Obituaries

Schaffer, George of Maynard, MA formerly of Acton, MA passed away April 2, 2022. Beloved husband of Carolee (McNeil) Adams. Loving father of Lynne Adams, and Hannah Cross and her husband Keith. Proud grandfather of Nigel and Harper Cross, Camryn Adams, and the late Stratton Adams. Uncle of Howard Schaffer. George leaves beloved cousins Steve and Warren Austerer, and Ellen, Bruce, and Rachel Leicher, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Beverly and Forrest Nelson, and their children Christine and Greg. George was born in 1928  in Vienna, Austria to Otto and Hedwig (Gruenfeld) Schaffer. He had an older brother, Arthur. The family lived quite peacefully there until Hitler and his troops invaded Vienna and took over Austria in 1938. George and Arthur were sent on the kindertransport for protection in England, where they lived for a year. Eventually, both parents were able to join the boys and  traveled to the United States. George attended Brooklyn Technical High School and then New York City College in preparation for his career as an electrical engineer. The second part of his work life was spent as a writer and editor for McGraw-Hill magazine American Machinist. His passions included choral singing,  travel exploring nature, and his reclamation of Jewish Heritage through the Congressional Beth Elohim in Acton MA. George adored his family and always supported every member with his whole open heart. He married Carolee in 1993 and became a loving father to Lynn and Hannah. He was a dedicated grandfather to Stratton of blessed memory, Camryn,  Nigel and Harper. Funeral services at Congregation Beth Elohim, Acton, MA on Friday, April 8, 2022 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory may be made to Temple Beth Elohim, 133 Prospect St., Acton, MA 01720.

Gerald “Jerry” Ginsberg

Leader in the Recycling Industry

Gerald “Jerry” Ginsberg of Boston passed away, peacefully, surrounded by family, at his residence on Friday, April 1, 2022, after a brief illness. He was 92 years old.

Born in Boston, he was a devoted son to the late Bernard and Sadie Ginsberg. Jerry was the President of B. Ginsberg and Co., a scrap metal and paper recycling company in Boston, founded by his father Bernard. He was an early leader in the recycling business and his famous phrase was “Recycling makes dollars and sense.”

Jerry lit up every room he entered, whether it was a business meeting or numerous clubs he belonged to and the restaurants he frequented. Jerry loved to travel and spend time with his many friends.  Always willing to lend a hand to countless organizations and people who needed help and guidance, Jerry never said no.

He was a 60-year member of Temple Emeth of Chestnut Hill, President of The Sheptatovker Cemetery Association, Consolidated Lodge of Masons, and The Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston.

Jerry was the beloved husband of the late Cynthia (Meyers) Ginsberg and the best father to Candy Ginsberg and his cherished granddaughter Brittany Dunkless. He was also the devoted brother of the late Evelyn Ginsberg.

Services will be held at Temple Emeth, 194 Grove St., Chestnut Hill, on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 11:30 am. Interment will follow at Shepatovker Cemetery, Baker St. West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Evelyn R. Stavis (Frank) of Newton. Beloved mother of Linda Rich and her husband Ernest and Leonard Stavis and his wife Kathy. Devoted sister of Lester Frank and his wife Cynthia and the late Samuel Frank, Abraham Frank and Pearl Revis. Dear aunt and great aunt of many caring nephews and nieces. Funeral Services will be private.

Morris Samuel Shubow of Quincy and Needham, MA passed away with family by his side on March 22, 2022 at the age of 78. He was born in White Plains, NY to the late Rabbi Leo Shubow and Pauline (Kniznik) Shubow. Morris earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a JD from Boston College Law School. He practiced family law for all of his professional career. Morris is survived by his beloved partner Nancy Teel, loving children Kimberly Burd (Jeffrey), Amanda Gold (Brad), David Shubow, and Michael Shubow, as well as his adoring grandchildren Sarah Burd, and Samantha and Jack Gold. He is also survived by his cherished sister Dorothy Nelson (Jim), brother Charles Shubow (Lisa) as well as many nieces and nephews. Services are private. Donations in his memory may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc.

Ava S. Bubly aged 60 of Sharon, MA passed away on March 22 after a ten-year battle with breast cancer. She leaves her mother Gloria Bubly and sister Berylee Bubly of Sharon, a brother Gary Bubly, MD and his wife Karen Smigel, MD of Somerset, MA, and niece Alison Bubly and her husband Adam Feinstein of Jamaica Plain, niece Rachel Bubly, MD and her fiancé Daniel Pfeffer of Long Island City, NY, as well numerous aunts and cousins. She is pre-deceased by her father Daniel Bubly of Sharon.

Ava graduated from the Sharon Alternative High School in 1979 and then Brown University where she majored in theater arts. She then attended UCLA film school where she studied computer graphics and computer animation. She worked in Los Angeles, then moved to a job in New York city for two years before returning to work at Metrolight in Los Angeles.  Her work drew her to live and work in Taiwan before returning to the east coast. Her computer graphics work appeared in several movies, commercials, and notably the 1992 flying Olympics logo graphics.

Ava loved nature and wildlife, from the domestic baby ducks and chickens she raised, to the wild turkeys, ducks and geese that were abundant at her family’s yard.

