Archive: February, 2024

Lewis Fendell-Of Los Angeles, CA, on February 22, 2024. Private interment was held at Pride of  Jacob Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Marilyn “Max” Baker passed away early Monday morning, February 19, 2024.  Max lived in Lexington for over 50 years before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and moving into assisted living.  Her beloved husband, Jacob Baker, died in December, 2015.  She is survived by her brother, Howard Berger, daughters Dasha Baker and Pamela DeGuzman, and grandchildren Joe Lessard, Zoe DeGuzman, and Claire DeGuzman.  The funeral will be held Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Westview Cemetery in Lexington followed by an informal gathering and lunch at Temple Isaiah in Lexington.

A link to view the livestream can be found here.

Lewis, Nancy (Blake), of Easton, MA, passed away February 19, 2024. Beloved wife of Harvey Lewis. Devoted mother of Rebecca Rodman and her husband Michael of Sharon, and Craig Lewis. Proud grandmother of Ava, Peri, and Marcus Rodman. Loving sister of Joan Levinson. Nancy leaves adored nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Funeral Services at B’Nai Tikvah, 1301 Washington St., Canton, MA on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 1:30 pm. Interment to follow at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Shiva observance will be at the Lewis Home, Wednesday 7-9 pm, Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 pm, Friday 2-4 pm and Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to Temple B’Nai Tikvah, the Simon Weisenthal Center or The American Heart Association.

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

Youtube link:

Saul M. Nathan of Waltham, MA passed away February 15, 2024, surrounded by his dear family. He was the beloved husband of Eleanor for 64 years.  He was a dear father to Judd, Steven and his wife Geralyn, Rachel and her husband Tabor. He was a wonderful grandfather to Lauren, Emilee, Jeffrey, Haley, Holden, and Iris. He was a special great-grandfather to Layla and Gio.

Services will be at Congregation Or Atid, 97 Concord Rd Wayland MA on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at New Town Cemetery, 357 Concord Rd, Sudbury MA.

Saul was happiest spending time with friends and family and loved Boston sports, especially the Red Sox and Patriots.  A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in 1957, he began his career in sales at Oster before he opened his own business. Saul loved to travel and leisurely read the paper while drinking his morning cup of coffee. He always kept up with current events, enjoyed listening to jazz music, and loved fishing later in life.  He was enthusiastic about acquiring the latest gadgets and had a notorious sweet tooth. He passed down to his family his love of birding and our beloved Grampie will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Saul’s memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund or the University of Pennsylvania.

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

Dr. Stephen Gary Pauker of Weston, Massachusetts passed away at the age of 81 on February 16, 2024. Dr. Pauker pioneered the field of medical decision making, cared for patients in the specialties of internal medicine, cardiology and clinical hypnosis at Tufts Medical Center for over 40 years and served as the Sara Murray Jordan Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Dr. Pauker was born in 1942 to Helen Yurdin Pauker and Carl Jacob Pauker in New York City and  raised in Kingston, New York. Stephen delighted in being an older brother to Kenneth Yurdin Pauker of Laguna Niguel, California, and Jonathan Phillip Pauker, who passed away in 2003.

Valedictorian of his class at Kingston High School, Dr. Pauker graduated Magna cum Laude in biomedical sciences from Harvard College as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and then from Harvard Medical School, Magna cum Laude as President of the Alpha Omega Alpha society. Dr. Pauker trained in cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 1967, Dr. Pauker married Dr. Susan Perlmutter Pauker, who became a clinical geneticist and mentor at Harvard Medical School. Together, the Drs. Pauker developed the field of prenatal diagnostic decision making. They raised their children, Sheridan Joanna Pauker of Berkeley, California, and Scott Gregory Pauker of Moab, Utah, along with numerous dogs whose names also began with the letter “S,” in Weston, Massachusetts.

Beginning in the 1970’s, Dr. Pauker co-authored over 350 medical journal articles with his beloved peers and mentees at Tufts that have been cited over 14,000 times in the fields of decision analysis, cardiology, hypnosis, genetic screening, and many others. He was among the first to apply artificial intelligence to medicine, establish rational thresholds for testing and treatment, introduce the importance of patient preferences in medical decisions, and perform a decision analysis for a care decision for a patient. Dr. Pauker wrote the original code for the first medical decision analysis program. He founded and was Chief of the Division of Clinical Decision Making at Tufts Medical Center, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a Master of the American College of Physicians, a member of the Institute of Medicine, and President of the American Board of Medical Hypnosis and of the Society for Medical Decision Making.

In addition to the family members mentioned above, Dr. Pauker leaves son-in-law Jonathan Kaplan and grandson Jonah Mateo Pauker Kaplan, beloved colleagues at Tufts Medical Center, and dear family friend Lorena Richards, who lovingly cared for Dr. Pauker in his home for many years. The Pauker Family is deeply grateful to the staff of Lasell House in Auburndale, Massachusetts for their loving care of Dr. Pauker.

After a family burial, Dr. Pauker’s memorial service will be held at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Tufts Medical Center, Department of Medicine Division of Clinical Decision Making. Please visit giving.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/give-now to make an online donation, or call (617) 636-7656 and designate the “Stephen G. Pauker Memorial Lecture Fund” in the comments line.

Daisy (Delicia) Nahmias Katz was born on January 4,1923 to Chaim and Oro Nahmias in New York City. She was predeceased by her husband Sam, siblings Fanny Assa, Martha Engel and Leo Nahmias as well as her son Robert, daughter-in-law Kathleen and son-in-law Robert Zalosh.
She is survived by her daughter Gloria Zalosh, daughter-in-law Donna Mitchell and her four grandsons Michael (Burke) and Matthew (Alisa) Zalosh and Ahmon and Sam (Chanel) Katz. She is also survived by her eight great-grandchildren, Sophie, Sam, Nina, Will, Jasmine, Tansy, Ivy, and Nina and many nieces and nephews.
Daisy married Samuel Katz in 1943 in New York City and they raised their family in the Bronx where they enjoyed all the cultural benefits of the city.
Daisy was a great cook and baker as well as an accomplished artist, seamstress and knitter. Daisy and Sam retired to Florida in 1978 and after her beloved Sam died in 1980, she broadened her artistic endeavors to include sculpture, stained glass and calligraphy. She was an inveterate traveler well into her eighties and a daily walker into her nineties. After her second retirement in Florida, she began volunteering in elementary schools since she always wanted to be a teacher.
She relocated to Massachusetts in 2010.
Daisy had a full and rich life and will be sorely missed.

Israel Kupiec, January 15, 1936 – February 15, 2024

Israel Kupiec was born in Tel Aviv, the son of Polish immigrants who fled with his older brother just a few years before the outbreak of World War II. He was the first to attend college in his family and came to the United States in 1961 with a degree in electrical engineering from the Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology and a plan to study at Ohio University. But the plan changed. On the ship sailing from Haifa to New York City, Israel met and fell in love with his future wife, Charlotte Mass (the Brooklyn-born Charlotte was heading home to care for her sick father, leaving behind her kibbutz and her dream of a life in Israel). To be closer to Charlotte, Israel transferred to Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he would earn his PhD in electrophysics.

Israel taught Charlotte to drive, an inherently intense situation made even more so by the busy streets and highways of Brooklyn, and she knew then this relationship would last. They were married April 10, 1962. The newlyweds would make their first homes together in the outer boroughs, where they had three children, and ultimately moved to the house in Bedford, MA, where the fourth was born. This would be their Eden. Together, they planted maple and spruce and gardens, and Israel strung the trees with birdhouses, observing the songbirds and waterfowl that came to feed and nest. New rooms were added and the bedrooms preserved so that the children always had a place to sleep when they returned as college grads and ultimately as parents with children of their own.

Israel worked until the age of 82 at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he eventually became the associate group leader in the Aerospace Division and was responsible for many high-profile radar developments. He enjoyed the respect and affection of the younger generations of engineers through mentorship and over lunches in the lab cafeteria. Israel took his family for two assignments to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where he commuted daily by plane between islands and eventually became associate site manager, helping to oversee the work of scientists and staff engaged in military research. When not at work, he swam in a warm lagoon, got sunburned on fishing boats and trips by barge to local islands, and tried scuba diving, tennis, and running.

He studied English systematically, intrigued by its slang and vast vocabulary, and was a voracious reader of novels, nonfiction, poetry, and the news (he was deeply engaged in world politics his entire life). But he never stopped reading in Hebrew, and his memories of growing up in Israel remained sharp. He could quiet a noisy family dinner with recollections of his military service and childhood larks, of former teachers and old friendships, and of the struggle for statehood. He brought this intellect and curiosity to his practice of Judaism at home, where he led the Passover seder and Friday night kiddish, and at Temple Emunah, where he was often called upon to read the torah and haftorah.

Israel could be bearishly gruff and disarmingly sentimental, a keen interpreter of the world and a composer of silly fantasies and dances for his young children. He could be terse on the phone, focused on evidence of his children’s wellbeing, and tender in his letters and during kitchen conversations. The family took many trips together and indulged his love for mountain drives and big vistas. But perhaps most of all, he loved to be at home, in the warmth of visiting children and grandchildren, in a haven of the familiar, and with the freedom to nap as he pleased and to tinker—to build birdhouses (and even a bat house) and to do all sorts of home improvement projects for which one usually hires a professional but which could be done by a layperson who could teach himself almost anything.

