Obituaries

Wollins, Eleanor (Nager), of Lenox, MA, formerly of Lexington and Newton passed away May 1, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Benjamin Wollins. Devoted mother of Jill Wollins and the late Scott Wollins Loving sister of the late Goldie Levine (Abe), the late Beatrice Weintraub (Henry), the late Mildred Saffer (Mike), sister-in-law the late Pauline Richmond (Al) and the late Helen Wollins. Loving daughter of the late Etta and Louis Nager. Loving aunt of the late Judy Beiser (Gil), Diane Rosenfield (Jim), Johann Dretchen (Kenneth), Fredi Leisersohn (Howard), Reba Novich (Barry), Aaron Weintraub as well as great nieces and nephews. Eleanor Wollins died on May 1, 2022 at the age of 96.  Eleanor was born on March 28, 1926 in Malden, Mass to Etta and Louis Nager.  Eleanor was the youngest of four girls. Eleanor knew at an early age that she wanted to be a teacher, and, was the first in her family to go to college.  She graduated from Framingham Teachers College and later earned a Master’s degree from Boston University.  Eleanor taught in the Newton Public Schools for 33 years.  Eleanor was a beloved educator.  A woman ahead of her time, Eleanor learned computer programming so she could teach and use the computer in her third grade classroom.   Prior to meeting her future husband, the late Benjamin Wollins, Eleanor lived in Germany teaching at an Army Dependents School and traveling extensively throughout Europe.   In 1955 she married the late Benjamin Wollins, and subsequently had two children, Jill Wollins and the late Scott Wollins. Eleanor loved to cook and bake, and to entertain friends and family. Eleanor was an avid reader and scrabble player. After caring for her husband Ben until his death, Eleanor joined a vibrant community at Locke Village in Lexington, before spending her final years in the Berkshires. Graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 2:45 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Jewish Health, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice.

A link to view the funeral service virtually can be found here

Moshe Jacob, 60 of Maynard formerly from Karkur, Israel, died suddenly on Friday, April 29^, 2022.

Born in Hadera Israel, he was the son of the late Zaki and Latifa Jacob, husband of Michelle (Druker) and father to Nathaniel and Aaron Jacob.   Survived by siblings Avi Jacob, Yosi Jacob, Ruti Biton, Shula Nami and Rachel Yachin and many loving nieces and nephews. He will be joining in heaven his late siblings:  Ezrah, Eli, Yisrael and Nadera Jacob.

Moshe grew up in Karkur, Israel attending high school at Kibbutz Evron in the Western Galilea.  After graduation, he went on to be an officer in the Israeli army before immigrating to the United States in 1984.   In 1989 he married Michelle (Druker) and went on to raise their family including two sons, Nathaniel and Aaron in Maynard, MA.

Moshe spent his career building everything from garden, to stonewalls, to home renovations and repairs working for Zen Associations, his own business Jacob Home Services and most recently at Brandeis University.  He could fix just about anything from cars to appliances with extreme patience and self-taught knowledge.

Moshe was a dad and husband first sacrificing everything to make sure the family had security and opportunities while always putting their needs before his own.  He would give of his time, love, wisdom, and technical skills without hesitation to his immediate and extended families at any time

Moshe was a citizen of both the US and Israel with extensive knowledge of politics and current events in both lands and would love to discuss and debate in detail with others. His homeland of Israel was always in his heart and had could tell nostalgic stories of his youth and his family in detail.  He often would quote wisdom bestowed on him from his mother who had sage advice for all situations.  He loved listening to Israeli nationalist and other Israeli music and comedians from the years past and would sing and translate for Michelle and the boys the meaning of these songs.  You could tell what light it gave to his spirit to hear this music.

Moshe was an avid Celtics fan and was excited to see the team advanced to the playoffs.  He enjoyed watching games with Aaron and Nate when time allowed.  For his last birthday, the family attended a game live which he enjoyed even though he would have been content watching at home.  He found much peace and comfort spending time at home with the family not needing much material or outside adventures.

May his memory be a blessing to us all.   He will always be with us in the lessons he taught us, the stories he shared, and the lives he touched.

Attendee’s should arrive at the park 20-30 min before service time. Please report to the Administrative Building, where the professional staff of the Brezniak Funeral Directors will assist.

Following services memorial observance will be held at the Jacob residence, Minyan will be led by Rabbi Mike at 5:00pm   and continuing Friday, 12-6 pm, Minyan led by Cantor Sarra at 5 pm. All guests who attend shiva must be wearing masks.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Moshe’s memory may be made to Congregation Beth Elohim, c/o Amy Naparstek Israel Scholarship Fund.

Colonel Ralph Zimmerman, USAF-Of Boston, on April 24, 2022.Ralph was born in Brooklyn New York in 1934. He was raised in Haifa, Israel where he met his future wife of 67½-years, Rivka. Ralph and Rivka were high school sweethearts and met while in they were in the scouts. In 1952, when Ralph was 18-years old, he worked his way to the United States as a deckhand on a commercial freighter. Upon his arrival in the US, during the height of the Korean War, as a US citizen, he was informed of his impending draft into the military. Rather than being drafted, he joined the US Air Force. In 1954, upon being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Ralph returned to Israel to marry his sweetheart Rivka. They were both 20-years old. Ralph and Rivka went on to have 3-children; Grace, David and Bill. After a 25-year career in the US Air Force, Ralph retired as a full Colonel, at the age of 43, and moved to the private sector, in Dayton Ohio, where he worked for another 20-years before retiring to Boston with Rika. In retirement, Ralph and Rivka traveled the world extensively. Their travels included spending 4-months each winter in Haifa, Israel, enjoying family, old friends and the country.

Ralph enlisted in the US Air Force on December 17, 1952, as an enlisted man, during the height of the Korean War. Soon thereafter he proceeded to Officer’s Training School where he was awarded his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in September of 1954 and then his Navigator’s Wings that November. He then took advantage of the Air Force’s need for pilots during the height of the Cold War and went to pilot training where he was awarded his Pilot’s Wings in August 1957. Ralph was one the few “dual rated” pilots in the Air Force at that time having earned both his Navigator’s and Pilot’s Wings. After pilot training, he went on to become a co-pilot of B-47 crew, in the Strategic Air Command (SAC), tasked with carrying nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

From there, in April of 1965, Ralph was transferred to the Republic of South Vietnam. He was assigned to the 19^th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) in the role of a Forward Air Controller (FAC). In this role, during his one-year deployment, he flew 475 combat sorties, for which he was awarded 19-Air Medals and the Bronze Star. Additionally, in the summer of 1965 Ralph was shot down by enemy ground fire, crash landed his O-1E BirdDog in a US Army Special Forces camp’s perimeter mine field and walked away from the crash, only to fly another mission, in another aircraft, later that day, because that’s who he was.

Ralph took every opportunity that the Air Force offered to further his education, earning both a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) as well as attending numerous other military schooling opportunities.

Following his tour of duty in Vietnam, Ralph rejoined his family for a 3½-year assignment as the Base Operations Officer at a US Air Force base in England. It was here that he completed his MBA. England was followed by stations in Sacramento, California and Dayton, Ohio. It was in Dayton where Ralph performed some of his most important work during his Air Force career. It was here that he led the logistics teams that acquired both the F-15 and A-10 aircraft for the Air Force. In this role, he travelled to and briefed many high-level general officers at the Pentagon. Ralph retired from the Air Force, as a full Colonel, on February 28, 1977. He was awarded The Legion of Merit upon his retirement.

Ralph’s military retirement accommodated his wife’s desire to further her education and become a successful business woman in corporate America. Ralph joined Dayco Corporation where he became an intrapreneur, launching a new business within Dayco Corporation which he headed as its president. The business was a Third-Party Health Administrator (TPA). These types of organizations were the first corporate efforts to control skyrocketing healthcare costs. Ralph became an expert at healthcare cost containment, advising numerous CEOs and corporations around the country. He also advised the chairman of Dayco on the best investment strategies for the corporate retirement funds. Ralph’s TPA business, BenePlan Strategies, became a nice profit center for Dayco which they eventually spun off. He retired from BenePlan Strategies in 1997.

Ralph was a decisive, determined, very hard working, exceptionally loyal, ethical beyond measure, highly intelligent and compassionate person. Ralph was a dedicated family man, a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a very generous son-in-law, inviting his in-laws to live with the family for months at a time on a regular basis, including traveling together on vacations in Europe and the United States. Ralph was a beloved and special friend to all of Ralph and Rivka’s friends. Ralph’s life revolved around his career and his family. All of us have been enriched and are grateful to have been loved and cared for by him. Ralph passed away on April 24, 2022 and will be greatly missed.

The family is holding a private funeral on Thursday morning. Friends are warmly invited to join the family at the shiva which will take place at 3 Tamarack Rd., Weston, MA on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and on Friday April 29, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Jewish National Fund Trees JNF Trees, to plant trees in Ralph’s beloved Israel, or The Honor Foundation Honor Foundation, an organization that helps military Special Forces troops transition to private sector careers.

ZANE (Steinfeld), Lillian of Jamaica Plain, formally of Brookline, passed Sunday, April 24, 2022 at  the age of 101. She was the devoted daughter of the late Nathan Steinfeld and Florence (Neufeld) Steinfeld. Loving wife of the late Ernest Zane. Devoted mother of Michael Stuart Zane (Elizabeth), Peter Lee Zane (Ellen), William Morris Zane (Valerie) and Debra Ruth Zane (Maxwell Gould). Dear grandmother of Rachel Ellen Zane.

Lillian was raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, attended PS 1, Seward Park High School and Hunter College.

She met Ernest when she was civilian secretary in the Air Force and they married on Christmas Day in 1946. They moved to Boston and started a family.

In addition to being a home maker, Lillian was a bookkeeper for the manufacturing company that Ernest founded, and thereafter was the Matriarch of the Kryptonite Lock Corporation, a family business. And she was a dog lover, a voracious reader and a great cook. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was self-assured and loved by many who knew her.

