Maris “Mitzi” Kay Bootzin
Milwaukee native Maris “Mitzi” Kay Bootzin, nee Pittelman, of Lakeway, Texas, died Aug. 17 of neuroendocrine cancer. She was 74. She graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1959, and during her senior year she directed theater productions in the absence of assigned faculty, according to her family. During that same year, she married Richard Bootzin, who became a physician and an expert in treating insomnia. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a journalist who started as part-time proofreader in West Lafayette, Ind.
When her husband was hired by Northwestern University, she joined the Pioneer Press newspapers in suburban Chicago and became an editor and movie reviewer. Her husband then joined the faculty of the University of Arizona in 1987, and she became an independent author and editor in Tucson. A book of “Mitzi Bootzin’s Sneak Previews 1973-1977” was published in June. In Tucson she also volunteered with Snack Pack, an organization devoted to fighting childhood hunger. When she moved to Texas, she became a member of Congregation Beth Israel in Austin. Her husband died in 2014. She is survived by daughters Deborah (Michael) Daniels and Lainey (Todd) Melnick; brother Joel (Susan) Pittelman; brother-in-law Jerold (Judy) Bootzin; sister-in-law Enid Bootzin Berkovits; six grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. Evergreen Mortuary handled arrangements. Cantor Janece Cohen officiated at the funeral on Aug. 21. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Snack Pack, 4625 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718.
Donald Caine
Donald Caine, M.D., of Mequon died Aug. 28 of natural causes. He was 91. He was a Milwaukee native who earned his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree at Temple University. He was a physician practicing internal medicine. His wife, Eunice Mildred “Cookie” Caine, died in 2014. He is survived by children Marc (Cherie) Caine, M.D., Candy (Nissan) Bar-Lev and Richard (Julie Cahill, M.D.) Caine; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at the funeral on Aug. 31. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Ruth Giller
Ruth Giller, nee Lessin, of Fox Point died July 7. She was 88. She was born in Philadelphia and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She came to Milwaukee from Washington, D.C., in 1954. According to her husband, Herbert Giller, M.D., she was chair of Nicolet High School’s American Field Service Americans Abroad Programs. She also volunteered for a crisis telephone line for more than 25 years and was a member of the boards of the COA Youth and Family Centers and of the former Women’s Division (now Women’s Philanthropy) of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. She was also interested in children’s development and the PJ Library program at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons Roger (Jill) Giller and Tom (Nida Montifalcon) Giller; brothers Lawrence (Judy) Lessin and Bruce (Roslyn) Lessin; and three grandchildren. Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi Jonathan Biatch officiated at the funeral on July 12. Burial was July 13 at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison. The family would appreciate memorial contributions to COA, the PJ Library program or Vision Forward.
Munsey (Margaret) Mandel
Munsey (Margaret) Mandel, nee Weiss, of Mequon died on July 11. She was 100. She was born in Milwaukee and graduated from South Division High School in 1928. She worked for The Grand women’s clothing store. She was a member of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, and served as secretary of its sisterhood for many terms. She also volunteered for the Jewish National Fund and was honored in 1999 for her years of work for that organization. According to her family, she enjoyed mahjong, knitting and needlepointing, and watching baseball and football. Her husband, Joseph Mandel, died in 1987. She is survived by children Mark (Judy) Mandel of Glendale, and Sari Feder of Northbrook, Ill.; five grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters. Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi Jessica Barolsky officiated at the funeral on July 13. Burial was in Mound Zion Cemetery. The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Sarah Chudnow Campus.