Israel is survived by his wife Charlotte of 62 years, his four children and their spouses (Raun Kupiec and Barbara Gazley, Yael Kupiec-Dar and Yaron Dar, Tamar Kupiec and Steve Tremble, and Nadav Kupiec and Jennifer Kupiec) and seven grandchildren (Eli, Netta, Shani, Mina, Aviv, Amos, and Benjamin). He will be forever adored and remembered.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 10:00 am at Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA. Interment to follow at Shawsheen Cemetery in Bedford, MA.

Shiva with a service will take place at his late home Sunday, February 18 – Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, and visiting hours will be held Monday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Remembrances may be made to Temple Emunah and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

Roberta Lee Rosenthal, 87, of Boynton Beach, FL died February 12, 2024, surrounded by her family.  She leaves her husband of 68 years, Harold Rosenthal; two children: Susan (Rosenthal) Schachter and her husband  David and Mark Rosenthal  and  his wife Katie Pearson; four grandchildren: Matthew Kaplan, Jennifer Rosenthal, Samantha (Rosenthal) Kelly and her husband Ryan, Taylor Kaplan; one great-grandchild: Jackson Kelly; two sisters: Phyllis Polebam and Barbara Elliot.

Roberta was born July 16, 1936, in Lowell.  She married her husband, Hal, in 1956 and the couple moved to Swampscott where they raised their children.  She attended Lesley College in Cambridge, majoring in nurses training.   Roberta’s love of art led her to work at Prestige Gallery in Peabody for over 20 years.  She was particularly fond of southwestern art and Edna Hibbel’s paintings.  Roberta and Hal traveled several times to New Mexico and Arizona, where she would meet various artists and purchase their works.  Roberta enjoyed playing her weekly games of canasta and mahjong.  Since moving to FL early last year, she was able to find new partners and expand her games to include bingo and poker.

A graveside service will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery, Workman’s Circle, Peabody on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 12 pm.  Shiva will be held at The Village Recreation Center, Freedom Hollow, Salem, immediately following the service from 2-5 pm.  Shiva will also be held at the residence of Mark and Katie Rosenthal in Weston on Sunday, February 18, 2024 from 1 – 4 pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Temple Sinai, One Community Road, Marblehead, MA 01945.

Sanford Katz of Newton, a world-renowned law professor, passed away on February 10, 2024.  Beloved by his colleagues and students, Professor Katz taught family law and contracts at Boston College Law School for 47 years. 

Professor Katz was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on December 23, 1933, the son of Jacob and Rebecca Katz, and one of seven children. He graduated from Boston University and the University of Chicago Law School, then joined the Air Force Judge Advocate General Division and served at the Pentagon. After a fellowship at Yale Law School, he began his illustrious teaching career at Catholic University Law School and then to the University of Florida, before Dean, Robert Drinan, S.J., brought him to Boston College Law School.

Professor Katz’s impact in the field of family law has been enormous.  The author of numerous foundational books and scholarly articles, he lectured throughout the world.  For many years, he served as Editor of the prestigious Family Law Quarterly, Chair of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and was one of the founders of the International Society of Family Law.  In recognition of his prolific and most distinguished scholarship, Professor Katz was invited as a Fellow at All Souls College at Oxford, where he and his beloved wife Joan (a devotee of Oxford crime mysteries) spent some of their happiest times together. In 2016, nineteen eminent scholars from Great Britain and America published a volume of legal essays in his honor.

Sanford Katz is survived by his dear wife of over sixty-five years, Joan, his sons Daniel and his wife Meg Parsont, and Andrew and his wife Denise Padilla; his grandchildren Lucia and Salvador Katz, whom he adored; his sister Eleanor Shrier and several extended family members.

Professor Katz also leaves behind several generations of devoted students, who will fondly remember his absolute commitment to their success in the legal profession, as well as countless colleagues, scholars, and practitioners who he inspired.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, February, 15, at 10:30 am at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA.  The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. To view the service virtually use the following link: https://www.templeshalom.org/livestream . Burial will follow at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sanford’s memory may be made to Boston College Law School.

Gordon Bello-Of Waltham, on February 11, 2024.Beloved husband of Ellen (Rosen) Bello. Devoted father of Gail Rose Bello. Private graveside services were held. Remembrances to The Jewish Family and Children’s Service,1430 Main St. Waltham, MA 02451.

Burton Goldberg-Of  Washington, DC, on February 8, 2024. Arrangements pending.

To view the service recording please click here.

Edward Kaplan, a scholar of 19th Century French Literature and Religious Studies, died at NewBridge on the Charles surrounded by his family on February 7, 2024. The cause of death was Lewy body disease.

Edward Kaplan taught at the Department of Romance Studies, and in the Religious Studies Program which he founded, at Brandeis University where he was Kevy and Hortense Kaiserman Professor in the Humanities, and a Fellow at the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry.

Internationally known for his research on the French Revolution historian Jules Michele, and especially on the 19th Century Romantic poet Charles Baudelaire, Kaplan published seminal books on Baudelaire’s prose poems, Le Spleen de Paris, Petite Poems en Prose. Kaplan’s English translation the latter, The Parisian Prowler, won the National Lewis Galantière Prize for the best work in translation in 1990. Kaplan’s signature approach to literary scholarship and teaching was to illuminate the intersection of the ethical, esthetic, and religious aspects in the creative process.

Early in his career, teaching at Amherst College in Western Massachusetts, while still immersed in the study and publishing books on Michelet, Kaplan ventured into the scholarship on the nature of religious experiences. This interest started in the mid-1960s when Kaplan, then a graduate student at Columbia University working on his PhD in French literature, met Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. The personal, intellectual, and scholarly relationship that developed between the esteemed theologian and the nascent graduate student has changed and profoundly shaped the entire trajectory of Kaplan’s life and career.

Under the influence of his father, Kivie Kaplan who was National President of the NAACP, Edward developed deep commitment to social action and interest in the spiritual roots of non-violence. With Kivie Kaplan, He attended NAACP conventions and marched in Selma. Knowing his son’s emerging interest in religious mysticism, Kivie Kaplan on MLK’s advice introduced Edward to Heschel.

Heschel’s writings on the religious aspects of non-violent resistance to injustice, to the blaspheme of racism and the evil of the War in Vietnam, brought Edward into the orbit of Heschel’s students, mentees, and disciples. It was at that time that Kaplan started his scholarship of Heschel’s life and work, resulting in many books, scholarly articles, lectures and conferences. Kaplan’s definitive two-volume biography of Abraham Joshua Heschel was published with Yale University Press. Volume 1, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Prophetic Witness, coauthored with Samuel H. Dresner, came out in 1998 and was a National Jewish Book Award finalist in Jewish Scholarship Category. Volume 2, Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America, 1940–1972, published in 2007, was a winner of the National Jewish Book Award in the American Jewish Studies category. Kaplan’s one-volume biography of Heschel, directed for general readership was published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2019, his last book. In all, Kaplan authored 18 Books and almost 200 scholarly articles and reviews.

Edward Kivie Kaplan was born in Boston on March 4, 1942. His father Kivie Kaplan was a successful Jewish businessman in the leather tanning industry. Edward’s mother, Emily (Rogers) Kaplan was a homemaker. Edward attended Newton public schools, high school at Deerfield Academy, and Brown University where he majored in French and graduated in 1964. It was during his Junior Year in France that he became determined to pursue academic career in French Literature as a teacher, scholar, and writer. As the first person in his family to go to college, this was as bold a decision as it was risky. But that year at the Sorbonne formed in him an irresistible interest in literary scholarship, and in study of literature’s profound effects on human experience and the history of ideas. After completing his PhD degree in French Literature at Columbia University in 1970, he taught French at Barnard College, and then at Amherst College in l97l–l978. Since 1978, he was at Brandeis University in Waltham MA until his retirement in 2015.

Edward married Alexandra Gilden in 1968. They divorced in 1975, and she died in 2002. In 1986, Edward married Janna (Lipmanov) Kaplan, a Brandeis neuroscientist and a Jewish refugee from the former Soviet Union fleeing antisemitic persecution. In addition to his wife Janna and son Jeremy (Rebecca Ballantine) Kaplan and their children Eli, Lhakyi, Dechen, Bella and Cassie Ballantine-Kaplan, Edward is survived by his two children from his second marriage: son Aaron (Será Godfrey) Kaplan and their children, Zeppelin Godfrey-Grantz, Kivie and Fox Godfrey-Kaplan, and daughter Sima (Ryan Dobran) Kaplan.

A devoted family man, Edward was able not only to think deeply, but also to feel deeply. As his disease progressed and his ability to think coherently diminished, his unique capacity to feel deeply – his profound sensitivity – remained at the core of his sweet, thoughtful, loving nature.

Services at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, MA on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 12:00 noon. Interment at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva at his late home, Sat-Wed 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), 2027 Massachusetts Ave. NW at Kivie Kaplan Way, Washington, DC 20036.

