Obituaries

of Belmont MA, passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023.  She is survived by her two sisters, Rhoda Aaron and Myra Miller.  Also survived by her nieces, Rebecca Nichols, Elianna Miller, Lora Sharma and Nadine Miller and nephew Daniel Aaron.

Even though Marcia did not have children of her own, she was totally devoted and involved with her nieces and nephew and sisters.  She was the fun aunt. She was funny, kind and had a wonderful sense of humor.   All of her friends can attest to that.  Animals loved her, she connected to every pet in our households.

She worked for the Social Security Administration in Cambridge and Boston and for the government, Workers Comp Long Shore as Director of the North East Division.  Since retiring she has helped her sister with her business.

She will be forever missed, loved and cherished.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Save a Dog, 604 Boston Post Road, Sudbury 01776 or the Animal Rescue League of Boston, 10 Chandler St, Boston, MA 02116

Elise Alloy-Relihan, of Norton, Massachusetts, died Friday, Aug. 25, after a brief series of difficult illnesses. She was a few days shy of her 68th birthday. Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus, a long-time family friend, officiated at a chapel service and interment at Sharon Memorial Park the following Tuesday, Aug. 29, which were attended by a loving community of family and friends.

Elise was born in Peoria, Illinois to Louise (Hand) Alloy and Justice Jay J Alloy, the chief justice of the third district appellate court. A reader by passion and a lawyer by training, Elise received her B.A. in English with Honors from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981. She and her husband, Joel Relihan, met as undergraduates, studied together at Madison, and married in 1983 as Joel finished his Ph.D. in Classics. Their first two years were spent in West Peoria; their next eight were in Urbana, their alma mater, where Joel was in the Classics Department; when he took his teaching position at Wheaton College they moved from Urbana to Norton in 1993 with their two daughters, Clare and Grace, to whom Elise was passionately devoted.

Elise was possessed of an extraordinary loving-kindness. All who met her were struck by her warm heart, her bright smile, the embrace of her friendliness, and the wit of her conversation. Though not gregarious, she was social, kind and welcoming, bringing into her life and under her wing many who were proud to be her honorary children: Talitha, Liz, Agnes, Erin, Sam, Pierre, Jason. She enjoyed being the hostess of the large holiday parties that her guests eagerly anticipated. She was content. She often said that she was lucky that after her life’s twists and turns she ended up in New England and in Massachusetts. She liked the life she led, she liked the house she lived in, and she loved the people she shared it with.

She is survived by her husband, Joel; by her daughter Clare Alloy and son-in-law Sam Alloy, of North Attleborough, Massachusetts; by her daughter Grace Alloy-Relihan, of Pownal, Maine; and by her brother, Stephen Alloy, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Her dying was painful, her death was a shock, and her loss is keenly felt. In Elise’s memory, all are invited to pause a moment to contemplate how fortunate they are to be alive.

Thelma (Cooper) Shuman of Coral Springs Florida, formerly of Newton,passed away on August 24, at 99 .

Devoted wife and best friend of the late Irving Shuman. Loving mother of Carol (Roger) Marks and the late Ellen Altshuler(Louis).Loving grandmother to Gabriel Marks and Randy Altshuler.

Thelma loved and admired her late parents Herbert and Rose (Furhman)Cooper and her siblings Lorraine Tobin, David Cooper and Howard Cooper and their spouses who all predeceased her.

A link to view the livestream can be found here.

Wernick, Lee Barron of Portland, ME, formerly of Sharon, MA, passed away August 22, 2023. Beloved husband of the late Joan (Levy) Wernick. Devoted father of Naomi Wernick and her husband Ken Pfaffmann. Proud grandfather of Jonah Wernick. Loving brother of Howard and Stanley Wernick. Funeral service at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 11 am.  Details of memorial observances to be announced at the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lee’s memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy of Maine, ATTN: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., #100, Arlington, VA 22203, Donate Now to Protect Nature | The Nature Conservancy

Lilyia Smolyar- Of Brookline, on August 21,2023. Beloved wife of the late Benjamin, devoted mother of Boris Smoylar and his wife Olga. Cherished grandmother of  Hannah and Sarah. Private graveside services were held on August 24, 2023.

Arnie Slavet lived a full life and was passionately dedicated to his family, faith, friends, community, and clients. He was born in Boston on March 12, 1933 to Sam and Esther Slavet, his beloved parents who fled persecution in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s. Sam was a master plumber and Esther kept the books and helped manage the business. Arnie spent his early years in Mattapan, and was a graduate of Boston Latin School. He was one of the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard in 1954, and from the Boston University School of Law in 1957. Arnie ran for the Massachusetts State Senate in 1958 with the rallying cry “You’ll Have it with Slavet”, which his parents broadcast by megaphone throughout the neighborhood; he was runner-up to the entrenched incumbent.

During his 55-year legal career he faithfully advised countless organizations and individuals. Arnie was tirelessly conscientious and prided himself on serving his clients with integrity. Before the advent of laptops and smartphones, he was the undeclared master of the sticky-note. He started out at Ritvo, Gordon, Rosenberg, served as a partner at Lapin, Rosen, Goldberg, Slavet, Levinson & Wekstein, and then led his own practice at Arnold L. Slavet Estate Planning, P.C. Arnie was a Founding Member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, and served on the Legal Advisory Board for the American Business Association. He was also a contributing author of The Living Trust Workbook (Viking Penguin, 1994). Arnie’s support of his community led him to Chair the Executive Board of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and serve on the boards of the Cambridge Biomedical Laboratory and the Vilna Shul. In 1980 he was of counsel for the 249 A Street Cooperative Corporation, the first limited equity artists-owned building in the United States.

He was a member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, and of the Vilna Shul in the West End of Beacon Hill, and his unapologetic, aspiring cantor voice could often be heard above the crowd. His lifelong commitment to Judaism and the State of Israel made him a supporter of the New England Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, through which he sponsored scholarships for eighteen IDF combat veterans.

Arnie was dedicated to wellness and personal development and sustained a daily meditation practice for 50 years. Arnie loved to cook for his family and touted that each dish was his “best evah”, while occasionally indulging in a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream for dessert. He celebrated his 50th birthday by running the Boston Marathon, and looked forward to gardening each Spring. A 50-year member of Pine Brook Country Club in Weston, MA, he loved to golf with friends.

He was predeceased by his twin sister Lila Hersh Yellin, his older sister Janet Bensky, and his parents Esther and Samuel Slavet. Arnie is survived by his wife Polly Slavet, his brother Gerald Slavet, his former wife Ruth Mordecai, his sons James & Jon Slavet and their wives Kaye Slavet and Dicla Slavet, his stepdaughters Jennifer Lake (husband Christopher) and Emily Rowlands (husband Charles), his niece Pamela Yellin, his caregiver Sarah Joy Balyeku, and his 9 grandchildren Maxwell Slavet, Hank Slavet, Sydney Slavet, Celia Slavet, Hazel Slavet, Theodore Slavet, Archer Wardle, Carson Lake and Ross Lake.

The funeral service will be on Thursday, August 24 at 11a ET at Temple Beth Elohim (10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley). For those who can’t join in person, the service will be accessible virtually through this link https://tbewellesley.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqf–urzwvGdBPAIMsjOUghiBxfvlXVTgX

Following the service at the temple, the graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park (40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA). Shiva will be this Thursday 4-7p ET and Friday 11a-3p ET at the family home. Donations in memory of Arnie can be made to Temple Beth Elohim or to FIDF.

To view the livestream, please click here.

Rita Lea Freudberg (Rosenfeld), age 94 of Newton, MA, passed away on August 19, 2023.

Beloved wife of the late Richard L. Freudberg. Devoted mother of the late Stuart (Lynn Gutter), Jeffrey (the late Suzanne Oesterreicher), and Audrey. Loving grandmother of Adam, Michael, Daniel, Rose, Jeremy, and Jake and great-grandmother of Evan, Noah, Leah, Lillian, Sloane, and Natalie. Sister of the late Samuel J. Rosenfeld.

Rita was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Washington, DC. A graduate of the University of Maryland, where she was a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, Rita started her career as a science teacher at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, DC. After marrying Richard in 1952, they moved to the Boston area to raise their family, eventually settling in Newton. Rita and Richard were married for 65 years and enjoyed attending classical piano concerts together and spending time with Richard’s engineering colleagues.

Rita lived in Newton for 66 years, working in the public schools and volunteering with many local organizations. She volunteered at Warren Junior High School in the library, then went on to earn her master’s degree in library science from Simmons College and worked as a librarian at Warren and at Day Middle School. She was an original supporter of the League School in Walpole, MA. She was a longtime member of Temple Reyim, and a dedicated volunteer with the Temple Reyim sisterhood. She also volunteered at the Newton Free Library and the Auburndale Community Library, and served as a poll worker for the Newton elections for many years. She enjoyed watching musicals and films and was a supporter and regular attendee of the Boston Jewish Film Festival.