Funeral service and shiva will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Rogerson House, 434 Jamaica Way, Boston, MA 02130 or to Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111.

Sam Silverman, 96, of Lexington, MA, died peacefully at home on April 23, 2022. A retired physicist and lawyer, his lifelong curiosity led him to study and publish in multiple fields. His primary focus was upper atmospheric physics and the aurora borealis, and he also published hundreds of articles and book reviews about a wide range of topics in the social sciences, biblical studies, psychology, and music. One of his proudest moments was securing the release of an innocent incarcerated man. He was an elected member of Lexington Town Meeting for over 40 years. He is survived by his partner, Rachel Rosenblum, his five children, nine grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Phyllis Silverman, and his first wife, Jacqueline Alon.  Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Tuesday, April 26, 2022  at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington, MA.  Burial to follow at Beit Olam East, 42 Concord Rd., Wayland, MA. Memorial donations may be made to: Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA, or the Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West St., Amherst, MA.

Live stream link to view funeral service at Temple Ohabei Shalom, Brookline click here

Adler-Golden, age 69, died from glioblastoma on Thursday, April 21, 2022 in Newtonville, Massachusetts. Steve was born on April 6, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York to Syliva Bloom Adler and Alexander Adler.  In 1980, he married his childhood friend, Rachel Golden. After completing post doctoral work at M.I.T., Steve worked as a research scientist for Spectral Sciences, Inc. in Burlington, MA for 40 years. Steve’s lifelong passion for creating art culminated in a show this past January and February of prints, paintings and mixed media at Gorse Mill Studio, in Needham. Steve is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rachel, his children Lisa (Gaelin Bryant) and Daniel (Diana Oliphant). Funeral services will take place  on Monday April 25 at 10:30 AM at Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon St., Brookline, MA.   Memorial donations may be made in Steve’s name to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Website to view Steve’s artwork click here

Gail Stern (née Gruzin), 83, passed away on April 17, 2022. Predeceased by her beloved husband, Gideon, to whom she was married for 56 years. She was the cherished mother of Alan E. Stern and Lisa Stern (Zachary Gillman). Originally from Worcester, she was the daughter of Herman and Bessie Gruzin and the sister of Sharyn Gruzin and the late Judith Shulman.  Gail is leaving a legacy of kindness. Her love was unconditional, and her gratitude and appreciation were widespread. She was inclusive before it was trendy. “We are all G-d’s children and deserve respect”, she would say. She believed in body positivity well before there was Oprah, Adele or Lizzo. She always greeted you with a warm smile, a kind word, and a compliment. She was everyone’s soft place to land. She taught us all to never give up, to persevere, and always be positive. She was everyone’s cheerleader, including her own, especially when a rare neurodegenerative disease took its toll late in life.  She was the model of dignity – Hair done. Lipstick on. A shpritz of perfume. March on. She showed us what it meant to love eternally.  She is now reunited with her eternal love, Gideon.   Donations can be made in her memory to the Newton Community Development Foundation, ncdfinc.org.

Levine, Priscilla, of Newton, MA passed away at home April 16, 2022 at the age of 104. Beloved wife of the late George Levine, decorated WWII veteran. Devoted mother of Robin Levine of Newton, and Philip Levine and his wife Linda of Randolph. Adored grandmother of Rachel Levine and her husband Nelson. A loving aunt. Private graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park. Due to Covid concerns, a memorial celebration will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Priscilla’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Joyce Meyers Seigel, of Boynton Beach, Fla., died Friday, April 15.  A Boynton Beach resident since 2006, she grew up in New York City and lived for a long time in Washington, D.C. and Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Joyce was always involved in national and local politics.  In the 1970’s and ‘80’s she worked in the treasurer’s office at the Democratic National Committee and was an experienced fundraiser and supporter of candidates for the U.S. Senate, House and local offices in Washington.   She also worked in the Washington, D.C. office of the deputy mayor for business development.

She was also a member and supporter of various charitable boards in Washington, loved art and the theatre and painted when able.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Charles Meyers and brother Eugene Meyers.  She was the beloved mother of Charles Meyers Seigel, Lee and Alison Seigel and Suzanne and Jeffrey Barrow, cherished grandmother of Meredith Barrow, Andrew Seigel, Alexandra Barrow, Scott Seigel and Matthew Barrow.  After her family her greatest love was the many dogs she had in her lifetime, and is survived by her loving companion Rosie.

Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the disaster relief fund or pet care assistance fund at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (mspca.org).

Mark Edward of Berenson North Eastham, passed on April 10, 2022. Son of the late Max Berenson and Doris (Braverman) Berenson. Beloved husband of Susan Jane (Sweeney) Berenson. Devoted father of Michelle Pflaum, Julene McCook and Michael Berenson.  Admired stepfather of Karen Keats.  Proud grandfather of Max Berenson, Jennifer McCook, Micah Pflaum, Heather Keats, Matthew Keats, and Jordan Keats.  Loving brother of Peter Berenson and Jon Berenson.

 Mark’s love and talent for photography created many beautiful memories for his family and friends.

Services and shiva will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to charities of your choice.