Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Naomi (Bobbi) Ava Jackson Wise, 86, died on Aug. 21, 2018. She was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on July 25, 1932, to the late Louis and Fanny Jackson. Bobbi Wise was a beautiful woman of boundless energy and optimism. She was a loyal friend, an avid reader, and a consummate hostess who relished international travel. She grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, where she lived until moving to Miami Beach in her last year of high school. A graduate of the University of Florida School of Journalism, she reported from the campus for the Miami Herald and then worked as a reporter at the Daytona Beach Sun until her marriage to Zelig Wise in 1956. She moved to Orlando that year and became active in civic life and the Orlando Jewish community. Mrs. Wise served as president of both the Friends of the Orlando Public Library and the League of Women Voters. She later worked at the information service of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce, as a travel agent, and welcomed visitors to the Orlando area as a guide for the International Visitor Program administered through the U.S. Information Agency. Mrs. Wise was a longtime member of Temple Israel and Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization; and a supporter of the Jewish Federation.

She was the loving and devoted wife of Zelig O. Wise, who predeceased her; mother of Michael Z. Wise, Daniel Z. Wise, and Deborah Wise Levin; grandmother of Jacob D. Wise, Sophia Pearson Wise, Sylvie Pearson Wise, Arielle Rachel Levin, Solomon Sandor Wise, Caleb Asher Levin, and Jeremy Barak Levin; sister of Rose Jackson, Zelda (Tiny) Arbuckle, the late Jean Brown, the late Ruth Longchamps, the late Aida Colein, and the late Pearl Gordon.

Funeral service and burial were held on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 at Temple Israel Cemetery in Orlando.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Friends of the Orange County Library System, the Jewish Academy of Central Florida, Temple Israel, and the Alzheimer's Association.