Obituaries, August 2021 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Obituaries, August 2021

 

Dr. James K. Bahcall    

        

Sanford Berson   

Sanford Berson died June 20, 2021. He was 79. Beloved husband of Sharon (nee Schuckit). Loving father of Mark Todd (Jennifer Long) and Michael Berson. Proud grandfather of Benjamin Berson. Dear brother of the late Sheldon (the late Beverly) Berson, Joyce (Herb) Root and Elaine (the late Raymond) Stein and brother-in-law of Bill (Louise) Schuckit. Further survived by many loving nieces and nephews including the Michael and Debra Watton, Peter and Mindy Graskamp and Steve and Jodi Weber families, as well as many dear friends. He will be missed. 

Graveside services held June 23 at Second Home Cemetery with Rabbi Steve Adams officiating. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to the Wisconsin Humane Society or Ovation Chai Point appreciated. 
 
Dr. Jacqueline Clinton  

Dr. Jacqueline F. Clinton, 77, R.N., Ph.D., fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and emerita professor of nursing at UW-Milwaukee, died July 3, 2021. She was a scholar of nursing research, with publications in international, national, and regional journals. She was active in Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society of nursing, and the American Nurses Association, holding offices in national and regional nursing associations. She directed the UW-Milwaukee Center for Nursing Research & Evaluation, and she taught and mentored nursing students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research on couvade, a male bonding phenomenon with pregnant partners, was presented in The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNN, and over 200 newspapers.   

In retirement, she served as a research consultant on current diabetes case studies for the Diabetic Treatment Center of Ascension Columbia St Mary’s in Milwaukee. She is survived by her husband, Dr. DeWitt Clinton of Shorewood, her daughter, Melissa (Sobin) Owen, of Wichita, Kansas, and a niece, Deborah Alton, of Highland Lakes, New Jersey, as well as other dear relatives, friends, and colleagues.  Donations can be made to the Lawlis Family Hospice in the Ascension Columbia St Mary’s Hospital in Ozaukee, the Horizon Hospice Care in Milwaukee, or any foundation of choice.   

Private services. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. 

May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.   

Jack Keyes   

Jack E. Keyes died July 3, 2021, just eight days short of his 90th birthday.   

Beloved husband of Audrey Keyes (nee Babush).  Cherished father of Janet (Mark Hatherly) Keyes, Carol (Joe Ferrer) Keyes-Ferrer, David (Laura Gibbons) Keyes and Bruce (Diane) Keyes. Loving grandfather of Dana Keyes-Gibbons, Eli, Isak and Shayna Keyes, and further survived by his extended family and friends. Preceded in death by his sister Irene (and late husband Nate) Rudman. Jack was an attorney, a Master Mason, a world traveler, and an inveterate photographer.  

Graveside service was held on July 5 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Marc Berkson and Cantor David Barash officiated.  Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun appreciated. 

Ronna Kimmel 

Ronna F. Kimmel (nee Sigal), Milwaukee, died after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease on June 13, 2021, at the age of 78. Ronna was a graduate of Nicolet High School and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she received a degree in education. She began her teaching career at Palmyra School in Palmyra. In the Milwaukee area, she taught sixth grade at Lake Bluff School in Shorewood. After her children were born, she taught sixth grade math and science at Maple Dale Middle School in Fox Point. In her retirement, Ronna enjoyed knitting and spending time with her grandchildren and friends.   

Ronna is survived by her loving husband, Richard; daughter, Stephanie (Jeffery) Lobel of New Albany, Ohio; and son, Alan (Betsy) Kimmel of Fox Point. Beloved Nani of Jordan and Mia Lobel; and Alex, Mathew and Hannah Kimmel. Dear sister-in-law of Sue (Joel, obm) Kimmel and the late Roberta Kimmel Cohn. Further survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. Special thanks to the entire staff of Harbor Haven Health and Rehabilitation of Fond du Lac. 

Graveside services were held June 15 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee, with Rabbi Jessica Barolsky and Cantor David Barash officiating.  Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral home assisted the family. Memorial contributions made to Alzheimer’s Association, Hunger Task Force, or the charity of your choice appreciated.  

