Obituaries

Leon “Lee” Sherman, 101, of Framingham, formerly of Somerville and Revere, passed away peacefully on July 26 at the remarkable age of 101 following a brief illness.

Born on July 10, 1922, Lee was the sixth of seven children of the late Pauline and Samuel Sherman. He had fond childhood memories of playing baseball and watching second baseman Sibby Sisti and the Boston Braves in the bleachers with the “Knothole Gang.” Another constant thread in his life was tennis, thanks to his older brother, Marty, who introduced him to the game. Since he had older siblings with children by the time he was a young teen, Lee became the favorite “Uncle Mashe” of his nieces and nephews. His most transformative job as a young man was working in his brother-in-law’s dental practice doing odd jobs, running errands, cleaning, and even working on patients under Joe’s watchful eye. This was the spark to a hugely successful career as a dental technician and business owner.

In 1942, Lee was drafted into the Army and served on the hospital ship USS HOPE in the Pacific where he ran the dental lab and performed medical surgeries. Further stories about his adventures in World War II are available upon request. When he was honorably discharged in 1945, Lee opened Sherman Dental Lab on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, rapidly building the business and his reputation in the dental industry. He met and partnered with the premier dentists in the area and helped establish the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Throughout the years, Lee lectured at Boston area dental schools.

Lee enjoyed his life as a bachelor in the 1950s. He played tennis and squash around Boston and at singles resorts in New England. It was at one of these resorts where he met his future wife, Pearl. Lee and Pearl were married at the Hampshire House on an unusually balmy day in November 1961, and they settled in Framingham, MA to start their family. Once daughter Davida came along, he had a sidekick to teach every sport, primarily tennis, squash, and baseball, mentor, and educate on the fine art of comedy, particularly Henny Youngman jokes.

In the early 1970s, Lee partnered with two other dental professionals to establish the famously successful lab, Denthetics, which they ran for more than a decade before it was acquired by National Dentex. In the late ‘80s, Lee went back to his roots and opened a one-man lab in the basement of a dental office, which he tremendously enjoyed until his retirement at age 85.

Lee and Pearl were members of Temple Beth Am in Framingham and later Temple Israel of Natick. Lee also loved playing tennis at Sudbury River Tennis Club in Framingham and Wightman Tennis Center in Weston.

Lee is preceded in death by his beloved Pearl and his siblings Sophie Karlin, Helen Bengar, Elizabeth Weene, Martin Sherman, Harry Sherman, and Ruth Jacobson. He is survived by his daughter Davida Dinerman and son-in-law Brad; his grandchildren, Abby and Ari, to whom he was the “best Poppie ever,” and Toby “Good Boy” the goldendoodle, and many nieces and nephews.

We remember Lee as a forever youthful man. He was a storyteller with a tremendous sense of humor and a fierce love for and loyalty to his family and friends. His most favorite thing was spending time with his family, whom he adored and cherished, advised and supported until the very end. His mantra, “110%, one day at a time,” will forever be with us.

Graveside service at the Framingham-Natick Hebrew Cemetery, Fairview Ave, Natick, MA, on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11:00 am. Shiva will begin after the burial at the home of Davida and Brad Dinerman until 4:30 p.m. Shiva will continue Sunday, July 30, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., with minyan at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lee’s memory may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital at bostonchildrens.org/givenow or via check payable to Boston Children’s Hospital, at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301.

Alford, Harvey, of Newton, MA died July 25, 2023. Beloved husband for 56 years of the late Myrna (Oven) Alford. Devoted father of Stuart Alford and his wife Laurie, Larry Alford and his wife Jordana, and Julie Stonehill and her husband Ari. Proud grandfather of Jacob, Shira, Hannah, Noah, Arielle, Leah, and Mikayla. Loving brother of Leonard Alford, and the late Alan and Robert Alford. Brother-in-law of Eliott Oven and his wife Jenice, and Roberta Brener. Cherished son of the late Arnold and Sylvia (Engle) Alford. Dear son in law of the late Jacob and Ida Oven.