Kaplan, Leonard “Lenny” of Waltham, MA, formerly of Lexington, MA, passed away February 5, 2024. Beloved husband of Judith (Smith) Kaplan. Devoted father of Marcia Kaplan and her husband Todd Fishman, Mark Kaplan and his wife Helaine, and the late Wendy Kaplan and her wife Kris Wyatt. Proud grandfather of Sydney Fishman, Bella Fishman, Alexa Tanzer, and Matthew Kaplan. Loving brother of the late Bernard Kaplan. Services at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lenny’s memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, or the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Theodore S. Berenson of Boston, MA & Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.  For 47 years the beloved husband of Cynthia L. Berenson. Devoted father of Wendy Berenson and her husband Gene O’Brien, Cathy Seligson and her husband Fred Seligson, Patrica Berenson and her husband Jeff Carp, Dana Berenson and her husband Gabe Coleman. Cherished grandfather of Gregory O’Brien (Andrea), Daniel O’Brien (Erica), Dylan O’Brien, (Maddie) Erica Seligson (Tom), Matthew Seligson, Andrew Seligson, Adam Seligson, Evan Carp, Abigail Carp, Fiona Coleman and Elias Coleman. Great-Grandfather of Elia and Noa. Dear brother of the late Helaine Allen (Alvin Allen). Dear uncle of Elizabeth Nash, Matthew Allen, Douglas Allen and Emily Wolff. Services at Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Theodore S. Berenson may be made to  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by visiting https://www.bidmc.org/giving  by check made payable to “Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center or BIDMC” with  Theodore S. Berenson /“donation designation “ in the memo line. Contributions can be mailed to: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center or BIDMC, Office of Philanthropy, 529 Main Street, 4th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129 or Brandeis University, 415 South  Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

A link to view the livestream can be found here.

Richard I. Steinberg of Brookline, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in Boston. He was 80.

Born in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late Eugene and Marion (Rutt) Steinberg and the brother of the late Lewis Steinberg, of West Hartford, CT.

He leaves his wife of 28 years, Harriet (Shain) Steinberg; his children, Gregory Steinberg (Marcie) of Cheshire, CT; Michael Steinberg (Jennifer), of Boca Raton, FL; and Rebecca Bregman (Josh), of Acton, MA; his grandchildren, Amanda, Jake, Edward, Chloe, Samuel, Alexis, and Jack.

Richard graduated in 1961 from Avon Old Farms School in Avon, CT, a place he cherished. He was a member of Temple Israel in Boston, he loved to travel, he was an avid bridge player, and he enjoyed collecting antique clocks, pocket knives, and watches. Richard had an insurance sales and management career that spanned five decades.

Richard married his second wife in 1996. He embraced Harriet’s children and their families and also leaves Laura Hyman (Scott) of Natick, MA, and Andrew Bramson (Kate) of Providence, RI, and their children, Evan, Gabriel, Ilana, and Jonah.

Richard also leaves his first wife, Susan Lederman, with whom he raised their three children in Simsbury, CT.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Israel, Boston, MA, on Friday, February 9, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in the Baker Street Cemeteries. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice, in Richard’s memory.

To view the recording click here.

Marcia (Paley) Camac died on February 3, 2024 at the age of 94. For 58 years, the beloved wife of the late Morton Camac.  Devoted mother of Norman and Jody Camac, Ann and Gideon Ben-Horin, and Joyce and Gary Weiser. Loving grandmother of Jeremy, Michael, Adam, Rebecca and Lisa. Loving aunt of many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Lesser and Zelda (Fine) Paley, her brother, Hiram Paley, and grandson, Daniel. A graveside burial will be held at Westview Cemetery at 1:30 PM on February 6th. Shiva will be at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington 02421, on Tuesday, February 6 from 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. with remembrances at 7:00 p.m. and minyan at 7:30 p.m. Donations may be made to the organization of your choice.

Gerald Sterling Fain, 76, January 31, 2024. Funeral service will be held Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 1 PM in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Burial to follow. Shiva will take place at the home.

Donations in his memory may be made to Congregation Agudath Israel’s (Caldwell, NJ) Fain Family Fund, or to the fund of your choice at Temple Israel of Natick.

Maslow, Joan B, formerly of Florida and Cape Cod, passed away on Feb 2, 2024 at age 92.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Alan, and by her parents, George and Pauline Palais.  Joan is survived by her daughter Lori Paul, and her husband Bob, and by her sons Paul and Jonathan, and Jonathan’s wife Shana.  She also leaves her grandchildren Susan and husband David, Samantha and husband Kenny, Tim and companion Mallory, Zachary, Kayla and Lindsey, as well as 5 great grandchildren.

Joan spent the last few years at Waterstone of Wellesley where she made many friends.  We would like to thank her aide Genevieve, and all the hospice workers and staff at Waterstone.  Burial will be private.

Bob Kutner, age 72, of Wayland, formerly of Auburndale and Plymouth, passed away on January 31, 2024. Bob was the beloved husband of Lenna (Boroff) Kutner and the devoted father of Daniel Kutner. He also leaves his brother Richard Kutner and wife Susan of San Marcos, CA, his sister Janet Kutner of Wayland, niece Lindsay Talley, her husband Eric and their sons, niece Lauren Ogden, her husband Tobias and their daughter.

Bob had been a partner in the law firm of Casner & Edwards for over 30 years, retiring in 2017 from his practice of professional liability and real estate-related litigation. He grew up in Newark and Wilmington, Delaware, son of the late Abraham and Dorothy Kutner.  Falling in love with the Boston area while attending Harvard University, Bob returned to the city after obtaining his degree from Columbia Law School, settling first in Brighton and then in Newton with Lenna.

Bob was an avid sports fan with a passion for Boston teams, which he shared and nurtured in his son Dan. He also loved travel, and over the course of his life visited many far-reaching corners of the world. In later years he and Lenna purchased a lakeside summer home in Plymouth and enjoyed the more serene lifestyle of boating and entertaining friends.

Bob continuously amazed and inspired family, friends and colleagues with his resilience and determination to live life fully in the face of 28 years of medical challenges.

Condolence calls may be made at the home of Lenna Kutner on Friday, February 2nd from 4pm to 8pm. A celebration of life is being planned for a date in late May. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Bob’s memory to support cancer research and patient care at:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift.

Kaplan, Jerome “Jerry” of Newton, MA formerly, of Philadelphia, PA passed away January 30, 2024 at the age of 97. Beloved husband of the late Edith (Jaffy) Kaplan. Devoted father of Paul Kaplan and his wife Lisa Rothstein of Auburndale (Newton), MA. Cherished grandfather of Isabel and Zachary Kaplan. Loving brother of the late Raymond Kaplan.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Philadelphia or the American Civil Liberties Union.

Elaine Gregerman, died Monday, January 29, 2024, in Plantation, Florida.

Those of us who loved Elaine Gregerman struggle to accept her loss. She was a genuinely kind and caring woman who reached out to family, friends, and even strangers when she felt their need. Even as her health declined, Elaine was always looking to soothe others.

A graduate of Brookline High School class of 1960, Elaine met and married Arthur Gregerman. They had one son, Adam, whom they adored, and they eventually settled in Hollywood, Florida. Elaine was a woman with a flare for decorating and a great sense of style, and so it is no surprise that she had much success working for Rooms to Go, a well-known furniture store. With her gregarious personality, she was often the top salesperson and was beloved by fellow employees and customers (many who became friends).

She was friendly and outgoing, and many were charmed by her magnetic personality. She loved animals and admired every furry creature. In later years she volunteered at numerous animal shelters.

Her greatest love was for Adam, his wife Rahel, and their two children Ezra and Aviva. She enjoyed them and savored every moment spent with them. She was fortunate to get to be with them in Philadelphia and Florida, most recently at Aviva’s bat mitzvah.

She leaves behind a brother Ken Crystal, whom she adored, and a sister-in-law Anne Crystal, who she viewed as a sister, as well as nieces Maura Maziya Crystal and Debra Crystal. She was a loving aunt to Maura and great-aunt to her three children Harrison, Maya, and Inna.

Always strong but also gentle and full of generosity, Elaine cared greatly for her family and for society, and she was wonderful at making friends. Her love for and commitment to others were deeply admirable.

Graveside Service at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:45 am.

May her memory be a blessing.

Professor Lawrence L. Langer, 94, of Wellesley, Mass., died peacefully on January 29, 2024 at home where he had been in hospice for several months after a diagnosis of cancer. He was Professor of English Emeritus at Simmons University in Boston.

Langer was a preeminent scholar of the Holocaust and influenced generations of Holocaust educators and researchers. He believed that the testimony of witnesses and the unflinching imagination of literary and visual artists are essential pathways to understanding one of the darkest episodes in the twentieth century. He passionately resisted efforts to deflect attention from the atrocities of the Holocaust in favor of the “uplifting” stories of resistance and rescue of European Jews.

Larry was born on June 20, 1929 in New York City, the eldest child of Irving Langer, an Ellis Island clerk and postman, and Esther (Strauss). Larry grew up and attended school in the Bronx, before enrolling at City College of New York in 1947. In his first year at City College, Larry met his sweetheart Sondra “Sandy” (Weinstein) on the boardwalk in Far Rockaway, N.Y. They married three years later in Brooklyn, N.Y. Last February, they celebrated their seventy-second wedding anniversary. Upon graduation in 1951, Larry and Sandy moved to Cambridge, Mass. where Larry earned a PhD in American Literature at Harvard University in 1961.

Larry began teaching American Literature at Simmons College in 1958, where he taught until 1992. His initial encounter with the Holocaust occurred in 1955, when on a trip to Europe he visited the Dachau concentration camp.  But his career choice was cemented during his year as Fulbright Professor of American Literature at the University of Graz in Austria, when in 1964 he visited Mauthausen concentration camp and the deathcamp at Auschwitz/Birkenau.  In both instances he was the sole visitor to the site and, standing on the terrain of the largest Jewish “cemetery” in the world, he asked himself for the first time whether it was possible to find a language to describe the crimes that unfolded there.  After returning to Simmons, he inaugurated in 1965 the first course on Holocaust literature to be taught at an American college or university, initially called “The Literature of Atrocity.”  As a result of this experience, during a sabbatical year in Germany in 1968-69, he wrote his first book, The Holocaust and the Literary Imagination (1976), which was one of three finalists for the National Book Award.  Since then, he has published eight more books on Holocaust themes. His 1991 book Holocaust Testimonies: The Ruins of Memory won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism and was named one of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The New York Times Sunday Book Review. It was also listed in the 100^th Anniversary Edition of The Times Book Review as one of fifteen titles “of particular permanent interest.”  He was also the editor of Art from the Ashes: A Holocaust Anthology, published by Oxford University Press in 1995.

Professor Langer worked in collaboration with many organizations including the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University, Facing History and Ourselves and, most recently, The Pucker Gallery in Boston and artist Samuel Bak. At the Fortunoff Archive, he took testimony from many survivors and watched hundreds more. Larry’s groundbreaking exploration of survivor testimony compelled him to coin new words and phrases to describe the unthinkable, including “choiceless choice” and “afterdeath,” finding existing language to be inadequate.  Following his retirement in 1992, he continued working and writing and forged a partnership with his friend Samuel Bak, a painter and Holocaust survivor, whose imagery sought to challenge the task of finding spiritual and intellectual comfort in a disordered post-Holocaust world. The Pucker Gallery published 9 compilations of essays interpreting the abundant works of the artist, which combine critical commentary and interpretation with Bak’s paintings.

In 2022, Larry published his last two books, The Afterdeath of the Holocaust, and Hierarchy and Mutuality in Paradise Lost, Moby-Dick and The Brothers Karamazov, his only non-Holocaust related work. Larry dedicated each of his books to his beloved wife, Sandy, and to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Larry was a highly decorated scholar, receiving fellowships and scholar-in-residence appointments from the National Endowment for the Humanities; the US Holocaust Research Center of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.; the Oxford Center for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, in Oxford, England; and the Rockefeller Foundation Study and Conference Center in Bellagio, Italy. Larry was awarded honorary degrees from Simmons College in 1996, from Hebrew Union College in 2000, and from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2002. In 2016, Langer received The Holocaust Educational Foundation’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Holocaust Studies. He received the Eternal Flame Award at the 53^rd Annual Scholars Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches in 2023. The City University of New York will award Larry an honorary degree posthumously at its commencement ceremony this May.

Larry’s love of teaching and learning was lifelong. He adored collaborating with his ever-growing collection of colleagues and mentees. While his work was celebrated and immense, Larry was most proud of his wife, his children, and his grand- and great-grandchildren. His serious work was always well-balanced by his endless laughter, days working in his garden, enjoying classical music, and summers at his home in Wellfleet, Mass.

Larry was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Winthrop (Jessie); and his parents. Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy; his son Andy Langowitz (Nan) of Wellesley, Mass.; his daughter, Ellen Lasri (Nissim) of Natick, Mass.; five grandchildren, Noah Langowitz (Monikah Schuschu) of Framingham, Mass.; Tamar Jenkins (George) of West Newton, Mass.; Emily Langowitz (Meaghan Kramer) of Phoenix, Ariz.; David Lasri of Framingham, Mass.; Joshua Langowells (Caroline) of Somerville, Mass.; and three great-grandchildren, Danny, Maya, and Addy. The family is grateful to Good Shepherd Community Care hospice for their care and support.

Funeral Service on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 11:00 at Temple Beth Elohim 10 Bethel Rd. Wellesley, MA.

Shiva will be at his late residence on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boston Chamber Music Society or Good Shepherd Community Care.

ENDLAR, Stephen P.

A devoted family man, Stephen died peacefully on January 25, 2024. He was 88 years old.

Stephen was born March 17, 1935 in Brookline, MA to Lester and Josephine Endlar. He and his brother, Richard, grew up in Brookline in a happy, active household.  He made life-long friendships at Shady Hill School, Milton Academy and Harvard University. After graduation in 1956, Steve married the love of his life, Alberta (Cohen) Endlar in 1957.  He had a 50 year career in wealth management at GH Walker, Abraham & Sons, Lehman Brothers, Smith Barney, and Moors and Cabot.  During his younger years, he could be found playing squash after work at the Harvard Club.

Steve was happiest gathering the people he loved around his favorite pastimes, for a meal or for a holiday.  He had a great love of the outdoors and traveled the world to ski and golf with family and friends.  In retirement, during the summer, he could be found playing golf or meeting grandchildren at Belmont Country Club.  In the winter, he spent many years hosting the whole family at his home in Sugarbush, VT where all four grandchildren learned to ski – a gift they will have forever.

As a parent and grandparent, he spent many years as an avid family supporter at a myriad of rinks, fields, courts and courses.  As a parent at the Skating Club of Boston, he was always at the rink and was known for hosting great parties after ICE CHIPS for his daughters. When his grandchildren arrived and played competitive sports, he and Alberta never missed a soccer, lacrosse, squash, baseball or hockey game – rain or shine.

In addition to his beloved wife, Alberta, Steve is survived by his brother, Richard Endlar; daughters, Leslie (Richard) Zetlin and Laurie (Michael) Lee; four grandchildren, Derek (Renee) Zetlin, Samantha (Joe) Fruci, Jessica Lee, and Jeffrey Lee; and 3 great grandchildren, Palmer & Sloane Zetlin and Zachary Fruci.  He will be missed by everyone.

Funeral services will be private.  Shiva will be observed at Belmont Country Club on Sunday January 28th from 1:30-4:30pm.  Minyan will be at 3:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation by check to the Belmont Fireman’s Relief Association PO BOX 79222, Belmont, MA 02478.

Deborah Barrett April 28, 1947 – January 24, 2024
Deborah Barret, 76, of Brighton MA passed away peacefully at the Care Dimensions
Hospice House on January 24, 2024, of cancer. Her son Randy was by her side.
Deborah is survived by her two sons, Randy Barrett and Jayme Fishman and his wife
Gretchen and three grandchildren, Lily, Shayna, and Evan.
Deborah had many roles and interests throughout her lifetime, first as a business owner
and craftsman, later as a college English professor and mentor, and as a hobbyist
photographer, soap maker and gardener, and wife, mother, and grandmother. She had a
great love of swimming, biking, reading, playing Mah Jong, and- in earlier days- dancing
the Lindy.
She earned a master’s degree in teaching from Simmons College, and then a second
master’s in teaching English as a Second Language when she discovered her passion
for working with international and immigrant students. In her 20-year career at Bunker
Hill Community College she supported, encouraged, inspired, and mentored dozens of
students. She felt that this was the biggest accomplishment of her working life.
In recent years she developed an interest in Buddhism and meditation, which provided
her with a support system during her illness.
The funeral will be held on Friday, January 26 at 10:30 at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. In lieu
of flowers, donations in Deborah’s memory may be sent to Organization for Autism
Research (OAR) https://researchautism.org/.

Deborah Slocum died of Parkinson’s Disease on Sunday, January 21, 2024

She was the daughter of Edwin and Sophie Salsburg, born in 1942 in Shillington, Pennsylvania, the sister of William, Paul, Jean and Ricki, wife of Joel Slocum, mother of Susannah and Genevieve, stepmother of Rachel Bibbs, and grandmother of Sadie and Voltaire. She graduated from Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in Political Science from Temple University, trained as and worked briefly as a paralegal, and obtained the qualification of Physical Therapist from Columbia University and worked as such at an Alzheimer’s center in Wellesley. She was a member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. A significant personal accomplishment was obtaining a private flying license. Among her interests were cooking, reading (especially novels), traveling, meeting new people, listening to music, viewing art, being physically active, and inventing improbable devices. In lieu of flowers, donations in Deborah’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Helen (Honey) Simon Swartz passed away on January 22, 2024 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of the late Rose and Isaac Simon and devoted wife of the late Henry D. Swartz. Cherished sister of the late Frieda Freedman. Beloved mother of Marcia and Len Ross, Jeffrey Swartz and Sherrill Berk. Proud Gram of Allison and Lance George, Stacey and Alex Washkowitz, Rachel and Shawn Robinson, Haley Swartz and Joshua Sherman, and “Hon” to 6 great grandchildren: Tyler, Peyton, Ella, Jack, Isaac and Ethan. Aunt to many nieces and nephews who meant so much to her and a role model to many who she treated as her own. Honey also had many friends with whom she shared incredible memories and experiences.