She was a devoted mother, grandma, and great-grandma, attending many school events and sports games, and always celebrating birthdays and accomplishments. She loved eating ice cream (especially coffee ice cream), collecting bird tiles, and doing puzzles.

Graveside service at Lindwood Memorial Park in Randolph, MA on Wednesday, August 23 at 11 am. Shiva at her late residence in Newton on Wednesday from 6-8pm and Thursday from 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Auburndale Community Library (375 Auburn Street, Newton, MA 02466; auburndalelibrary.org), Temple Reyim (1860 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02466; reyim.org), or Good Shepherd Community Care in support of the Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence (160 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459; gscommunitycare.org).

Mary Jane Flower-Of Wayland, on August 18, 2023.Beloved wife of the late David Flower Jr. Mary had served as a Regional Director of The Raytheon Corporation. She was a member of Temple Beth Am in Randolph and a longtime supporter of the Mass General Hospital. Private graveside services were held at Sharon Memorial Park on Monday, August 21, 2023.

After having courageously fought brain and lung cancer for the past three months, we are ever so sad to announce the passing of Carolyn Wexler Rosen of Needham, Massachusetts on Friday August 18, 2023.  Carolyn was born February 10, 1942, the daughter of Murray and Gussie Wexler in Exeter, New Hampshire, but she lived most of her life with her loving husband of 48 years, George, in Newton, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her son Peter, stepchildren Jeffrey, Phillip and Patricia, her five grandchildren, Joseph, James, Keren, Sarah and Joshua, her sister Shirley Barkin and her nephews Peter, Samuel and James Barkin. Carolyn was beloved by family and friends who knew her to be generous, kind, and compassionate – always ready to help and to serve.  She spent many years teaching school and volunteering at the Dana Farber Cancer Hospital.  Described by some as a “force of nature” she fiercely loved her husband George, her son, her three stepchildren, and all of her grandchildren, and she will forever be missed.

Donations in Carolyn’s memory may be made to Friends of Dana Farber, Boston, MA

https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/friends-of-dana-farber-cancer-institute/donate-to-the-friends/

Jack Kasten passed away at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham on August 16, 2023 in his 96^th year.

Jack was born on December 17, 1927 to Sam and Nina Kasten in Harlem, NY. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School at the age of 16, matriculated at Michigan State University, and remained a Spartan fan to his dying day. He received his MPH from the University of Michigan and served in the Korean War as a health officer, beginning his distinguished career in hospital administration and public health.  Jack served as Associate Director of the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston from 1965-1975 and led the healthcare consulting practice at Arthur D. Little for the next twenty-five years.  Among his other contributions, Jack served as President of the American Public Health Association, was a commissioner on the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission, and in retirement served on the Board of Directors of the HSC Foundation in Washington, D.C.  Health care delivery systems changed radically during the course of his lifetime, but Jack’s leadership and wise counsel remained an anchor that generations of people working in the field relied upon and returned to, again and again.

Jack married Shirley Winograd in 1958, and they built their life and family together. Jack and Shirley loved to travel, and they also loved to entertain at their homes in Newton and on Lake Winnipesaukee. Jack waterskied until he turned 80, and when he was driving the boat, everyone learned to ski (like it or not).

Teaching was Jack’s passion. He served on the faculty of Harvard School of Public Health for decades. He loved meeting with students and young professionals, and especially loved giving them advice about their studies and careers.

The people Jack learned from, worked with, and mentored became his most cherished and loyal friends.

Jack is survived by his children, Nancy (David Stern), Steven (Susan), and Michael; and his grandchildren, Jacob Stern, Josh Kasten, Nina Stern, Sam Kasten, David Kasten, Maddie Kasten, and Lili Stern.

After Shirley, a nurse, died in 2009, Jack chose to honor her by creating and endowing a fund to perpetuate their shared commitment to improving health care through education and training of caregivers. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Jack Kasten M.P.H to Hebrew SeniorLife, Development Department, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02131 or via //hebrewseniorlife.org/TributeGift to support the Shirley Kasten Nursing Leadership Endowment Fund.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at the Independent Pride of Boston Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA.

Following the funeral the family will receive visitors at Great Meadow Hall, NewBridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road. A minyan memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m.