Marsha Fensin
Marsha Fensin, 78, died Monday, April 15, 2024, in Waukesha with her children by her side. She had fought a courageous battle with cancer.
Marsha was born Dec. 18, 1945, in Haifa, Israel to Simon and Ruth Gelbart, both Holocaust survivors. She attended Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Florida and Stetson University in Deland, Florida. She spent the majority of her career as a cantor, chaplain, and Jewish educator. Her passions included gardening, all things music, spending time with her grandchildren, and loving her cats.
Loving wife of the late Lee Fensin, adoring mother of Scott (Aimee) Fensin and Lori Fisher, doting grandmother of Alex, Arielle, and Aubree Fisher, Ivie and Reda Fensin, and step-grandmother of Ryan and Nathan Bucher. Further survived by brother-in-law Ken (Cindy) Fensin, and other friends and family.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the dedication and compassion of the caregivers at Legacy Hospice and New Perspective, especially Ariana, Lauren, Suzy, Jacqueline, Savannah, Jazie, Wynesha, Alyssa, Wendy, Wendy, Jami, Fran, Mary, Nicole, Lois, Scott, Sara, Makaila, Tammi, and Keonnah. Also, her wonderful oncologist Kathleen Hemauer and her team, including Becky and Robin.
Graveside wes held April 25, 2024, at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. If you wish to donate in her memory and honor, please consider the Encore Breast Cancer Support Group, or the American Cancer Society. Rabbi Steve Adams and Cantor Martin Levson assisted the family, with Blane Goodman Funeral Service.
Rosalie Harkavy
Rosalie Harkavy died on May 3, 2024 at the age of 87.
Beloved wife of Dr. Raymond Harkavy. Loving mother of Leah (Gary) Kieffer, Gail Harkavy, Aaron (Sheri) Harkavy, and David (Orete) Harkavy. Proud grandmother of Samantha Kieffer and Danielle, Maya, Ari, Harrison, Josephine and Joshua Harkavy. Further survived by Stanley Sehler, Sylvia Bar, Aaron Marmorash, other relatives and dear friends.
Graveside funeral service held May 6, 2024 at Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Jessica Barolsky and Cantor David Barash officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Jewish Community Pantry or Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation appreciated.
Leon “Lee” Katz
Leon “Lee” Katz, Glendale, died April 28, 2024, at the age of 100. Loving wife of Jacquelin Katz for almost 70 years. Dear father of the late Gary Robert Katz, Joy Ellen (Craig) Horwitz, and Steven Jay (Yvonne) Katz. Adoring grandfather of Daniel William Horwitz, Jennifer Beth Horwitz, Joseph Gary Katz, and Shayna Tali Katz. Further survived by other relatives and friends.
Lee served in the Army during World War II as part of the 290th Combat Engineers.
Graveside services May 1, 2024 at Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorials to Gary Katz Fund at Congregation Shalom or Gary Katz Sports Complex at JCC Rainbow Day Camp. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff assisted the family, with Blane Goodman Funeral Service.
Alison Ruth Kravit
Alison Ruth Kravit, River Hills, died April 19, 2024. She was 41.
Dr. Alison Kravit, Psy.D. was a well-known psychologist and ADHD coach, loving mother, empathetic listener, and compassionate advocate for the people she treated, her children, and for a more understanding world. In a book she wrote, she said, “One of my favorite things about myself – I make people feel understood for who they are and accepted. I loved helping people improve their lives. It’s my favorite thing to hear someone say they finally accept themselves for who they are and have the confidence to move forward.” She leaves behind her children, Jack Kravit O’Brien, Hannah, and Margot Kravit, who she loved and adored. She is survived by her parents, Stephen and Anne Kravit; her sisters, Dr. Jessie (Dr. Michael) DeFazio, and Katie (Craig Dimbleby) Kravit; her friend and former husband, Timothy (Amanda) O’Brien; along with her special nieces and nephews, Sammy, Luisa, and Cole. She is further survived by close cousins Michael, Emily, JJ, Harte, and Oliver and their respective spouses and children. She was preceded in death by her life partner, Clyde Blake, and her beloved grandmas Jackie and June.
She was a principal therapist at Mequon Clinical Associates for more than a decade. As an ADHD-certified coach, she was a nationally recognized authority, treating people from all over the world. She wrote “People with ADHD are my absolute favorite people!”
