Hedva Ann Kobes

“Long story short,” Hedva Ann Kobes, March 20, 1947 – February 4, 2023, was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. She spent her life loving deeply, always fascinated by and bringing out the best in the people around her. She and her husband of 52 years, David Kobes, raised their family in Bethesda, MD and relocated to Brookline, MA in 2014 to share in raising their granddaughter.

Hedva engaged with the world with a fierce intelligence and gentle wit. Born to Robert and Jane Goldman and raised in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, she graduated as the valedictorian of the College of Education at Penn State University and earned her master’s degree in English Literature. In her career teaching English language learners at the City University of New York and as a leader at Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, she was committed to helping those disadvantaged by our systems. Her passion for politics centered on an insistence for expanding equity and justice.

With Hedva, family came first. She was always a teacher and guided her children to their full potential. Her family and friends cherish “safety mom’s” instructions such as “little bites and chew” or “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

Hedva is survived by her husband David Kobes, brother Michael Goldman, children Solomon Kobes and Deborah Kobes and their spouses Kimberly Kobes and Kenneth Avery, her grandchildren Jin Kobes and Eleanor (Laika) Kobes, and cousins Fern Indelicato and Lynn Landau and their families.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made to Demos. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 1:00pm at the Nathaniel Topliff Allen House, 35 Webster St., West Newton, MA. A reception will follow. The family requests that all attendees please be masked.

The memorial service will take place on March 20th at 1:30 pm at Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD.