Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JTA) — Among the legions of Grateful Dead fans mourning Phil Lesh are a small but devoted cohort of Jewish Deadheads with memories of celebrating Passover with him. “To life! To Phil! Our love will not fade away! Eternally grateful,” the Jewish vocalist Jeannette Ferber posted on Facebook, alongside a picture showing herself with Lesh at a seder. Lesh, the legendary jam band’s bassist, died Friday at 84. His Instagram account, which announced his death without specifying a cause, said Lesh wa...
Michael W. Berey, Esq., of The Villages, Florida, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at the age of 66. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ann Berey (nee Maslow); loving children, Nikki (Brian) Comer, Eric Berey, and Megan (Zach) Adams; loving sisters, Bonni (Dale) Cash and Cindy Horn. He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Joyce and Jerold Berey. Michael was the most loving and kindhearted person. He was a great husband, father, brother, and friend. He will be missed by everyone that has ever known him. Funeral Services at Sol...
Mr. Albert Joel Katz, 83, Celebration, Florida passed away peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at Orlando Health ORMC. Mr. Katz was born April 10, 1941, in Bronx, New York to the late Martin and Helen Katz. A retired school psychologist from New York, he and his wife moved to the Orlando area after 17 years in West Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Katz is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Susan Katz; devoted daughter, Julie Knott; his beloved grandchildren, Amelia and Matilda; and son, Robert...
Mrs. Mildred “Millie” Smith, 90, Winter Park, Florida passed away peacefully Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Advent Health Orlando following a brief illness. Mrs. Smith was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Elizabeth, New Jersey to the late Julius and Rose (Kaplowitz) Wilpon. Mrs. Smith was a retired secretary and office manager for Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando. She and her husband Meyer Smith of blessed memory moved to the Orlando area in 1966 from Beltsville, Maryland and later to Winter Park. Millie as she was known as, was a dedicated wif...
Marshall Stoltz passed away on Sept. 12, 2024. Born in Philadelphia, Marshall attended Central High School (204th class) and Temple University where he received a bachelor's degree in education. After receiving an associate's degree in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania, he taught science for almost 20 years at Haddon Heights High School in New Jersey. Beginning in his early teens, Marshall had a great love for the art of Norman Rockwell and together with his brother, Don,...
Mr. Simon Krause, 67, Altamonte Springs, Florida passed away peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at his son’s Lake Mary home following a brief illness. Mr. Krause was born Jan. 11, 1957, in Melbourne, Australia to the late Eli and Sofi (Rubenstein) Krause. Mr. Krause was a proud United States Air Force veteran. Mr. Krause is survived by his devoted son, Michael Krause of Lake Mary, Florida; devoted sisters; Helen Donohue of Greenwich, Connecticut and Marlene Malowitz of Del Ray Beach, Florida. Graveside Services for Mr. Krause were held at C...
Submitted by the family It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bercu Peisich on Aug. 22, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on Dec. 12, 1936, in Lasi, Romania, Bercu faced unimaginable hardships during his youth, enduring Nazi persecution and the harrowing realities of pogroms and life in the ghetto. The loss of dozens of family members during that dark time left an indelible mark on his life and shaped his character. Bercu's journey took him to Brazil, where he spent seven transf...
Carlos E. Perez, 55, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on Sept. 4, 2024. He was born on Dec. 24, 1968, in La Havana, Cuba, where he was the beloved youngest and only son of Norma and Eullio Perez, growing up alongside his six sisters. His Cuban heritage was a source of pride and an integral part of his life, and he carried the love and lessons of his upbringing with him throughout his life. Carlos was a loving father to his children, Carlos and Heydi Perez, and a proud grandfather to four...
Mrs. Helaine Weidner, 74, Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Weidner was born June 27, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois. She retired from Customer Service with the Walt Disney Company after more than 22 years. Mrs. Weidner is survived by her devoted caregiver and ex-husband Robert (Bob) Weidner of Orlando, Florida. Interment for Mrs. Weidner was at Randhill Park Cemetery, 1700 West Rand Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Services entrusted to Beth...
Mrs. Edith Schulman, 90, Casselberry, Florida passed away peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at Advent Health Winter Park following a brief illness. Mrs. Schulman was born Aug. 26, 1934, in Nashville, Tennessee to the late Sylvan and Jeannette (Solomon) Lefkovits. Mrs. Schulman and her late husband Lt. JC. Charles H. Schulman of blessed memory moved to the Casselberry area in 1958 from Tullahoma, Tennessee. She retired as the editor of the Heritage Florida Jewish News. Mrs. Schulman is...
Submitted by the family It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Carol Goss, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, who left us at the age of 82. Surrounded by her family and loved ones, Carol peacefully passed away on Aug. 15, 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Carol was a remarkable woman whose life was a testament to love, strength, and selflessness. A devoted wife to her partner, Kathy, of many years, Carol shared a bond that was b...
Submitted by the family Harold Lester Oxer, known to friends and family as Les, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Aug. 23, 2024. He was 98. Les was the most sociable of men. He loved to go camping, towing a 30-foot trailer to all parts of the United States. He loved playing board games, billiards and horseshoes and trading stories around a fire. Les was born Oct. 8,1925, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Pauline Cohen and Joseph Oxer. He had two older siblings: a brother, Hyman, and...
Submitted by the family Helen Hosid was born Dec. 21, 1919, in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was the first daughter of two born to Abe and Mary Jabitsky, who had emigrated from Poland. The birth was not recorded in the December 1919 book, but the January 1920 book. This caused Helen quite some difficulty when she needed a copy of her birth certificate. Helen was raised in the Bronx and attended PS 75, PS 60 and James Monroe High School. A requirement of graduation was the ability to...