The first of her family to attend college, she earned a bachelor’s degree which was a tremendous source of pride and accomplishment for her. She worked at Boston College for over 30 years, first in the art department and then as an assistant to the director of McMullen Museum.  Known as the “Jewish mother in residence,” Honey was respected and loved by students and staff alike. A life member of Hadassah, she was also active in the sisterhood of Kehillath Israel and veteran affairs organizations. She had a very strong interest in current affairs and was an avid reader until her sight became compromised in recent years. Remarkably, she began modeling in her 40’s and was in high demand thanks to her beauty, photogenic smile, and slick bun. Scarves, huge glasses, leopard prints and lots of jewelry were trademarks of her fashion style. Honey was fiercely independent and maintained a wild sense of humor throughout her life.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Israel of Natick. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to NWH Charitable Foundation, The Henry D. Swartz fund for Oncology Services, 2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462 or charity of your choice.

Carole R. Cotton

Of Waltham, January 16, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Richard “Dickie” Cotton, WFD Ret. Loving mother of Heidi Pfeifer of Reading and Joel Cotton and his wife Lauren Anderson of Marshfield. Devoted grandmother of Rina Pfeifer of Reading. Sister of Gerald “Jerry” Escott of Salem. Carole is also survived by her sister-in-law Marjorie Cotton Supple of Hingham and loving nieces and nephews. Graveside Service on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:00 am in Beth Israel Memorial Park, 190 South St. Waltham, MA. Carole was a cashier for over 30 years at the Star Market on Lexington St. Waltham. Remembrances in memory of Carole may be made to MSPCA.org.

Zvi Galani of Bedford, Massachusetts was born in Warsaw, Poland on October 21, 1936 and passed away on January 13, 2024. He leaves his wife Bobby of 56 years, his daughters Elizabeth Zimmerman of Bedford, New York and Judy Anderson of Austin, Texas, his son-in-law David Zimmerman and grandchildren Julia, Drew and Charlie Zimmerman, and Griffin, Owen and Jonah Plasse as well as his sister Aviva Galani of Haifa, Israel.

Not long after Poland was invaded by Germany during WWII, Zvi and his parents escaped to Russia and ended up in Siberia where they spent four years in very difficult conditions. In 1944, they were allowed to leave Siberia and reached Ukraine where Zvi attended Russian school. They remained in Ukraine until the end of the war.

After the war, they traveled to Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Austria where they spent several months in a refugee camp run by American troops. In 1946, they and other refugees crossed the Alps on foot to Verona, Italy. During the four-year stay in Italy, Zvi attended Italian schools and began learning piano, which became a lifelong passion.

In spring of 1949, they immigrated to Israel where Zvi attended the Technical High School of the Technion in Haifa. He then served his military service as part of the Israeli Air Force. After his discharge in 1958, Zvi joined his parents in Tehran, Iran and worked as a radio and television technician.

In September 1959, he traveled to the United States to study at The Milwaukee School of Engineering, graduating first in his class with a BS in Electrical Engineering. In 1963, he began employment with General Electric in Lynchburg, Virginia as a Design Engineer. In 1966, he accepted a position with Metcom in Salem, Massachusetts. Following that, he began graduate studies at Cornell University where he received both an MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering.

In 1967, he met and married his wife, Bobby. After being highly sought out for his expertise, he accepted a position at Raytheon in 1972 as a Senior Engineer in their Missile Systems Division. He was promoted to Section Manager in 1976, and then to Consulting Engineer in 1985, the highest level attainable at that time.

At Raytheon, he was involved in the solution of design and production problems on many programs. His name is on many publications, presentations, and inventions. He was a Life Fellow of his professional society IEEE.

After retiring, he spent eight years doing consulting work. In his retirement, he continued his love of learning taking classes in music, science, and history. He enjoyed hobbies such as reading, listening to music, playing piano, and visiting with his daughters and six grandchildren.

Funeral Service on Monday, January 15, 2024 at Temple Emunah 9 Piper Rd. Lexington, MA at 1:00 pm. Followed by burial at Kovner Cemetery, 776 Baker St. West Roxbury.

Howard “Howie” Schlang of Plymouth MA passed away on January 11, 2024 after a brief illness.  Howie, beloved son of the late David and Betty Schlang, was born in Boston, grew up in Mattapan, MA and was a long-time resident of Randolph, MA.

Howie was a beloved husband of Ruthann for 51 years and a loving father to his daughter Dana and her husband Donal; his son Michael and his wife Melanie.  He was also a fun-loving Zadie (grandfather) to his four grandchildren Caleigh, Jacob, Adam, and Dylan.  Howie was a cherished brother to the late Burt Cooperstein and the late Judith Rothenberg.  Howie was also a proud uncle to Karen and her husband Steve; Amy and her husband Larry.

Howie was dedicated to his place of employment, the United States Postal Service in Brockton, MA, for 30 years and he took pride in assuming a leadership role in the American Postal Workers Union.

Howie loved to be in Cape Cod soaking up the sun and the saltwater especially with his family.  Howie was also an avid sports fan and he was an accurate free-throw shooter in his own right.  Howie will be remembered for many things but he will always be remembered as the ultimate family man.

Towvim, Harvey, 88, of Natick, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2024. Loving husband of Naomi. Father of Adam, Daniel, and Joshua. Brother of Judy Towvim Murad. Grandfather of Ava, Benjamin, Jacob, and Rebecca. Father-in-law to Geri and Laura. Son of the late Theodore and Miriam. Funeral Service on Monday, January 15, 2024 at 12pm at Temple Shalom of Newton. Burial to follow at 1:30pm at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA.

BLANK, Marcy (Ackerman). Beloved wife of the late Martin T.  Daughter of the late Daniel and Gertrude (Feldman) Ackerman. Sister to the late Lillian LeVine, Sophie Norris, Pearl Greenblatt, Miriam Kirstein, Shirley Roseman. Born in Somerville, MA. Graduate of Cambridge Latin HS and Burdett College. Longtime resident of Natick and Framingham. Late of Wayland and Peabody. Loving mother of Cheryl, Dale (Tom), Elyse and David (Craig). Devoted grandmother of Lindsay (Frank), Michael and Mackenzie. Also survived by dear nieces and nephews. Burial in Framingham-Natick Jewish Cemetery January 21 at 11am. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Remembrances to Brooksby Village Resident Care Fund or the charity of your choice.

Edward Isaakovich Donin passed away on January 10, 2024 at the age of 90 at Royal Health Braintree.

Edward was a son of the late Isaak and Sarra (Lekach) Donin from Belarus. He was born in Minsk in 1933, and grew up in Moscow. From a young age he loved fixing things by taking them apart to learn how they work. He graduated from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University and went on to work as an aeronautical engineer at the Yakovlev Design Bureau. Later, he designed hydraulic pumps at the Science Research Institute for Hydraulic Machinery until immigrating to the USA in 1992.

Edward had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed telling stories of his remarkable lifetime adventures and encounters. He had built many lasting relationships throughout his life, and these lifelong friendships are some of his biggest accomplishments. He was a role model for his daughter, a beloved cousin and uncle, and a loyal friend.

Edward was predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Vera (Perlin) Donin, and a brother, Alexandr Donin. He is survived by his daughter Irina and her husband Truong, his grandchildren Simon and Eva, and extended family.

Graveside service will be held at B’Nai Brith Cemetery at 55 St. Johns Rd., Worcester, MA  at 1:30 pm on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

In Loving Memory of Liela Steltzer

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

Alan Ehrlich, age 83 of Framingham, MA passed peacefully on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.  He was the devoted husband of Susan (Silk) Ehrlich with whom he shared 61 wonderful years of marriage.  Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Elia and Bertha Ehrlich.  In addition to his beloved wife, are his daughter, Elise Ehrlich and husband Michael Sams of New Orleans, LA and son, Evan Ehrlich and his wife Theresa of Hopedale and granddaughter Jaci, the love of his life; brother, Burton Ehrlich and wife Marian and sister, the late Eileen (Ehrlich) and Bernard Ford and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.  After earning a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, he spent over 39 years at Raytheon Company.  After his retirement, he volunteered for 15 years as an AARP tax consultant.  He spent the past 6 years dedicated to the Board of his condo association at Harbour Towne in Sarasota, FL.  Services will be held at Temple Beth Sholom, 50 Pamela Rd., Framingham, MA on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 10 am. Interment to follow at Moses Mendelsohn Cemetery, Edgemere Rd., West Roxbury, MA. Memorial observance will begin Saturday, January 13, from 5-8 pm, and Sunday, 1-3 pm at the Ehrlich home. Donations in Alan’s memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, Temple Beth Sholom, 50 Pamela Rd, Framingham, MA 01701, or the charity of your choice.