Judith Lansky 

Judith Morrison Levin 

Judith Morrison Levin died July 9, 2021, of natural causes. Born Judith Ann Morrison in Waukegan, Illinois on Oct. 7, 1935, to Jerome Morrison, Sr. and Marjorie (Heineman) Morrison, Judy was the youngest of their four children.  

She attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado and graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ilinois, before attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She worked as a buyer for Gimbels Department Store, a fitting profession as she had largely grown up in her family clothing store, and moved to Milwaukee in 1959. In Milwaukee, she met Simon Levin and they married on Nov. 26, 1961. Her marriage to Si ended only with his death in 2008.  

Judy was a loving mother to three children: Daniel Levin, Michael (Minda) Levin, and Elise (Kevin) Dallman, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by grandsons Matthew, James, and Alexander Dallman; granddaughters Mia and Simone Levin; and by her brother, John (Linda May) Morrison, Sr., her sister, Jill Morrison Kehoe, her sister-in-law, Rita Morrison, and her brother-in-law, Edward Blumberg. She was always at the center of family life, organizing large Passover seders, “cousins club” get-togethers, birthday and anniversary parties. She kept in touch with her many nieces and nephews and kept everyone informed of each other’s news. She was an active supporter of Women’s ORT, the Beth El Ner Tamid Sisterhood, and several ladies’ golf leagues at Brown Deer Park. Judy was interred next to her beloved Si in a graveside service on Tuesday, July 13, at Second Home Cemetery. Rabbi Moishe Steigmann officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Contributions to the charity of choice are greatly appreciated by the family. 

Audrey London 

Audrey London (nee Hassel) died on May 13, 2021. Preceded in death by her husbands and loves of her life, Eugene Victor Debs London and DeLand L. LeClaire. Also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Edward R. London of Los Angeles. Loving mother of Marsha L. (Jim) Spinks of Jacksonville.  Dear grandmother of William Fleischer, who is a major in the US Air Force and a physician’s assistant, and his wife Lisa Fleischer, who is a physical therapist. Great-grandmother of Katrina Fleischer and Matthew Fleischer. Further survived by daughter-in-law, Helen LeClaire. Also survived by nephews: Scott, Greg and Craig of Los Angeles, great-nieces, great-nephews and other dear relatives and friends.  

Audrey was a twice past president of Jewish War Veterans, Auxiliary 487, member of the Jewish Home and Care Center, Auxiliary Member of American Legion Cudworth Post #23, past volunteer of the Ronald McDonald House, past member of City of Hope, volunteer and H.E.L.P. volunteer at Wheaton-Franciscan Elmbrook Memorial Hospital. She served as the Pabst Brewery Company executive administrative secretary for 15 years and for two years as president of the Pabst Women’s Auxiliary. She also worked as a buyer for 10 years at T. A. Chapman Company, having worked herself up from a managerial position.  

Private funeral service held May 14, 2021, at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Rabbi Leonard Zukrow officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions made to any of the above organizations or American Cancer Society would be appreciated. 

 
Edith Meldman 

Edith Meldman (nee Rodin) died on June 14, 2021, at the age of 104. Beloved wife of the late Harold Meldman and mother of the late Larry (Margaret) and the late Michael (Carol Reichert) Meldman.  Predeceased by her parents, Max and Gussie Rodin, and siblings, Harry (Pauline) Rodin and Lillian (Maurice) Spracker. Proud grandmother of David Meldman. Further survived by many loving nieces and nephews and countless adoring friends.   

Graveside services held June 17 at Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery with Rabbi Jessica Barolsky and Cantor David Barash officiating.  Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Jewish National Fund or Ovation Communities appreciated. 

Dr. Denis Nathan 

 
Dr. Denis Nathan died July 1, 2021, at the age of 80. Beloved husband of Jeanette Nathan (nee Bloom). Cherished father of Stephen (Ashley) Nathan, Nicole Nathan and dear grandfather of Lucas Nathan. 

Funeral services were held July 7 at Congregation Shalom, 7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point. Private burial followed. Rabbi Ron Shapiro officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay assisted the family.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to the charity of your choice appreciated. 