Submitted by the family Aaron Smargon, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2024, at the age of 79. He was born on Dec.17, 1944, in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1983, Aaron like many northerners, decided to leave the snow behind for sunny Florida where he and the family planted roots in the central Florida area. Aaron was a dedicated and loving family man. He is survived by his best friend and wife of 54 years, Donna Chenot-Smargon; his four...
(JTA) - Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive Holocaust survivor and Israeli military veteran who charmed and educated millions of listeners as the taboo-breaking radio sex therapist "Dr. Ruth," died on Friday at her home in Manhattan. She was 96. Her program, "Sexually Speaking,'" which launched in 1980 on the now defunct WYNY-FM, broke broadcasting taboos about talking about sex and helped make her the most famous sex therapist in the world - albeit one with a motherly demeanor and thick German...
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Jackie Hirsch are pleased to announce the bat mitzvah of their daughter Malena Hirsch, on Monday, July 1, 2024 (25th day of Sivan 5784). Malena read the Korach Torah portion at the Robinson’s Arch portion of the Kotel in Jerusalem, Israel. Cousins Shira Leibowitz Schmidt of Netanya, Yaakov Mantaka of Bnei Brak, and Roger Friedman of Irvine, California attended the ceremony. Rabbi David Ebstein and his wife Rena assisted in arranging for the bat mitzvah on the Temple Mount a...
Dr. Bernard Norman Gotlib, 96, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, passed away peacefully July 8, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Dr. Gotlib was born May 13,1928 in Bangor, Maine to the Abraham and Sarah (Nathanson) Gotlib of blessed memory. Dr. Gotlib graduated from the University of Maine and University of Vermont Medical School before completing his ENT training at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. They lived most of their married lives and raised their children in Longmeadow,...
Eme Margolis Chaikin, 95, passed away at home peacefully and surrounded by her loving family, June 22, 2024. She was born in Philadelphia PA., the daughter of Sylvia and Jabob (Lou) Steriss on Nov. 2, 1928. Eme is survived by her children, Maxine Spadaro and spouse, Eugene; Jeffrey Margolis and spouse, Rachel; and Shirley Mayor; grandchildren, Jaimie Dunnick and spouse, Brandon; great-grandchildren, Claire and Benjamin; Stephanie Spadaro, Ollie and Charlie; Jeremy Margolis and spouse, Nicole;...
(JTA) — Morrie Markoff, who was born to Jewish parents in an East Harlem tenement in 1914 and lived to become what was believed to be the oldest man in the United States, died June 3 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 110. Markoff’s remarkable lifespan was matched by his remarkable lucidity: After he turned 100, Markoff became an avid blogger and author and saw his scrap metal sculpture exhibited at a Los Angeles gallery. His memoir, “Keep Breathing: Recollections from a 103-year-old,” was published in 2017. The Brain Donor Project, a nonprof...
(JNS) — Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, a key figure in the global Jewish community and pioneer of Jewish life around the globe, died on June 4. He was 74 years old, just days shy of his 75th birthday. As vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch (the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement), he played a crucial role in the growth of the Chabad network worldwide. Entrusted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—Kotlarsky oversaw the establishment of thousands of Jewish centers, guiding shluchim (or “emissaries”) through the...
Yvette Wentziger Bressler, 85, passed away peacefully in Winter Park, Fla., on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Yvette born Aug. 12, 1938, to Simone and Francoise Wentziger in Paris, France. She graduated from Girls Latin High School 1956 and attended Mary Brooks College for interior decor, both in Boston. She married her husband of 60 years, Sidney W. Bressler, in 1960 in Cambridge, Mass., after meeting at their place of work at Gilchrist Department Store in Boston. In 1959, Yvette moved to Orlando, to b...
Mrs. Carol Ann Strasberg, 77, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 25, 2024, at her Longwood, Florida home following a brief illness. Mrs. Strasberg was born Jan. 9, 1947, in Sharon, Pennsylvania to the late Gerald and Nancy (Jordan) McDaniel of blessed memory. Mrs. Strasberg was a retired stewardess for Eastern Airlines. Mrs. Straberg is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, James “Jim” Strasberg of Longwood, Florida; loving son, Jordan Strasberg of Orlando, Florida; beloved sister, Bar...
(JNS) — Acclaimed songwriter Richard M. Sherman, who along with his late brother Robert crafted the iconic melodies for Disney cinematic gems such as “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “The Jungle Book,” died on Saturday aged 95 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills due to age-related illness. One of the most prolific composer-lyricists in the history of family entertainment and a key member of Walt Disney’s inner circle of creative talents, Richard garnered nine Academy Award nominations (winning two Oscars for his...
Howard Kichler, passed away on May 20, 2024 (Iyar 12, 5784). Born in Chicago, Il., Howard Kichler moved to Central Florida from Tampa in 1967. He received a BSEd from the University of Tampa, and a Bachelor’s of Pharmacy from the University of Florida. He worked in both retail and hospital pharmacy for over 50 years, receiving recognition from both the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy, and the Florida Board of Pharmacy for 50 years of service. He was given Lifetime honorary membership by the Florida Board of Pharmacy; the American Pharmacists A...
Arthur Richard Louv, Esq., aged 78, of Maitland, Florida passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024. Arthur lived a life marked by service, dedication and unwavering integrity. He was a proud graduate of St. John’s University and Vanderbilt University Law School. His academic achievements laid the foundation for a distinguished career in law, characterized by a profound commitment to his clients and a steadfast adherence to ethical principles. Before embarking on his legal career, Arthur served h...