Rose Blumenfeld Michels
Rose Michels, nee Blumenfeld, of Milwaukee died March 24. She was 92. She was born in Hartford and spent her early years in Milwaukee. Her family moved to Wausau when she was a child. Her parents owned a fruit and vegetable market, and she worked there with her three brothers. She graduated from high school in Wausau. After World War II, she moved to Milwaukee and worked at the Gimbels department store in the photographic studio. She married her husband, Julius Michels, a Milwaukee native, in 1951. She was a member of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. She was a homemaker who “enjoyed all phases of it, including cooking, sewing, knitting and needlepoint,” according to her family. She was highlighted as “The Best Cook on the Block” in the Milwaukee Journal in November 1978. Her family also said she was an avid reader, and she enjoyed playing mahjong, doing crossword puzzles and watching football, golf and the quiz show “Jeopardy” on television. Her husband died in 2006. She is survived by children Lucile (Robert) Morris of New York City, Robert (Rebeca) Michels of Glendale and Andrew (Linda) Michels of McFarland; brother Sol (Corlie) Blumenfeld; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbis Wes Kalmar and Nachman Levine officiated at the funeral on March 25. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Beverly J. Rice
Beverly J. Rice, nee Rosengarten, of Elm Grove died on June 19. She was 85. She was a Milwaukee native who attended Washington High School. She and her husband, Bruce Rice, owned and operated a grocery store, then Rice’s Deli. She lectured for Weight Watchers for six years, then worked in the office of Milwaukee GI Specialists for 28 years, retiring at age 80. Her husband died in 1994. She is survived by children Sherri (the late Jeff Rosenberg) Rice, Terri (Tom) Schaller and Jerry (Robin) Rice; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Goodman-Bensman Funeral Home handled arrangements. Family friend Susie Drazen performed the graveside service on June 21 at Mound Zion Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
James J. Schutkin
James J. Schutkin of Cedarburg died on Feb. 28 of natural causes. He was 88. He grew up in Whitefish Bay and took an early graduation from the village high school
to join the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated from its School of Pharmacy in 1951. He owned and operated several Milwaukee-area pharmacies, most notably Schutkin’s Pharmacy on 16th Street and North Avenue for almost 30 years. He served on the Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board in the 1960s. He belonged to Temple Menorah, the Peltz Center for Jewish Life and The Shul, and served on their boards. He was an avid collector of pharmacy memorabilia, art and antique automobiles; and was a ham radio operator. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Harriett (nee Mislove); children Gary (Rhonda) Schutkin, Joan (Mark) Vernon and Richard (Karen) Schutkin; sister Edyth Schutkin; brother-in-law Earl Kapan; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi Avremi Schapiro officiated at the funeral on March 2. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Chabad of Downtown, Congregation Agudas Achim Chabad or The Shul.
Sam Szwajder
Sam Szwajder of Milwaukee died on Aug. 23 of natural causes. He was 97. He was born in Rawa Ruska, Poland. After World War II, he moved from a displaced persons camp in Poland to Paris, from which he came to Milwaukee in 1953. He owned a metal and paper recycling plant. He was a member of Temple Menorah and later Congregation Beth Israel. His wife, Regina (nee Casapu), died in 2006. He is survived by children Serge (Judith) Szwajder, Evelyn (Kevin) Mater and Betty Kaiman; and five grandchildren. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi GilEzer Lerer officiated at the funeral on Aug. 24. Burial was in Agudas Achim Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
Selma Zeiger
Selma Zeiger, nee Feldschreiber, of Milwaukee died June 28 of natural causes. She was 92. She was born in Chicago, the second of seven children. According to her autobiography article written for the “Book of Life” of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, her parents were observant and “taught me to give to others and to live a simpler life.” She graduated from Parker High School there in 1938, when she was 16. She attended Wilson Junior College, then the University of Chicago. According to her autobiography article, she worked at the Argonne National Laboratory on the atomic bomb project during World War II; but after the bomb was dropped on Japan, “it bothered me how many people had been killed and scarred, and I no longer wanted to be part of such a project.” She became an executive secretary at Goldblatts Department Store and worked weekends in her father’s grocery store. She wrote that she was also involved in many Jewish organizations. She met her husband, industrial engineer Hyman Zeiger, in 1949, and they were married in 1950. They moved to Milwaukee, his home town, and she was co-owner with him of Hy Zeiger & Co., Inc. She was a member of Congregation Beth Israel and was active in its sisterhood. She also volunteered for the Jewish National Fund, Women’s American ORT, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and Lubavitch of Wisconsin; and she was a member of Hadassah, Parents of North American Israelis and NA’AMAT. In addition, she and her husband were co-presidents of the Peter Stormonth-Dunwood PTA in 1966, and she was a volunteer for the City of Hope. She enjoyed collecting postcards and miniature cups and saucers. Her husband died in 1994. She is survived by children Joan (Robert) Klein of Fox Point, David (Ilise) Zeiger, M.D., of Chicago and Rabbi Robert (Marilyn) Zeiger of Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel; sisters Mildred Miller, Rochelle (Hyman) Warshawsky, Jennie Elias and Renee (Robert) Greene; sister-in-law Faye Colberg; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi Marc Berkson officiated at the funeral on June 29. Burial was in Mound Zion Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Jewish National Fund.
Dedication
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a monument dedication ceremony in memory of: Aaron Leff on Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m., at Mound Zion Cemetery. Rabbi Jacob Herber will officiate.
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