Dr. Richard Wiesman, born on October 7, 1954, son of Harold and Elaine and brother to John and Ron, grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Richard moved to Boston to attend MIT and graduated with a BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.  It was in Boston that he also met his wife of 44 years Suzanne.

He worked at Foster Miller / QinetiQ for over 40 years starting as an Engineer and ending his tenure as the Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer.  Most recently, Richard served as a Senior Fellow for General Atomics, as a member of Arsenal Capital’s Industrial Growth Advisory Board, and held a faculty position as a Professor of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

He was a devoted and caring husband to Suzanne. Together they took great pleasure in traveling, hiking, snowshoeing, being with friends, and most of all, raising their three children: Josh, David and Ben, and being grandparents to their grandchildren-  Elena, John, William and Julian.

Richard is survived by his wife Suzanne; his son Josh and his wife Kristina; his son David and his wife Haley; his son Ben and his wife Emily; and his grandchildren Elena, John, William, and Julian.

Services will be held at Congregation Or Atid 97 Concord Rd, Wayland, MA 01778 on Thursday 1/11/24 at 10:00AM followed by interment at the Beit Olam Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association.

It is with great sadness that we share that David (Dave) Benjamin Stone, of Milford, MA, passed away January 7, 2024 surrounded by love.

He grew up in Newton, MA where he found his true passion at a very young age: Cars. A true grease monkey, Dave was a muscle car enthusiast.  He began his long career as a Taxi Cab driver and a tow truck driver where he really fell in love with fixing cars.

He then worked at a few different garages, including Zayers where he met his then wife, Joanie; who he remained close with up until the day of his passing.  Ultimately he became the proud owner of what we all have known as our second home for the last 30 years, Stone’s Auto Service in Natick, MA.

He was the devoted father to Matthew Stone, Samantha Camuti and her husband Christopher, Andrew Stone, Joshua Stone, and Maranda Stone. He shared his passion with his kids by watching NASCAR on Sundays and shoveling everyone in the car to head to a car show.

He was the very proud grandfather of Charlie and Casey. He shared that being a dad was great but there was really something special about being a Grandpop.

Loving brother of James Stone, and Carolyn Lilien. Dear son of the late Paul and Pearl (Itkin) Stone and a very loyal friend to all.

If you knew Dave at all you already know the kind of person he was; extremely generous and selfless; always giving, never taking and always trying to do the right thing and be fair to everyone.

A graveside service will take place for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Dave to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Rakoff, Linda (Riesenberg), of Newton, MA, passed away Jan 6, 2024. Beloved wife of Bryon Rakoff. Devoted mother of Rachel Elizabeth Rakoff. Funeral Service at Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington St., Newton, MA on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 12:30 pm. Interment to follow at Puritan Cemetery (776 Baker St., West Roxbury), memorial observance will be at the Rakoff home Monday through Thursday 4:00-6:00 pm and 7:00–8:30 pm, Ma’ariv service beginning each night at 7:30 pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Linda’s memory may be made to Mass General Cancer Center at Newton Wellesley, 2014 Washington St., Newton, MA 02462

Terry  Fox-Of  Canton, on January 6,2024.Beloved son of the late Barnet and Bella Fox. Services are private.

To view the funeral recording please click here.

With sadness we wish to inform our family and friends of the passing of Rena Schonthal Fagen, z.l. mother of Arthur and Lester Fagen. Rena Schonthal Fagen, born Oct. 27, 1925, in Krakow, Poland, was a survivor of the Holocaust having spent nearly five years of her adolescence and young adulthood in concentration and work camps Plaszow, Auschwitz and Brinlitz.  She and her mother were saved by Oskar Schindler.  After emigrating to NYC, she married another Schindler survivor (Lew Fagen, z.l.) and they went on to have two sons Arthur (Paulette) and Les (Trudy); six granddaughters, Alicia (Matt Goldin), Shoshana, Rebecca (Matt Houghton) , Ariel (Josh Sperling), Lila (Alex Anavim), and Gabriela; and seven great grandchildren, Evelyn, Samantha, Hailey, Daphne, Lior, Rafael, and Ayla. Rena was an elegant and humble woman, who was kind to all.  She was a talented visual artist, an avid reader, and worked by Lewis’s side in his jewelry manufacturing business.  Rena was a most wonderful and loving, daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great grandmother. Rena passed peacefully at the age of 98, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, a few hours after a musical in-person and virtual shabbat celebration at her bedside, attended by her children, grand and great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 858 Walnut Street on Tuesday 1/9/24 at 1:30 PM followed by interment at the Baker Street Cemeteries Vilna Section. Visitation and shiva minyanim will be at the home of Les and Trudy Fagen. Donations in memory of Rena can be made to Yad Vashem at www.yadvashem.org

Elliott Dan Kieff, MD, PhD, a renowned Virologist and Infectious Disease doctor, passed
away in Chicago on January 4, 2024. After a long illness, he was at peace and
surrounded with loving care from his wife Jacqueline, their children and several
grandchildren, Elliott’s caregiver Michael Larbi, and the incredible healthcare team at
Montgomery Place. His funeral was held on Sunday, January 7th, in Brookline,
Massachusetts, at the Walnut Hill town cemetery down the street from where he and
Jacqueline lived for about 30 years when he taught at Harvard, and his family are so
grateful to have been joined by the outpouring of friends, colleagues and students, who
joined in the snow to help with his burial, and for the US Army Honor Guard for the flag
and bugle ceremony.
A leading scholar in the field of Human Virology, Elliott made seminal discoveries
concerning the mechanisms by which Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious
mononucleosis and contributes to human malignancies, improving science and global
public health.
Born in Philadelphia to Florence Kieff, a teacher in the Philadelphia Public Schools, and
Irving Kieff, JD, an eventual Deputy Attorney General for Pennsylvania, Elliott graduated
in Class 214 from Central High School in 1961. Elliott graduated with a BS in Chemistry
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. He and Jacqueline (Silverman) were
married at the Beth Sholom Congregation synagogue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, in
1965. They moved to Baltimore where he graduated with an MD from Johns Hopkins
University in 1968. They then moved to Hyde Park in Chicago so he could follow his
mentor, Bernard Roizman, ScD, to the University of Chicago to pursue his residency
training.
Elliott and Jacqueline raised their three children in Hyde Park and both graduated from
the University of Chicago with PhDs; Elliott’s in microbiology in 1971, and Jacqueline in
psychology in 1983. Elliott served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in
1975 as a Captain, after completing assigned duties domestically; and he later long
enjoyed serving on the US Army Science Board. While at the University of Chicago,
Elliott built the Infectious Disease program and began his Laboratory working with
Epstein Barr Virus, ultimately becoming the Louis Block Professor of Microbiology.
In 1987, Elliott and Jacqueline moved to Brookline, Massachusetts, where he joined
Harvard University. There, he Chaired the Virology Program as the Harriet Ryan Albee
Professor of Medicine and was the section chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases
at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, roles he found tremendously fulfilling until his
retirement. For much of their time in Brookline, Jacqueline and Elliott also loved
spending weekends and summers with friends at their home near the water in Westport,
Massachusetts. In 2019, he moved with Jacqueline back to Chicago to receive care.
Elliott loved his work. Even more, he loved to mentor, teach and collaborate with
students and colleagues around the world, and to serve on many government,
foundation, university, and private-sector boards and committees. He is remembered as
kind, curious, dogged, playful, and whip smart. He delighted in the pursuit of knowledge
and solutions to problems, from the scientific to the practical. Elliott was a loving
husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He could often be seen doing home
renovations and gardening, or hosting parties with Jacqueline, or out and about
swimming, jogging, playing squash and tennis, or reveling in an anytime ice cream
cone. His communities of Brookline, Westport, and Hyde Park will miss his gusto.
Over his career, Elliott authored over 300 journal articles and chapters in 27 books. His
work was recognized with numerous awards and election to professional and academic
societies including the Ricketts Award at the University of Chicago, and election to the
Association of American Physicians in 1985 where he served as President from
2008-2009, the National Academy of Sciences in 1996, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor
Medical Society in 1997, the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine)
in 2001, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2002.
Elliott is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jacqueline S. Kieff, PhD; their three children,
David Kieff, MD, (Lauren), of Newton, Massachusetts, Scott Kieff, JD, (Rebecca), of
Washington, DC, and Elizabeth Kieff, MD, (Tom), of Chicago; his five grandchildren,
Monica Gottlieb Kieff, DDS,(Martin) Benjamin Kieff, Asher Levinson, Estelle Levinson,
and Evan Kieff; his brother, Nelson Kieff, JD, Major, US Army, Retired. his
brother-in-law, Ronald Silverman, DDS, Major General, US Army, Retired, his
sister-in-law, Miriam Silverman, JD; and by his many students, colleagues, and friends.
A memorial service for broader communities of friends, colleagues, and students, will be
scheduled later when everyone can make plans.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in Elliott’s memory be made to a
charity of the donor’s choice or the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club in Chicago, Illinois.
Elliott was a city kid, raised in Philadelphia playing tennis on public courts. He loved to
run and swim and be active, indoors and out. He cherished places where all people can
gather, have fun, and build community. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Club is a public
place for kids and families in Elliott’s long-time home of Hyde Park.
May his memory be for a blessing.

