Obituaries

Eric H. Sawitz, 76, passed away unexpectedly on January 16, 2026. A beloved husband of 47 years, a devoted father, an adoring grandfather (“Pop-Pop”), and unrivaled father-in-law, Eric is remembered as a warm, loving, and generous family man.

Eric took a genuine interest in each person he met. Everyone was welcome at his dinner table, and there was always lively conversation and plenty of food. Those who were lucky enough to call him family, friend, or colleague knew Eric to be a deeply moral, caring, and inquisitive man, who also delighted in playing devil’s advocate, and being the butt of the joke for his wife and daughters.

Born March 17, 1949 to Peter and Ilse Sawitz, Eric grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, along with his older brother, Allen, and his younger sister, Ina.

Eric headed north for college, graduating from Brandeis University in 1971, and then Boston University Medical School in 1976.  He spent more than 40 years as a primary care physician, including a decade as the Chief of Internal Medicine at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Braintree. Dr. Sawitz was beloved by his colleagues and patients, many of whom he treated for decades.

For all his career accomplishments, however, family was the true center of Eric’s universe. He and Gail met at a party in Boston in 1974, and married in 1978. They would spend the next decade living throughout the country including Boston, Worcester, West Virginia, and San Francisco, where their eldest daughter, Nicole Elisa, was born in 1984. In 1986, they permanently moved back to the Boston area and welcomed Beth Paula into the world.

The family settled in Needham in 1987, and they spent the next 35 years building a wonderful home and life. There were bagels on Saturday mornings, bike rides on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Gail’s famous green pistachio cake on Eric’s birthday, Passover Seders in New Jersey with his cousins, and treasured family vacations all over the world. Eric loved being a dad, and he took true joy in being Pop-Pop to his grandsons, Nolan and Joel.

Cape Cod was the family’s happy place, with many perfect summer days spent at Schoolhouse Pond in Chatham and Marconi Beach in Wellfleet. There was nothing Pop-Pop loved more than having everybody gathered on the Cape, where he relished playing host, making family Dunkin’ runs every morning, manning the grill, playing with his grandsons, watching Red Sox and Patriots games, and sitting around the firepit making s’mores at night. The family will cherish these memories forever.

In his spare time, Eric was an avid reader and lifelong learner, enjoyed dinners with Gail and their friends, and played in his weekly Thursday night poker game with “the boys” for nearly 40 years.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, brother, Allen, daughter, Nicole and her husband Andrew, and daughter, Beth and her husband Brian, and their sons, Nolan and Joel

May his memory be a blessing.

Funeral service will be held on Friday January 23, 2026, at 11:30 am at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street, Newton MA.  Interment to follow at Boylston Lodge Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury and shiva at Waterford’s Family Restaurant, 2 Bridge St. Dedham, MA immediately after.  Shiva will also be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Opus Newton, 777 Winchester St, Newton, MA from 3-6 pm with Minyan at 5 pm.

Gifts in memory of Eric may be directed to Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, where Eric’s sister, Ina, lived for 47 years, until her passing in 2023.

To view the livestream please click here.

JULIA LAUREN GOODMAN – 19 of Needham, Massachusetts was a Needham High School Graduate in her first year of college. She was the beloved and cherished daughter of Magali Medina and Daniel Michael Goodman, and the devoted sister of Katrina Erika Goodman and Jackson Tyler Goodman. Julia was the cherished granddaughter of the late Ismael Medina and Marcelina Medina, and of June Martha Goodman and the late Lester Samuel Goodman. She was also a beloved companion and loyal friend to her dog, Sawyer.

Julia was known for her deep compassion and kindness toward others, her warmth, and her playful sense of humor. She had a remarkable gift for bringing comfort, light, and connection to everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA. Burial will follow at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street, Newton, MA.

Shiva will be held immediately following burial at Temple Beth Shalom until 4:00 PM, and again on Friday, January 23, at the family home from 3:30–6:00 PM. Please come and share your Julia stories.