Harvey graduated from Boston College, Summa Cum Laude and was First In Class and graduated Magna Cum Laude at New England School of Law, while simultaneously working full time and helping to raise a young family. He always had an entrepreneurial spirit and prior to entering the practice of law owned and operated a restaurant, nightclub, and package store. As an attorney for almost 40 years, Harvey represented individuals, businesses, and municipal housing authorities in a variety of matters. He was awarded numerous honors by the Haitian community in Boston for his work on behalf of the community. Harvey was active in the leadership of Congregation Mishkan Tefilah and later was the Founding President of Congregation Or Yisrael.

Above all, Harvey was fiercely devoted to his family: his children and grandchildren, but most of all, the love of his life – his Myrna- with whom he built a life and travelled the world.

Funeral service at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., Newton, MA, on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 10:30 am. Following interment at Adath Jeshurun Cemetery (Grove St., West Roxbury), shiva will begin immediately following interment until 3:30 pm and resume from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the home of Larry and Jordana Alford. Shiva will continue Friday, July 28 from 1-4:30 at the home of Julie and Ari Stonehill and on Sunday and Monday, July 30 and 31 from 6-8 pm at the home of Stuart and Laurie Alford.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Harvey’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org) and the Chabad Center of Sudbury (https://www.chabadsudbury.com

Bernard Gitlin of Newton MA, Hyannis MA and Highland Beach, FL passed away peacefully after a short and courageous battle with Leukemia on July 22, 2023. Better known as Buddy, Bernie, Daddy and Papa, he is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Brenda Berman Gitlin, his two daughters, Jocelyn Deutsch and Melissa Jacoby, his sons-in-law, Michael Deutsch and Joshua Jacoby and his five grandchildren, Marlee, Matthew, Talia, Max and Ryan. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Victor Berman, his sisters and their husbands, Sam and Harry Goldberg and Leslea and Robert Harelick and nephews, David Harelick, Scott Harelick and Andrew Goldberg, their spouses and children.

Buddy was a graduate and avid supporter of Lehigh University. He served in the Coast Guard before settling in the Boston area in the early 60’s. He served on the board of Camp Allen, supporting children with disabilities and has passionately raised close to $400,000 for Dana Farber Cancer Institute over the last 22 years by riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Better known as Bernie in business, he was successful in real estate and became known as the “Condo Insurance Guru”.  Working at Rodman Insurance for many years, then co-founded his own agency, Global Insurance Network in the 90’s and finally sold the business to Risk Strategies where he was still doing consulting work a few short weeks ago. 

Buddy understood what was truly most important in life, his family. Many people knew him as Buddy and no moniker suited someone’s essence better than “Buddy”, anyone who was in his presence, whether for a minute or a lifetime felt like his buddy. He and Brenda filled their lives with family, love, traveling, boating, skiing, eating and making friends everywhere.

We will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 24^th at 12 noon at Temple Beth Avodah, 45 Puddingstone Lane, Newton, MA followed by burial at Sharon Memorial Park. Donations can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute by supporting his Pan-Mass ride: http://profile.pmc.org/BG0063

Passed away on Thursday, July 20, 2023, Beloved Wife of Leonard Segal, Sister of Janet Gorin Goldman (Robert), Aunt of Elyssa Goldman-Hecht (David) and Michelle Goldman Ahern (Christopher). Interests: Book clubs, Friends of the Library Sharon (MA) and Friends of the Library Hudson NH, walking, reading, word games. Deena is a retiree from Digital Equipment Corp. and BWH/Partners Healthcare. Special Thank You to Dr. Jennifer Ligibel (DFCI) and High Pointe House hospice. Graveside Service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 10:45 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, https://www.dana-farber.org/.

A Link to view the livestream can be found here.

Vivien Lee Spertner, age 82, of Wellesley, MA, formerly of Newton, MA and North Falmouth, MA, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023.  Beloved wife of the late James Spertner.  Devoted mother of Kimberly Ann Halpern and David Spertner. Proud grandmother of Jonathan Halpern, Kyle Halpern, Zachary Halpern, Emily Spertner and Jenny Spertner. Loving sister of Joan Lainer and her late brother Donald Miller. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 23rd 11am at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North Street Randolph, MA. Following the service we will gather for shiva services at the home of David Spertner until 4:30 pm and on Monday from 3pm -6pm. Donations in Vivien’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

Age 74, passed away peacefully at home in Southboro on July 18, 2023, with her devoted and loving family at her side. She is survived by her beloved husband, David; and her deeply loved and cherished daughter Rebecca. She was the adored and loving sister of Ellen Cronin and her husband, the late Joe Cronin; and her brothers, Robert (Bob) Totten and his wife, Linda, and William (Bill) Totten and his wife, Nancy. Rita is also survived by her dear nieces and nephews, cousins, and wonderful devoted friends. Rita was predeceased by her parents, Helena and Robert Totten. Rita was born in Cambridge, MA, raised and educated in Dorchester and then Milton. Throughout her life, Rita thrived on making meaningful connections, in the early years with her siblings and over many decades with friends. Ellen and Rita, Bob and Bill developed strong lifelong bonds, forged in joy and reinforced by their deep caring and respect for each other. Friendships established from different facets of Rita’s life, including high school and college, neighborhood connections, and later Rita’s book club, grew only stronger as Rita and her peers developed a deep and abiding mutual empathy and understanding of their joys and sorrows. From an early age, Rita impressed her educators with her talent for academics; from her teachers at St. Brendan’s elementary school and the nuns at Fontbonne academy (high school), to the Professors of Stonehill college, every educator she met saw how her luminous intelligence (cloaked in modesty) would light up a room. After college, Rita worked a couple of years at a travel agency, which prompted her to experience the pleasures of discovery with her college friends, and later with David and Rebecca. Her next position was clinic secretary for the Tufts Neurology department, where she and a nurse colleague conducted all administrative and nursing facets of a busy faculty-resident-fellow practice with expertise and grace. In his first year of fellowship, David fell in love with this incredible secretary and beautiful person. Before they wed in 1985, Rita took a position as secretary in the pharmacy department at Tufts; she was enthusiastic about her work and felt the love of the senior staff. With the arrival of Rebecca, Rita became a full-time mother and homemaker. She cherished the years of being a stay-at-home mom. Later when the house got a little too quiet, Rita went back to the secretary’s desk for a physical therapy practice and enjoyed the work and the camaraderie of her colleagues. It is no exaggeration to say that when Rita made an appearance (whether at a job, a book club meeting, during a family gathering, or her own oncology visits), with her humor, warmth, ease, and wit the feeling in the room would somehow enliven and the atmosphere brighten, and the faces of those assembled would appear a little happier. David and Rebecca would like to thank Dr. Kathryn Edmiston and her colleagues at the UMass Breast Cancer center, and the staff from VNA Hospice, (Needham) (especially Marion Kettell and Katie Mechan). There will be a funeral service at the chapel at the Newton cemetery and arboretum on Friday July 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM followed by a burial at the cemetery. After the cemetery service, the family invites all who are available to continue to remember Rita at a Shiva at their home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the breast cancer center at UMass or VNA hospice (Needham).

Cathy Levin Shuman Trivers passed away on July 17, 2023 following a valiant 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 70 years old. Born on October 7, 1952, in Boston, Massachusetts, Cathy was the cherished daughter of Robert and Carrol Levin.

Cathy attended Newton South High School, where she met her late husband, Louis A. Shuman. After graduating from the University of Denver, Cathy and Louis exchanged vows in 1972 and returned to their roots in Massachusetts. They settled in Wayland, MA, where they built a beautiful life together. 

Throughout her life, Cathy’s passion for early childhood education ignited her dedication to serving as an elected School Board member, making a positive impact on countless young lives.  Cathy’s vibrant spirit extended beyond her role as a devoted mother and wife. Her love for fitness blossomed into a lifelong passion, which she skillfully transformed into a profession. She also found solace and inspiration in contemporary art, and her keen eye and expertise were shared with others during her years of consultancy at Clark Gallery.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband of nearly 19 years, Ted Trivers, along with her daughters Samantha Shuman of Brooklyn, NY, and Rachel Shuman Sullivan and her husband Michael, of Milton, Massachusetts. Cathy also leaves behind two adored grandchildren, Carly and Tyler Sullivan. She is survived by her mother, Carrol Levin, her brother Rick Levin and his wife Arlene of West Newton, and her sister-in-law Barnette Shuman of Auburndale. Cathy was preceded in death by her first husband, Louis A. Shuman, and her father, Robert J. Levin.