Ali was unique and special. She loved tie-dyed clothing, tattoos, rainbows, and anything colorful. She was unapologetically herself, embracing her individuality with hair in every color and wearing sweatpants as often as she could. She wrote that she hoped attendees of her funeral would “wear sweatpants, neon or skulls. Make people smile. Do what you need to do in order to be OK.” Ali loved helping people see the good in themselves and work with their brains instead of against them. She said, “I want to be remembered as someone who truly cares about what people go through and their perceptions of things.” Her greatest joy was seeing people learn, understand, and love themselves. She wrote “Be yourself – as Dr. Seuss says, ‘those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind!’.”
Her last words were: “No matter what, be kind. I love all of you!”
Memorial service April 22, 2024, at Congregation Sinai. Memorials to Milwaukee Jewish Day School, 6401 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53217. Rabbi David Cohen assisted the family, with Blane Goodman Funeral Service.
Marlene J. Marks
Marlene J. Marks (nee Fedderly) died April 24, 2024, at the age of 83. Beloved wife of Jerome J. Marks. Cherished mother of Randy (Bruce Dahnke) Marks, Mitchell (Cathy) Marks, and the late Roberta E. (Fred) Kauer. Loving grandmother of Rebecca (Nathan) Lipton, Jordan (Sydney Lichten) Marks, Michaela Marks, Hillary Moeckler, Lindsay (Michael) Krumholz, and Aaron Kauer and adoring great-grandmother of Leon Lipton and Levi Krumholz. Dear sister of Sanford (Roberta) Fedderly and fond sister-in-law of Claire (Louis) Plotkin. Further survived by other loving relatives and many dear friends.
A graveside service was held on April 26 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Taylor Poslosky officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Congregation Shalom, 7630 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Fox Point, WI 53217 appreciated.
Gordon Jay Paykel
Gordon Jay Paykel died May 5, 2024 at the age of 87.
Loving brother of Alvin (Fifi) Paykel, Marsha (Milton) Kleinberg, Robert Paykel, and the late Diana (the late Daniel) Wilets. Dear uncle of Rachel Paykel, Cindy (Michael) Levy, Hershel (Lisa Cohen) Kleinberg, John (Linda) Wilets, Mark Wilets, and the late David Paykel. Further survived by 10 great-nieces and nephews, 19 great-great-nieces and nephews, other loving relatives, and dear friends.
A graveside service was held on May 8 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Steve Adams officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Friendship Circle of Wisconsin appreciated.
Rhoda Pine
Rhoda Zucker Pine, of Pikesville, Md., died April 18, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born in Milwaukee.
She is survived by her children, Daniel Pine (Judith Brazen), Debbie Pine (Andrew Busch); grandchildren, Jacob Pine, Abigail Pine (fiance Zachary Goldman), Ezra Pine, Johanna Busch (Jacob Goldman), Ben Busch, Ethan Busch; beloved nieces and nephews and many close friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Rabbi Jerry Pine; her son, Jon Pine; her parents, Benjamin and Rebecca Zucker, and her siblings Richard and Dorrace Zucker and Donald and Dorothy Zucker.
Rhoda lived a very full life, right up until the day she died. She worked for decades as a speech language pathologist, and she loved being the wife of a Rabbi. She was a great friend, cherished by her family, and was deeply proud of her children and grandchildren.
Services at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, Pikesville, Md. on April 21, 2024, at 4 p.m. Interment at Baltimore Hebrew Berrymans Lane Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Contributions in her memory may be sent to Pine Family Legacy Fund of Housing Unlimited Fund, 12125 Veirs Mill Road #201, Silver Spring, MD 20906 and Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21208.
Jerold Plotkin
Jerold Plotkin died on May 1, 2024 at the age of 78.
Beloved husband of Bonnie Plotkin (nee Bilansky). Loving father of Tom Plotkin and Rabbi Daniel (Rachel) Plotkin. Proud grandfather of Ari and Joshua Plotkin. Dear brother of Steven (Linda) Plotkin and Gary (Laurie) Plotkin. Further survived by other relatives and friends.
Graveside funeral service held May 3 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Jessica Barolsky officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to L’Chaim Chaverut Clubhouse Northshore or Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun Brotherhood appreciated.
Vitya Raskina
Vitya Raskina died on April 16, 2024 at the age of 96. Beloved wife of the late Viktor Prusin. Loving mother of the late Alexander Prusin. Dear aunt of Leonid (Tatyana) Raskin. Private burial service at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Gpodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.