie (Krasnoff) Snyder. Devoted father of Andrew Snyder and his wife Dana, and Jeffrey Snyder and his wife Lorraine. Dear grandfather of Gabriel, Benjamin, Jonathan and Jake. Stephen grew up in Brookline and attended Brookline High School and graduated from Manter-Hall School in Cambridge and Bard College. He was a leader in the Book Publishing industry. Stephen was President of Alpine Press, a book printing and binding company which was founded by his grandfather which he sold to the Courrier Corporation; he later became the Executive Director of the Book Manufacturers Institute. His charitable endeavors included Chairman of Jewish Community Housing for Elderly. Steve loved spending time with his family, especially when boating on the cape. He also enjoyed hiking and biking and had a great sense of humor. He and Rosalie loved cruising around the world. Services at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave, Boston, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 10:30 am. Parking on the Riverway. Following interment at Temple Israel Cemetery, Wakefield a memorial observance will be held at The Chapel at Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Rd., Dedham 3:00-5:00pm and Thursday 6:30-8: 00pm.Remembrances in his memory may be made to BIDMC- The Bernice K. Snyder Fund ,300 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215

Marcia Winik-Of Newton, On November 3,2023.Private services were held at Beit Olam East Cemetery, Wayland.

A link to view the recorded funeral service can be found here.

We are saddened to announce that Ninette Benayer Riesman, (Ninette bat Hanania v’Esther) passed away on November 2, 2023.

Ninette was born in Morocco in 1935, the youngest of eight siblings, and lived in Israel, where she met her late husband Martin (“Micky”). Ninette and Micky were married for forty-three years and lived in Newton, MA. She was the beloved mother of Elan Riesman and Nicole Riesman, mother-in-law of Cantor Sarra Spierer, and adoring grandmother of Julia Riesman and Matthew, Jacob, and Ally Rock, Ninette held many teaching and secretarial jobs over the years. She loved classical music, reading, cooking traditional holiday meals for friends and family as well as swimming and vacationing by the ocean. When her children left for college, she went on to Brandeis to earn a degree in French Literature. Every decade of her life she took on something new.  In her sixties, she began to study cello and in her seventies, she developed a passion for hiking that culminated in a trip to the French Alps. She was also devoted to the entire Riesman Family including her surviving brother-in-law Gene Riesman and her many nieces and nephews. Beloved by her children and grandchildren, she gave boundless love to them all.   As the matriarch of her family of origin, she will be missed terribly by her nieces and nephews in Israel, Morocco, Belgium, and Canada.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 11:45 am at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, in Sharon, MA.

Shiva will be held at Congregation Beth Elohim on Sunday, November 5, 2023, from 6:30 pm-9 p.m., with a service at 7 p.m.
Donations can be made to the JNF’s Israel Resilience Campaign in Ninette’s memory.

Judith Rosalie Epstein Banks grew up in Dorchester on York Street and attended the Sarah Greenwood School as well as Girls Latin School and the Jeremiah Burke High School. She went on to Simmons College and what would become the Eliot Pearson Department of Child Study at Tufts University. She and her husband of 78 years, Dr. Henry H. Banks, who pre-deceased her, raised their three children in Brookline, Massachusetts. The daughter of Sarah and Harry Epstein, Mrs. Banks devoted her life to community service and her family. She served on committees at her children’s schools and was an early supporter of Jewish Family and Children’s Service. She was an avid volunteer at Temple Israel, the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.

She was extremely proud of her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She lived long enough to have relationships with each one of them. She loved letting people know that there were thirty people in her family: Dr. Curt and Nancy Civin of Baltimore and their children Joshua Civin and Katherine Newberger, and Marcus Civin, Betsy and David Epstein of Boston and their children Jessica and Shane Baron, Aron Epstein and Jacqueline Bell, and Jason and Cecily Epstein, Steven Banks and Judge Jean Schneider of Brooklyn and their children Harry and Katie Banks, and Susanna and Lloyd Lesperance Banks. Her ten great grandchildren are Marhall and Olivia, Simon, Asher, Miriam, Hal, Levi, Eli, Lydia and Noah.

Graveside service will be held at 1 PM, Friday, November 3, 2023 at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North St., Randolph, MA. Contributions may be made to the Judith R. and Henry H. Banks Scholarship Fund at Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111.

medicine-giving@tufts.edu

Deborah Anne Carter, 69, of Randolph, MA, Saturday, October 28, 2023. Beloved wife of Ken for 47 years. Devoted mother Vivienne M. Carter and Amanda E. (Joseph) Marotta. Loving sister of Jeffrey (Susan) Karon. Also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.

Born in Boston, MA, June 25, 1954 to Robert H. Karon and Cynthia S. (Ossman) Karon.  She worked as medical technologist for many years as well as a teacher.

Funeral services will be held in the chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 10 AM. A reception will be held at the Canton Town Club following the burial.

Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5^th Ave., Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451. www.heart.org.

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Samuel Jay Gateman, 89, of Las Vegas NV died on October 26, 2023. Sam was born in Boston MA to Frances (Hoffenberg) and Louis Gateman. He attended English High School. Sam was self-employed in the Auto Insurance Industry in many states over the course of many years. Sam semi-retired to Las Vegas in his 70’s and continued to work until his last day. He was a prolific artist and enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren. Sam was quick-witted and fun loving. He is survived by his daughter Wendy Kraft (Laura Sussman) of Las Vegas; son Darin Gateman (Elizabeth Riede) of San Antonio TX; grandchildren Elyse Kraft, Leah Sussman, Emma Kraft (Rachel Seidman), Lilianna Gateman, Edward Gateman and Samantha Gateman; siblings Shirley Keselman of Reading MA and Jack Gateman of Swampscott MA; his nieces and nephews, Laura Keselman of Burlington, MA, Lori Gajewski (Michael) of Swampscott, MA, Ira Keselman (Shari) of Colts Neck, NJ and William Gateman (Jodi) of Swampscott, MA. He is preceded in death by his parents Frances and Louis Gateman; grandson, Eli Kraft, brother-in-law Carl Keselman and sister-in-law Enid Gateman. A funeral service will be held at 1 PM on November 2 at Millis Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Millis MA. Following Service Shiva will be held at the home of Jack Gateman,100 Phillips Beach Road , Swampscott Thursday only. Contributions may be made in Sam’s memory to Jewish Family Service Agency of Las Vegas, www.jfsalv.org; 5851 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146

Janet Ellen Shapiro, 74, of West Roxbury MA passed away peacefully on October 24.  Born in Fall River to Florence and Harold Shapiro she graduated from Durfee High School and then nursing school. She became head operating room nurse at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain where she worked until she succumbed to a lifetime affliction of chronic fatigue syndrome.  It is a debilitating disease of which little is known and she lived with the lack of understanding from the majority of people she encountered.

She was a kind and very caring, thoughtful person with a sweet personality who had the most incredible dry sense of humor.  Janet was well loved by those who knew her.  In her early years, when healthy, she took up the sport of fencing.  She loved cats of which she had many over the years, animals, and outdoor birds.

Janet leaves one sister Claire Shapiro Soja of Littleton, MA and 6 cousins scattered throughout the US.

Graveside service will be held at Beit Olam East Cemetery, 44 Concord Street, Wayland, MA. Thursday October 26 at 11:00 AM.

Donations can be made in Janet’s memory to the Massachusetts ME / CFS & FM ASSOCIATION, PO Box 690305 Quincy, MA 02269-0305