Eleanor (Sagoff) Mamber, 96, passed away on January 4th. She is survived by her son, John and his wife Cate, her grandson Matt Anctil, her sister Sylvia Rosenfeld and several nieces and nephews. A native of Newton, Massachusetts, where she spent much of her life, she graduated from Goucher College in 1948 and then worked in public relations at Boston University and Brandeis University. In her forties she and her sister founded MR Communications, a PR and advertising firm, and Discovery Tours, a convention services company. A talented poet, her works were published in numerous anthologies and her readings were well received in bookstores as well as the Newton Public Library.
Somewhat of a free spirit, she spent several months travelling in Portugal, England and Israel at a time when women did not often travel alone. Postcards from her arrived several weeks after they were sent, with family members unaware of where she might be. But most of all, Ellie loved her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Her time spent with them was her joy. She will be missed by all. Arrangements are private for the family.

To view the service recording please click here.

Andrew Streisfeld-Of Plymouth, MA, formerly of Needham, on January 4, 2024.Beloved husband of Jane (Binder) Streisfeld. Devoted father of Adam and his  wife Jennifer, Matthew and his wife Carly. Cherished grandfather of Charlie, Hayden and Sawyer Streisfeld. Dear brother of Beth Tavlin  and her late husband Edward, and the late Ellen and Jay Korn. Beloved brother-in-law to Emily and Sumner Blau. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. Services at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 12:00 noon. Following Interment at Sharon Memorial Park, friends and family are invited to a reception at One Bistro at Four Point Sheraton, Norwood until 4:00pm, and continuing at his residence Wednesday 1-4pm. Remembrances may be made to Alzheimer’s Assoc.309 Waverly Oaks Rd. Waltham 02452 or Martin P. Solomon Medical Education Scholars Program, BWH Development Office,263 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115.

July 13, 1944 – January 3, 2024

James Starke Dittmar was born on July 13, 1944 in Mount Lebanon Pennsylvania. His parents were members of the Mount Lebanon United Presbyterian; his father Edward Dittmar Jr. was a warm clerk, his mother Lois Dittmar was a cranky athletic homemaker who had Polio as a child, which left her with a bent spine and a limp. His mother and his sister Susan, older by only one year, adored him.

Jim was the product of the post-war American suburbs and high quality public education. A long distance runner in high school, he came in 2nd at the Pennsylvania state championships. His coach quipped, “Dittmar is into the mortification of the flesh.”

Jim went to Amherst College at a time when a single sex college could provide both a monastic intimacy and a window onto the wider world. He graduated magna cum laude and as “First Citizen” in the Amherst Class of ‘66, the highest honor awarded to a graduating senior for all around scholarship, athleticism, and contribution to the college, where he was student body President.

He entered the London School of Economics in 1966 to take a Masters in International Relations, but he did not apply himself. Instead, with civil rights and student activist Marshall Bloom as a roommate, he listened to rock and roll, talked politics, and learned how to roll joints. Jim once recalled hosting a party in London in 1967 at which black power and civil rights leader Stokley Carmichael flicked cigarette ash directly onto the white carpet. When the students occupied the LSE in 1967, Marshall was famously expelled. Jim’s supervisor was, supposedly, surprised he graduated at all.

Jim returned to the United States in 1968 and entered Harvard Law School, which he hated. At the time, being a student provided exemption from the Vietnam War draft. When this rule was changed, he immediately dropped out. He got a job teaching political science at UMass Boston and met his first wife, Linda Gesundheit. Their son Jeremiah Dittmar was born in 1974.

After finishing his law degree in 1973, Jim began a remarkable career as a trial lawyer. He started at Goodwin, Proctor, and Hoar, leaving the week they made him partner to start a new firm, Berman, Dittmar, and Engel. He subsequently moved to Widett, Slater, and Goldman, headed their litigation practice, and eventually led 29 lawyers to migrate to Hutchins, Wheeler, and Dittmar. His second wife, Deborah Kay, was amongst them, and he became a loving stepfather to her two sons, Miles and Ryland. In his final years of practice, Jim returned to Goodwin, before retiring at the age of 70.

Jim brought creativity and intellectual dexterity to his work as a civil litigator. He was an ambitious perfectionist. He wrote brilliant briefs, leading staff through sometimes excruciating rounds of detailed outlines. Above all, he relished the performance and improvisation of oral arguments; one judge called him a peacock. He became a nationally recognized securities law expert, defending mutual fund companies in class action lawsuits. For decades he served as personal counsel to Ned Johnson, the long-time owner and chair of Fidelity Investments. He represented the Boston Bruins and Delaware North, and tried a broad array of civil cases ranging from railroad disasters, to synthetic diamond theft, to a dispute involving the world’s greatest private collection of rare books. However, Jim was most proud of his appearance before the US Supreme Court representing minority firefighters in Boston Firefighters Union, Local 718 v. Boston Chapter, NAACP, where he advocated for diversity hiring protection in the Boston Fire Department. Attorneys across Boston regarded Jim as a role model and mentor.

Jim traveled widely and read voraciously. He was a talented photographer and an avid collector of books and the arts and crafts of other cultures. He was fascinated by the history of the Middle East and Ottoman architecture. An Anglophile and a history obsessive, his favorite was the great Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm. Jim celebrated achievement and status, but also had a knack for sparking the exceptional life stories from almost anyone, occasionally invoking some version of Whitman’s remark, “Very well then I contradict myself.” He was a committed member of ‘the Men’s Group’ for over forty years – originally founded as a male consciousness raising and friendship group in the wake of the counterculture, and only later focusing on aging and prostates.

Jim loved living in the Back Bay and spending time with his family observing wildlife in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Some of his happiest times were traveling to France to visit his sister and to London, where his wife’s family and his son live.

Jim was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2015, an illness that causes confusion, difficulty with daily activities, and hallucinations. He moved to a memory care unit in November of 2022. He was remarkably eloquent in reflecting on his condition even as the dementia took further hold, remarking that he was “dying in slices.” Jim’s painful awareness of his cognitive decline led him to ask a month before his death, “When will I be free?” He found that freedom the night of January 3rd, 2024.

Jim is survived by his wife Deborah Kay, his sister Susan Thobois and brother-in-law Jean-Yves Thobois, his son Jeremiah Dittmar and daughter-in-law Stephanie Sherman, his stepson Ryland Stanley and daughter-in-law Kathleen Stewart, and stepson Miles Stanley and daughter-in-law Anna Rose Ott.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts in his memory. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

To view the celebration of life please click here.

Marline Miller, age 90, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2023. Born in Chicago on March 8,1933, International Women’s Day, the only child to the late Dora and Jack Pozickow. Marline was a strong and fiercely independent woman who devoted most of her life to taking care of others. She was happiest in nature, spending time with her grandchildren, or helping others with whatever they needed. Marline taught kindergarten at the Quincy Dickerman School in Dorchester for over thirty years, and upon her retirement the classroom was named in her honor. In addition to her love of gardening and national parks, she cared deeply about politics and the state of the world. Alongside Marvin, her late husband of 67 years and her late daughter Susan, she was an activist for peace and justice. She is survived by her loving son Michael Miller (Heather Ayares), her beloved grandchildren Sam Miller (Delphine Kaiser) and Nina Miller. She will be missed by many other relatives and friends who knew and loved her and benefited from her generosity. A celebration of Marline’s life, followed by a shiva, WILL BE HELD AT 2:30 pm ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 14, 2024 AT TEMPLE ISRAEL,477 LONGWOOD AVE. ,BOSTON. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the nonprofit organization of your choice.

Barry Jerome Brett passed away December 30, 2023. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1940, and always a proud Dodgers and eventually Mets fan, he lived an extraordinary life; proud of his professional accomplishments, his greatest joy came from his children and grandchildren.  As he often liked to say, his was a story from Brooklyn to Brookline.  The son of immigrants found his way in the world through Stuyvesant high school and the City College of New York and then Columbia Law school.

He enjoyed a prominent career as an antitrust lawyer. He was a long-time partner at Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl which became part of the firm Troutman Pepper, where he served as the antitrust practice group leader. There he handled complex litigation including landmark antitrust and trademark cases, across diverse domains including theater, popular music, labor unions and more.  He was especially proud of his work in Berkey Photo, Inc. v. Eastman Kodak Company, an epic case involving claims that the Kodak company had used its legal monopoly in the film market to unlawfully monopolize part of the camera market.  His antitrust expertise was recognized in his role as chair of the New York State Bar Association antitrust law section from 1997-1998.

As a 1961 graduate of the City College of New York, he always acknowledged the life-long impact of that education.  He continued to support the educational mission of the college through his longtime service on the City College alumni board.  He was honored to be awarded the Townsend Harris Medal in 2008; this medal is named after the founder of the City College of New York, awarded to its alumni for outstanding achievement in their field.  It was there that he found both the intellectual challenge and the joy in rhetoric that he brought to both the courtroom and the dinner table. He continued to share these with a gathering of City College classmates dubbed the Stanley Feingold lunch group –  they gathered frequently with their political science professor, Stanley Feingold – and continue to meet to this day – debating politics and culture over corned beef and pastrami.