Donations in Julia’s memory may be made to Forever Home Rescue New England.
Mailing address: Forever Home Rescue, 106 Adams Street, Medfield, MA 02052.

Walter G. Abrams- Age 94, of Needham formerly of Newton, passed away on January 15. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Elaine, of 68 years; his daughter, Amy; his son-in-law, Lewis; and grandchildren, Alexandra (Sam Hollander) and Benjamin. He was predeceased by his son, Marc. Funeral is private.

To view livestream of the service, please click here.

Lawrence A. Schwartz of Dover, MA, passed away January 15, 2026 surrounded by his loving family after a brief, courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria, his daughter, Julia, son, Richard, daughter-in-law Caitlin and their two children, Lawrence and Grace. His oldest son, Abraham, predeceased him.

Larry was a CPA in practice for almost 50 years specializing in planning and compliance for high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and businesses in transition. He was an Accredited Estate Planner and past president of the Boston Estate Planning Counsel. He served on the Board of the ESSCO-MGH Breast Cancer Fund, which sponsored early angel investments into disease research. He was recently named Emeritus Member of the Board of Governors for Shriners Children’s Boston hospital after nine years as an active member. Serving on the hospital board was a true passion and he was instrumental in elevating the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Larry developed life-long friendships with the people he served. Clients became friends, friends became like family, and he was serving second-generation clients until his passing. He will be remembered professionally for his dedication, integrity, creativity, and humor.

It was his own children and grandchildren that gave him purpose and smiles. Together with his wife, Gloria, they enjoyed holidays, family vacations, and old-fashioned meals together.

The family are long-time members of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, where services will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 10:30 am.  Interment will follow in Beit Olam East Cemetery, Wayland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed in his honor to Shriners Children’s Boston, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA, 02114. Attention: Shiva Damghany.

Helen Stepakoff Stein passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026, surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen was the dearly beloved wife of the late Martin Stein, beloved mother of Shanee Stepakoff, and not-so-beloved mother of Mark Stepakoff. Loving grandmother of Liz Lawfer (Sam Lawfer), Jonathan Stepakoff, and Yana Serry. Great-grandmother to Mac and Fitz Lawfer. Stepmother of Barbara Webber, Marsha Stein, Michael (Gena) Stein, and Peter (Jeanne) Stein.
Helen was born in Boston, MA, on March 18, 1936. She had an extremely successful career as a real estate broker and, though she retired many years ago, kept her license active until her passing. She always had the inside scoop on listings both at Ocean Reef and in Boston and referred to herself as a “deal maker.”
She was incredibly social and had many close friends from across different aspects of her life. She could often be heard chatting away on her phone in her thick Boston accent, sometimes as she drove through a stop sign in her beloved “Marty” golf cart. Helen was an active member of the Ocean Reef Club for 40+ years, including Canasta and Mahjong, and won the club championship for both. She was also active in tennis in her younger years. Helen enjoyed the wonderful community at ORC, especially getting together with friends every Saturday night to dine at her special table out on the porch at the Islander while sipping an espresso martini with Frangelico.
She loved to travel and spent time visiting destinations around the world with Marty and with friends. She loved boating and spending time on the Steinsong, which was docked at E11 on the Reef for many years until the Steins moved to Harbour Green. She truly loved this club and the ORC employees, developing close friendships with many of them over the years. In light of this, please send any donations in lieu of flowers to the ORC Associates Holiday Fund in the name of Helen Stein.
There will be a celebration of life at Ocean Reef in the near future.  Services at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon, MA, will take place on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 1:00 pm, where she will then be laid to rest with her beloved Marty.

Edwin Jay Rosen of Sherborn and formerly of Brookline, Massachusetts, born January 2, 1933, passed away peacefully at home on January 13, 2026, having lived an active and fulfilling life of 93 years. Ed graduated from Brookline High School and Boston University and proudly served in the United States Air Force as a navigator for two years. In his younger years, he spent summers at Camp Kenwood in Potter Place, New Hampshire, where he developed his love of sports and formed many lifelong friendships. An avid baseball player, Ed was recruited by the Boston Braves in 1951. He was also an exceptional golfer playing at many courses throughout the country. He enjoyed all sports and always had a strong opinion about any Boston sports team. Ed was a long-time member of the Freemasons and the Cambridge YMCA and was an original member of a running club formed in the 1970s. Following his military service, Ed worked for many years in the family business, Rosen & Company, before opening his own company with his brother, Fred Rosen. They lived for playing practical jokes on each other. He remained professionally active until retiring at the age of 82. The love of Ed’s life was Mary Rothstein. They married in 1956 and shared 53 wonderful years together. They enjoyed island vacations and cruises and made treasured friendships along the way. Ed never wavered in his devoted care of Mary after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. They lived in Brookline for 40 years before moving to Sherborn Meadows in 2006. After Mary’s passing in 2009, Ed began a new chapter. He remained highly social and active with friends, though he never went on another cruise. Known for his quick wit and strong opinions—always delivered without offense—Ed was a familiar and beloved presence at local restaurants including Eli’s and the Morse Tavern, where patrons would literally shout “Eddy!” when he walked in. At Sherborn Meadows, Ed proudly served as “Captain of Happy Hour” right up until the very end. Ed was predeceased by his wife, Mary (Rothstein) Rosen; his sister, Marian Rosen; and his parents, Ida and Nathan Rosen. He is survived by his brother and best friend, Fred Rosen of Florida; his loving children, Martha Tischofer (Chuck) and Carol Kagan (David); his four grandchildren, Leah (Tischofer) Krell (Wesley), Gregory Tischofer (McKenzie), Ari Kagan, and Jordana Kagan (David Glaser); and his three great-grandchildren, Maizy and Graham Krell and Aubrey Tischofer and many cherished nieces and nephews. The family would like to recognize the kind and compassionate caregivers from BrightStar of Needham, the Sherborn Council on Aging, Renee’s Kitchen and the Natick-Walpole Visiting Nurse Association. Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the VNA or organization of your choice. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 12:45 p.m. at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, followed by a Shiva from 3:00–7:00 p.m. in the community room at his residence in Sherborn.

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

Helaine Rosenthal Meyers, of Brookline, MA passed away January 11, 2026 at 104 years old. Born in Boston, MA. Beloved wife of the late Henry Meyers. Dear daughter of the late Louis and Sadie Rosenthal. Loving sister of the late Allan and Irwin Rosenthal. Helaine leaves her children, Leslie and Ken Zises, Ellen Meyers Zakon, Michael Meyers and Kathy Jones, and Frances Meyers. Cherished grandmother of Lauren Zises, Jennifer and Ian Josloff, Jackie Zakon, and Mitchell Toro. Proud great grandmother of Spencer Josloff, and Harrison Josloff. Funeral services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, MA on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 1:30 pm. Shiva information to be announced at the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations in Helaine’s memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, MA 02459, or The Boston House, 229 Kent St., Brookline, MA 02446.

To view the livestream of the service, please click here.

93, of Dedham, MA, passed away peacefully at her home on January 12, surrounded by the love and care of her family. Born and raised in Revere to Violet and Jacob Wheeler, she shared a joyful upbringing with her brother, David Wheeler. Alyce lived a long and deeply fulfilling life, characterized by her unwavering devotion to family, cherished friendships, and graceful spirit.

Alyce was the beloved mother of Anne and Gary Simon, Nancy and Robert Casper, and Anna and Doug Simon. She took great joy in being a grandmother to Emily and Jay Pfeifer, Matt and Leora Simon, Zach and Jill Simon, Laura and Steven Wells, Erik and Gabie Simon, Sam Casper, and Nikki Casper, and was proud to have nine wonderful great-grandchildren.