Ava’s battle with breast cancer was truly remarkable. That she hung on for a decade was truly a story of epic survival and wonderful medical care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to breast cancer research would be appreciated:  Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.

Services will be private.

ARVEDON, Stuart M., of Framingham, passed away peacefully March 22, 2022 at the age of 93 surrounded by his family.  Son of the late Arthur and Mildred Arvedon. Husband of Ann G. (POSNER) Arvedon, father of Julie Knowlton (Scott) and Andrew Arvedon (Robyn). Grandfather of Aedan and Neve Knowlton and Jack Arvedon.

 A United States Army Veteran who served during the Korean War, Stuart graduated from Syracuse University and was the owner of Framingham Electric Supply Company.  He later enjoyed a lifelong career as a residential and commercial lighting designer and consultant.  A proud member of the Rotary Club of Framingham for over 50 years, Stuart was a former President of the organization and later worked with the Rotary’s Education Fund to provide scholarships to high school seniors.  Stuart loved boating with his family and was the former owner and skipper of the 46 foot sailboat The Argo Navis.  Stuart had many interests, but most of all he loved making hot fudge sauce and Caesar salad, reading about Amelia Earhart and the Titanic, clean windows and sinks, and dogs- especially granddogs Rusty, Bode, Moseley and Brewster.

Graveside services will be held Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 11 am at the Framingham/Natick Jewish Cemetery, Fairview Ave and Windsor Ave., Natick, MA. Shiva will be held at the Arvedon residence on Sunday from 12:30 pm to 6 pm following interment. Donations in Stuart’s memory may be made to the Rotary Club of Framingham, P.O. Box 2173, Framingham, MA 01703. www.FraminghamRotary.org.

Gorin, Lawrence “Larry”, of Chestnut Hill, MA, passed away with family by his side on March 19, 2022. Loving son of the late Joseph and Miriam (Naigles) Gorin. Dear brother Robert Gorin and his wife Nancy, and James Gorin and his wife Judith. Cherished uncle of John Gorin, Suzanne Gorin-Rudin and her husband Howard, and Micah Gorin. Larry is survived by great nephew James Rudin. Services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, MA on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11 am. Shiva info to be announced at the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s memory may be made to Hebrew Senior Life, 100 Centre St., Brookline, MA 02446, or Birthrite Israel, 111 8^th Ave.,  New York, NY 10011.

Landy, Joanne R. of Falmouth, formerly of Manlius, NY and Needham, MA, passed away on March 16, 2022. She was born on May 19, 1960. Joanne met her cherished husband of over 38 years, David Steinberg, at the age of 12 when David asked her to dance at an overnight camp social. Joanne and David met for the second time when they matriculated as freshmen at the University of Rochester, and the two have been in love and inseparable ever since. She was the devoted mother of two sets of twins and their spouses and partners: Matthew Steinberg and Alyssa Steinberg of Sharon; Michael Steinberg and Jake Pitochelli of Sharon; Danielle Kalette and Zachary Kalette of Roslindale; and Nicole Steinberg and Troy Sorrento of Boston. She was a proud and doting grandmother (or, as Joanne preferred to be called, “zsa zsa”) of Matthew and Alyssa’s daughter, Brooke. She was a dear sister to Fred and Fran Landy of West Hartford, CT, and Alex Landy and Alice Radin of North Caldwell, NJ. She is survived by her mother, Estelle Landy of Dedham. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, whom she adored: Cara and Robert Leichter; Brian and Melissa Landy; Cynthia Landy; Alan Landy and Vivienne Decker; Daniel and Alexandra Landy; Joshua Gensler-Steinberg and Marcie Kamerow; Micah Gensler; Annabel Banks; and Benjamin Banks. She was the loving grand-aunt of Teddy, Morgan, Sloane, Reid, Arthur, Annabelle, Piper, Hunter, and Adira.

Joanne was born and raised in Newton, the daughter of Chester and Estelle Landy. She spent many summers as a camper at Camp Pembroke and graduated from Newton South High School in 1978. After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester, she obtained a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. Then, often studying with the toddlers Matthew and Michael in her lap, she completed a Master of Laws in taxation from Boston University. Her charismatic personality and infectious sense of humor won over legions of friends over the years, and she enjoyed many lifelong friendships forged at camp, high school, university, law school, and beyond. She went on to develop a successful legal career in the Boston area, where she practiced for more than 15 years with specialties in divorce litigation and estate planning matters. Later on, she switched paths to pursue her passions for exercise and fitness. After gaining extensive training and experience as a fitness instructor in New York and on Cape Cod, Joanne started her own Pilates studio in Falmouth. Her business garnered a large, diverse, and loyal clientele.

Although she was voted by her high school class as “least likely to have children,” Joanne’s four children were the center of her world. Her love for her children, family, and friends was unconditional, her laughter was loud, she adhered steadfastly to her principles, and her warmth enveloped all who encountered her.

Services and burial will be at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 11: 45 am. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in honor of Joanne may be made to Brain Trauma Foundation, or to the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.