In the hearts of those who knew her, Cathy will forever be remembered as a woman of valor, love and dedication. Her impact on her family, community, and the fields she touched will endure as a testament to her remarkable life. 

Services will be held at The Chapel at the Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, Thursday July 20, 2023 at 10am. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Richard and Arlene Levin on Thursday following the interment until 4pm. The family requests that any donations be made to support the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (CART) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women’s Hospital with “in memory of Cathy Shuman Trivers” in the memo line and sent to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Development Office, 263 Huntington Avenue #318, Boston, MA 02115-4506 or visit bwhgiving.org/memorial to make your gift online.

Herbert Friedman- A resident of the Harbour’s Edge community in Delray Beach, Florida, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, July 16, 2023. Exactly four weeks to the day and hour as his wife of 74 years, Harriet Friedman. Survivors include their two sons Elliot and Lawrence; grandchildren Julie, Haley, Ali and Molly; and two great-grandchildren Hattie and Finn. Herb was born in Roxbury, and graduated Boston English High, after which he enlisted in the Air Force during WWII. He later attended Norwich Academy and received his bachelor’s degree at Boston University. Herb was an avid baseball fan, liked the Red Sox, but loved the Yankees. Herb was the patriarch of the family business, Economy Hardware, on Mass Ave., in Boston, which started alongside Harriet on July 25,1949. Herb’s death was a complete surprise to all at the Harbour’s Edge community, family and friends. It is hard to explain that a man of 96 years in age went before he should have, but that was Herb. God bless. Mr. Friedman’s graveside service will take place on Thursday, July 20th, 11:00 AM at Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, 2605 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Contributions may be made in his loving memory to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL33407.

Price, Nathan age 108, of Delray Beach, FL, formerly of Worcester, Brighton, and Newton MA, passed away July 16, 2023.  Beloved husband of the late Anna (Green) Price.  Devoted father of Adele Wiener and her husband Theodore, and the late Phyllis Clopper and her surviving spouse Herschel.  Proud grandfather of Staci Berkson, Jeffrey Clopper, Lesley Bellalta, and David Flashman.  Proud great-grandfather of Michael Berkson, Alyssa Berkson, Alex Clopper, Sam Clopper, Joshua Clopper, Saphire Hall-Flashman, Evianna Bellalta, and Amelia Bellalta. Loving brother of the late Sylvia Rosencranz, and Dorothy Kupferman. Services and burial took place at the Sharon Memorial Park on Thursday July 20, 2023.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Nathan’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

Nancy (Goldberg) Rosen, of West Palm Beach, FL, formerly of Woodbridge, CT and West Hartford, CT, in her seventy-eighth year on July 12, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Warren Kenneth Rosen. Devoted mother and mother-in-law of Heidi Rosen and Mark Greenberg of Boynton Beach, FL, Daniel and Gabrielle Rosen of Larchmont, NY, and Jay and Lauren Rosen of Surfside, FL.  Cherished grandmother and “Nini” of Jeremy, Joshua and Adam Rosenberg, Ariana and Asher Rosen, Yael, Zoey and Natan Rosen. Dear sister and sister-in-law of Rhoda (Goldberg) and Fred London, Dr. J. Myron Rosen and the late Barbara Rosen, the late Howard Rosen, Pauline Rosen and the late Dr. Constance (Rosen) Wood. Daughter of the late David Goldberg and the late Sadye (Orent) Goldberg Feld and step-daughter to the late Edward Feld, and daughter-in-law of the late Henry Rosen and Annie (Miller) Rosen. Nancy can be remembered as the greatest-, warmest-imaginable, vivacious and vibrant mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren, spouse to Warren and friend to all.  She will be sadly missed, and her smiles, hugs and memories often toasted and celebrated, by her nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Graveside services will be held at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North St., Randolph, MA on Sunday July 16, 2023 at 11:00 am. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Laura (Rosen) and Doug DeFonzo following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to “Chabad of West Boynton Beach” c/o Rabbi Raichik, 9406 West Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33472, or the charity of your choice.