He enjoyed spending time in Remsenburg, Long Island, and Naples FL, with his leisure time engaged in tennis, golf, and sitting by the water.

After retiring, he and his wife Leslie relocated to Brookline, MA, close to their five grandchildren, giving him the opportunity to share his wisdom, guidance, wit, tennis game, barbecue and chess skills, and an endless supply of knowledge.  Most importantly, he delighted in sharing surprises, kindness, encouragement and love with his family.  He is survived by his loving wife Leslie, daughters Jessica Brett and Marisa Brett-Fleegler, son-in-laws Mitch McVey and Eric Fleegler, and his grandchildren, Joshua, Naomi, Samara, Brendan and Lex.

City College of New York alumni fund:

https://www.ccnyalumni.org/donate

Dana-Farber/Jimmy Fund

https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=agda_danafarber_cancer_donation2&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=AGDA103023A&s_src=AGDA103023A&s_subsrc=AGDA103023A&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT1qJVsDz1mW8GSJMLDYPdUTs-bD28IQWjUqYkWz3QWyT2qkNnxaXA0aAmX-EALw_wcB

Daniel Arthur Miller, 91, of Falmouth, ME, passed away on December 30, 2023. He was an upstanding, moral, and principled man-of-the-world who will be deeply missed by the many people he touched. Daniel was born on October 3, 1932, in Lynn, MA, the son of the late Hyman and Bertha (Alfond) Miller.

Daniel dedicated his career to serving his country and the footwear industry. He was a commissioned officer in the US Army and later worked at Moxie Shoe Company and as a footwear importer, traveling the world from Europe, to the USSR and South America in the 1960s and early 1970s before joining the Dexter Shoe Company in 1975. Over nearly three decades, he rose to the position of President of the Sales & Marketing division of the organization founded by his maternal uncle Harold Alfond. He also greatly expanded the distribution and reputation of the Dexter brand globally. He later served as industry consultant with Green Market Services, and advised US and Chinese manufacturers, and only fully retired at the age of 89.

Outside of his professional life, Daniel had a passion for international travel, boating, tennis, fishing, and military history. His primary focus was spending time with his family in Maine and Florida and cherished moments with his beloved wife, Diane, and their sons: Andrew (Gym), Thomas (Susan), Matthew (Julie), and Jonathan (Joy). He also adored his grandchildren: Benjamin, Sofia, Mya, Ari, and Gabriel.  He is also survived by his former wife Vivian Sonnenberg.

Daniel received his education from public schools in Swampscott before attending Edward Little High School in Auburn, ME.  He graduated in 1954 from Bowdoin College where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the ROTC.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 10am, in the Chapel at the Sharon Memorial Park 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. In lieu of flowers and in his memory, contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Maine at 207-289-3669 or give@hospiceofsouthernmaine.org.

Daniel Miller will forever be remembered for his dedication, integrity, and love for his family. He leaves behind a legacy of honor and cherished memories.

On December 29, 2023, Nitza Rosovsky died surrounded by family at her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 89. Her family will remember her keen curiosity combined with the deep well of unconditional love and support that she had for her family. Her charisma and charm carried her through her many adventures. She spent her life in the United States, Israel, and Japan, and immersed herself in these different cultures, with a particular fondness for their arts and literature.

Nitza was a 7th generation sabra, born in Jerusalem in 1934. She grew up surrounded by her extended family who ran the Berman Bakery, a period of her life which she recounted with great joy. She met her husband, Henry, while living in New York and working at the Israeli Embassy in 1955. After their marriage in 1956, they moved to Japan for several years while Henry completed his dissertation. During this time, Nitza developed an interest in Japanese art and culture, which would greatly influence her professional life.

Nitza and Henry settled in Newton in 1965, where she found a community of people who shared and encouraged her interests. She wrote and lectured extensively on history, archeology, photography, and travel. Nitza co-founded and co-directed the Art/Asia Gallery in Cambridge, which showcased a wide range of contemporary Japanese art and debuted several prominent Japanese artists for their first US exhibitions. She also served as curator at the Semitic Museum, developing exhibits including The Holy Land Then and Now, which was also shown in Haifa and Jerusalem, and Danzig 1939.

Nitza authored and edited several books about Israeli history and culture, including Jerusalem Walks, City of the Great King, Museums of Israel, and In the Land of Israel, a personal history of her family’s experience in the 19th and 20th century.

In addition to her many professional accomplishments, Nitza was the beloved matriarch of her family. She devoted time and energy to bringing her loved ones together and building a family that enjoyed spending time with each other. She enjoyed hosting Shabbat and holiday dinners for her extended family and sharing her interests with each of her children and grandchildren, frequently taking them to museums and plays. Her family will continue to support one another and spend time together thanks to the legacy that she leaves.

Nitza Rosovsky is survived by her three children Leah, Judy and Michael Rosovsky and their spouses, Jay Liebowitz, Kristen Mullins and Rachel Greenberger Rosovsky. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Benjamin McIntosh (Emma Labrot McIntosh), Sarah McIntosh, Abigail Rosovsky, and Ella Rosovsky, and her great-granddaughter Delilah McIntosh.

A Graveside service will be held at the Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street in Newton, MA on January 2, 2024 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to IRAC at irac.org or the Hartman Institute at hartman.org.il.

Daniel F. Cashman, born on October 5, 1946, son of George and Jacqueline and brother to Robert and Deborah, grew up in Wellesley and later graduated from Tufts University in 1968. He served as a VISTA volunteer in Worcester, MA and in the U.S. Army Reserves before attending law school at Cornell University. He spent several years as a staff attorney at Monroe County Legal Assistance Corporation, assisting indigent clients in Rochester, NY, before opening a private practice in Massachusetts focused on representing immigrants seeking asylum or residency in the U.S. In that work, Dan found great meaning, as well as an opportunity to indulge his curiosity about the world. He also earned the distinction of being the only known attorney who happily accepted food in lieu of payment for services.
Throughout his life, Dan remained steadfast in his love for his family and large circle of friends. He was a devoted and caring husband to Suzanne, his wife of nearly 53 years. Together, they took great pleasure in traveling, hiking, reading, being with friends, watching old movies, and most of all, raising their three children: Adam, Rebecca, and David.

He was active as a mentor through the Jewish Big Brother Big Sister Organization for many years, serving as a “big brother” to youth who lacked a father figure in their lives. Dan delighted in playfulness and laughter, and was seldom seen without a wide smile or the twinkle of anticipation that preceded it. He routinely sought out the storytellers among his kids’ friends,
prompting them to repeat the tales or perform the impersonations he found so amusing.

Despite boasting only moderate athletic ability, Dan loved coaching his kids’ sports teams and had a keen eye for drafting and shaping talent, which led to a number of successes, including as the head coach of what he coined the “Pirate Organization” – a Newton Center Little League Champion. He was also the inventor of innumerable playful and silly games that he shared widely with his kids and their friends, and for which he would provide his lighthearted running commentary.

Many of Dan’s friends continued to visit him in his final years, even after Parkinson’s disease had stripped him of his ability to connect through conversation and his unique way of finding the humor in virtually any situation.

Dan is survived by his wife Suzanne; his son Adam and his wife Viviane; his daughter Rebecca and her husband Alex; his son David and his wife Katie; and his grandchildren Ayla, Levi, Eliza, Pauline, Pele, Nori, Aiko, and Lucia.
A Celebration of Life will be held this Spring.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Political Asylum Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project or VNA Palliative and Hospice Care.

Susan Proger Lavine-Of Needham, MA, formerly of Wellesley, MA, passed away December 24, 2023, just short of her 90th birthday. Beloved wife for more than 66 years of the late Edward L. Lavine. Devoted mother of Karen Lavine and her husband Donald Kilpatrick, and Nancy Ostroff and her husband Eric. Cherished grandmother of Daniel and his wife, Sarah Kilpatrick, Eleanor Kilpatrick and her husband, Michael Brown, Jessica Ostroff, and Andrew Ostroff. Proud great-grandmother of Aaron and Leah Kilpatrick, and Tali and Phoebe Brown.  Graduate of the Beaver Country Day School and Wellesley College, she was a middle-school math teacher at her high school alma mater. She had lots of interests but enjoyed spending time with family and friends best of all. The burial service is private. A memorial observance will be held at the home of Nancy and Eric Ostroff  Tuesday evening January 2^nd, 7-9pm. A memorial service will be  scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Anti-Defamation League, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 or to a charity of your choice.

Peter R. Yaffe

Of Newton, December 23, 2023. Beloved son of the late Wallace and Doris Yaffe. Loving brother of Jeff Yaffe. Devoted cousin of Jacob Abrams, Peter, Michael and Eric Shaw. Also survived by his aunt Linda Shaw and his late uncle Charles Shaw. The funeral service will be private. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in memory of Peter may be made to the American Heart Association @ www.heart.org.