Mark S. Leventhal passed away peacefully and in his daughters’ hands on March 15 from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Mark had a great mind and an even greater heart; marrying a sharp intellect with the warmest of personalities. Mark was deeply grateful for the life he had and continually looked for ways to improve the world around him. This combination made Mark the ultimate caregiver; he proactively and patiently sought ways to care for his family and his community.

As an executive at The Beacon Companies, Mark was celebrated for bringing technical expertise to the management of construction projects.  Mark cultivated this knowledge through his own experience and skill and the deep respect for and relationships he had with the carpenters, plumbers, landscapers, engineers, and other professionals tasked with executing Beacon’s ambitious plans.

His proximity to mechanics fueled creative solutions. He routinely foresaw technical problems that might arise in the construction or life of a building and developed innovative approaches to ensure safe, quality construction. This mindset enabled Mark to design new systems that streamlined buildings’ construction and management.

Mark’s technical focus led him to the forefront of energy conservation. In the late 1980s and early 90s, Mark identified a business case to make upfront capital investments to fuel long term reduction in energy use. He introduced efficient light bulbs to and identified water conservation opportunities in commercial real estate.

After the sale of Beacon, Mark saw an opportunity to develop a smaller scale commercial and residential real estate business in Rhode Island. With Stonehenge Partners, he enjoyed being closely involved in every aspect of the work, from the building, to the financing, to the leasing.

Mark loved to combine his engineering and real estate development experience with his community interests, and played significant roles in the building committees for several organizations including Temple Emanuel, Hebrew College, and Brown University Hillel.

Throughout his life, Mark had an extraordinary commitment to his family. He was reliable, loving, and ever present. Those values were seen in the enduring and special relationships he shared with his parents, Muriel and Norman Leventhal, and his in-laws Estelle and Morris Ringer.  Mark delighted in being the father of three daughters – Emily, Sara, and Rebecca – in whom he fostered a love of learning, confidence in their own capabilities, and a commitment to justice. Mark prioritized being a grandfather, reframing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis as an opportunity to spend time daily with his grandchildren. He spent afternoons on extended adventures with his grandsons, helped repair his grandchildren’s schools, and worked to instill in his grandchildren both the knowledge he had cultivated and the values that guided him.

Mark and Donna jointly forged this strong family. Mark and Donna met in high school and grew into adulthood with one another, building a powerful and foundational partnership. Together, they raised their daughters and collaboratively brought their complementary skills and personalities to their family, creative pursuits, and community.

Even as his Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, Mark’s core personality remained strong: he was kind, caring, and always concerned for others. As his world seemingly became limited, Mark found constructive ways to explore his interests, socialize, and contribute to his family and community.

In his final years, as he was throughout his life, Mark was surrounded by the close-knit family he and Donna built, and by ample love and laughter.

Mark is survived by Donna, his wife of nearly 50 years; his children, Emily Leventhal (David Rontal), Sara Fleiss (Peter Fleiss), and Rebecca Leventhal; his grandchildren, Solomon, Morris, Annabel, Noah, Abraham, and Zeke; his siblings, Paula Sidman and Alan Leventhal; and his mother-in-law, Estelle Ringer.

Family and friends will gather to honor and celebrate Mark’s life at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St, Newton at 1 pm on Thursday, March 17th.To view the service on Livestream go to Templeemanuel.com./livestream-links/. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park. Following the burial, the family will receive visitors at Mark and Donna’s home on Thursday until 8:00 pm and Friday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

In honor of Mark, gifts may be made to Geriatric Psychiatry Fund, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Attn: Ginny Fuller, 116 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02116.

Sofya Iosilevich of Chestnut Hill, MA and formerly of Columbus, OH and Ufa, Russia passed away on March 11, 2022, after a long illness.

She is survived by her husband Arkadiy Iosilevich, her daughter Zhenja Iosilevich and husband Ryan Leigland, her grandchildren Aaron, Ruth and Claire Leigland, of Newton, MA and her brother Ilya Gamburg and his wife Irina Gamburg, her nephew Semyon Gamburg and his wife Diana Gamburg, and their children Myron and Vera Gamburg, of Moscow, Russia.

Sofya was born in Ufa, Russia in 1949 and lived there with her mother, husband, and daughter until they immigrated to the United States in the late 1990s.

Sofya grew up spending the summers with her grandparents and extended family in Ukraine, where her parents were from. She always referred to these as the best memories from her childhood. Having graduated from the Ufa Aviation Institute, Sofya had a very successful career as a leading economist at one of the largest jet engine production associations in Russia. She met her future husband Arkadiy in the early 70s and they would be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next year.

She was an avid reader, and an art and opera lover. She liked to travel, especially when she had the chance to do so with her beloved brother and his wife: their family reunions in France, Italy, and Israel were very special to Sofya. She cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and, by their account, made the world’s best chicken soup. Her friends and family knew her as the best in class hostess – she loved to cook and entertain, and firmly believed that there should always be at least five times more food on the table than the guests could possibly consume.

Above all, she loved to grow things with her own hands and gardening was her very special joy. Those who wish to make a meaningful gesture for Sofya and her family should consider planting a tree in her memory with https://thetreesremember.com/