 
Rita Seitner 

Rita Seitner died peacefully on June 25, 2021, knowing that her friend and fellow Delawarean Joe Biden is sitting in the oval office. Rita loved politics, cigarettes, red wine, licorice and pizza wrapped in lettuce.   

Rita was born on July 11, 1940, in Milwaukee, the only child of Robert and Esther Seitner. She spent her formative years in Wilmington attending Pierre duPont High School and graduating from Beaver College in 1962, where she excelled as class president and valedictorian. She began her career in advertising at J. Walter Thompson in New York and later as an urban planning analyst in Philadelphia. After moving back to Milwaukee in 1977, she obtained a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. With her analytical mind and natural curiosity, she gravitated toward market research and became a market analyst at Hoffman/York and a Research Manager for GE Medical. In 1984, she started her own highly successful company, RS Research Consultants.   

Bright, witty, beautiful and elegant, Rita loved parties and always drew a crowd around her. While she was the life of the party in her younger years, she slowly became a homebody as her health failed and was content to watch MSNBC and snuggle her cats.   

Rita was preceded in death by her loving parents, Robert and Esther, and her beloved cats. She is survived by her cousins Sandy and Marty Thau, other cousins and friends. Special thanks to Rita’s caregiver, Rosalind Williams, for her loving care, dedication and endless patience.   

A private graveside service was held. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to the Ovation Jewish Home and Care Center or the Wisconsin Humane Society appreciated. 

Charles Spector  

Charles A. Spector died suddenly in Campbell, California, on June 5, 2021. He was 79.   

Beloved son of the late Jack Spector and the late Esther Spector (nee Gendelman). Loving brother of Marilee (Eugene) Bass, Mitchell (Arlene Dombeck) Spector and Sari Spector.  Further survived by nieces, nephews, and Therese Juarez, and other loving relatives and dear friends. 

A graveside service with military honors was held on June 11 at Second Home Cemetery. Rabbi Cheski Edelman officiated.  Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions made to Chabad of San Jose, CA, 15405 Los Gatos Blvd. #204, Los Gatos, CA 95032 appreciated. 

 

 
Pearl Stein 

Pearl Stein, 91, Glendale, died on June 22, 2021, surrounded by her loving family at Lawlis Hospice in Mequon.  

Pearl was born on March 20, 1930, in Milwaukee to Isabelle and Max Nemovitz. The daughter of a talented homemaker and a fruit peddler, Pearl grew up with her brother, Eddie, and future sister-in-law, Millie, on what seemed to be the longest street in the world – 9th Street. Throughout her life she was always introducing her children to people with whom she grew up on 9th Street. 
 
Pearl was always curious and photogenic. When she was just 17months old, a newspaper article featured her picture and a story about her swallowing a goldfish! After graduating from Washington High School, Pearl spent a year and a half attending college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison before coming back to Milwaukee to marry the love of her life, Harold Stein. The two met in Milwaukee at Bradford Beach and were married for 60 years. Harold died suddenly in 2011. 
 
Pearl could always be counted on to give sound advice and a helping hand and never forgot an anniversary or birthday, always sending a clever card. She spent her early married years as a stay-at-home mom and an occasional hospital volunteer. She enjoyed both playing and watching tennis and was a masterful needle point aficionado, giving many of her creations to friends and family as gifts. In later years, Pearl worked for a jeweler, selling the type of high-end jewelry that she loved to wear. 
 
She is survived by her loving children, Marcie Stein, of Minneapolis, Mitch Stein, of San Rafael, California, Bobbie Stein, of Piedmont, California, and Scott Stein of Milwaukee. She is also survived by her many special nieces and nephews and grandchildren and two recently born great-grandchildren, as well as other dear relatives and friends. 
 
Pearl’s youthful spirit kept her active and engaged. Her family and friends of all ages will miss her dearly. 
 
The family would like to thank the many care givers who watched over Pearl in the past few months, including Grafton Medical Center, Ovation Jewish Home and Lawlis Hospice. 
 
There will be a private service. Donations can be made to Congregation Shalom in Fox Point, Wisconsin or the organization of your choice. Spring Hill Cemetery with Rabbi Noah Chertkoff and Blane Goodman Funeral Service. Memorial contributions may be sent to Congregation Shalom.