With a steadfast commitment to her family, Alyce embraced the joys of motherhood while also being blessed with two loving marriages. She was married to Norman Simon for 25 years until his passing, and then to Robert Sadler for 42 years, with whom she shared a deep bond built on love for travel and adventure. Together, they made wonderful memories in homes that spanned from Needham and Newton to the scenic landscapes of Mittersill, NH, Quechee, VT, and Arizona.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 1 pm at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA 02067.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Good Shepherd Community Care via check to the address below or through their online portal; https://gscommunitycare.org/Donate  160 Wells Ave., Newton, MA 02459.

We mourn the loss of Samuel O. Thier, who passed away at home in Chestnut Hill, MA on January 3, 2026. Sam was a mentor to generations of physicians and research scientists, as well as a renowned administrator who shaped healthcare systems across the nation and helped to establish the foundations of modern academic medicine in America.

Sam was born in Brooklyn on June 23rd, 1937, and was forever a Brooklyn boy, though sometimes he would concede that he’d spent parts of his childhood in Louisiana and Miami. He was the son of May Thier and Sidney Thier, a family doctor, and he was a devoted big brother to his sisters, Lenore and Roberta. It was in Brooklyn, while accompanying his father on house calls, that he discovered his lifelong passion for medicine.

At the age of 16, he went to Cornell University, where he met Paula Finkelstein, his wife of 67 years. Always in a hurry, he left Cornell without taking a degree in order to study medicine at Upstate Medical College in Syracuse. He trained at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he was eventually chief resident and then chief of the renal division.

After distinguishing himself in clinical practice, he served as Associate Chief of Medicine at UPenn and Chairman of Medicine at Yale. In 1985, he left Yale to become the president of the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine), where he issued the first public health report on the AIDS epidemic and was instrumental in forcing the federal government to acknowledge the scale of the disaster. He left the IOM to become president of Brandeis University, where he stabilized the university’s finances and developed a new undergraduate curriculum, before returning to the MGH. There he served first as the hospital’s president and then, as president and CEO of Partners Healthcare, superintended its partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital — a complex, contentious, and historic union between rival institutions. He was awarded more than fifteen honorary degrees; served as a trustee at many institutions, including Brandeis and Weill Cornell Medical School; sat on numerous corporate boards and was a member of the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Sciences; and chaired the Commonwealth Fund board of directors. He received more awards than he or any of us could count, among which he particularly cherished the George M. Kober Medal, a lifetime achievement award for scientific rigor in internal medicine.

But no matter what he was doing, no matter how large the organization he was responsible for, he retained a furious commitment to patient care. That conviction guided every policy decision he made, and it also shaped his daily life. He made rounds every week. He found time to visit the friends of friends before they went into surgery. He took the leaders of medical associations to task when he felt they were protecting their own interests, rather than putting patients first.

Outside the office, he loved competition of any kind. He would call family members when he’d sprinted through the morning crossword, and it’s hard to express the intensity of his love for sports. He played tennis all his life, he loved baseball — eventually the Red Sox did take the place of the long-ago Brooklyn Dodgers in his heart — but he would watch professional bowling if there was nothing else on.

He was a person of ferocious intelligence, uncompromising integrity, and surprising humor. Everyone who knew him knew that he relished a spirited disagreement, and when you spoke to him, you had to be at your best. But he was even more ferocious in his love for the people he cared about. When you needed him—when you really needed him—there was something almost frightening about the magnitude of his effort to help you. He would wake people up in the night, he would move heaven and earth, he would stop at nothing. That is the man we miss so much. We were protected by his love. We felt safer knowing he was there.

Sam leaves his wife, Paula; his sisters, Lenore and Roberta; his daughters, Audrey, Stephanie, and Sara; his grandchildren, Aaron, David, Ruth, Emily, Rebecca, and Isabella; and his seven great-grandchildren, Sidney, Saul, Eamon, Ida, Alona, Vivian, and Fox.