Alabama

Mitchell A. Barocas, Psi (University of Alabama) 1995

BAROCAS, Mitchell Adam (1973-2022) – promoted to the loving arms of his Lord & Saviour at his home on Friday, April 29th, 2022 in his 50th year.  Beloved husband of Naranda (nee Flett) of Simcoe.  Cherished son of Maxine Barocas (late Ervin) of Atlanta, Georgia.  Mitchell will be sadly missed by his brothers Sandy (Amy), Heath & Seth Barocas, all of Atlanta, Georgia.  Lovingly remembered by nieces, nephews & extended family.  Predeceased by his brother Mickey.  A funeral service was in May.  Those wishing to donate in memory of Mitchell are asked to consider the Villa Nova Baptist Church.  Personal online condolences at www.smithfuneralchapel.com.

Originally published by Smith Funeral Chapel.

Louis B. Feld, Psi (University of Alabama) 1969

Louis B (“L.B.”) Feld, formerly of Birmingham, passed away February 15, 2021 in Charleston, SC at the age of 73. L.B. graduated with a BA from The University of Alabama in 1969, and from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1972, first in his class. He obtained the Master of Laws (in Taxation) degree from New York University in 1973 where he served on the board of the Tax Law Review. In 1993, he founded Feld & Hyde a “boutique” Birmingham law firm, specializing in tax law and estate planning. His practice was focused on the “people” needs of his clients, which included the preparation of wills and trusts. L.B. taught estate and gift taxation at The University of Alabama School of Law for over 25 years.

L.B. was a frequent speaker on estate planning, estate and gift taxation and business succession planning. In recognition of his efforts, he was named an outstanding alumnus by The University of Alabama School of Law and instructor to Continuing Legal Education by The Alabama State Bar.

In addition to practicing law, LB participated in many professional and community activities, including Cahaba Girls Scouts, and The American Red Cross. He also served as a Board Member of the Alabama Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

When LB was not helping clients plan for their family’s future, LB enjoyed traveling, spending time at the lake, cooking, reading, and watching Alabama football. One would often find one of his favorite Bassett Hounds, Boo or Dudley, by his side. LB was a compassionate and generous husband and father, who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. LB is preceded in death by his parents Virginia and Ignatz Feld. He is survived by his wife Lorie, daughter Gerri Mazer (Glenn), step-son Scott Kubiszyn, step-daughter Tammy Connor, step-grandchildren Charlotte and Sam Connor and brother Monty Feld (Margaret). LB fought a brave battle with Parkinson’s disease and set an example of how to persevere in the midst of an uncontrollable struggle. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent to the Parkinson Association of Alabama, Inc. or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Donations can be made online at parkinsonalabama.com and nationalmssociety.org.

Originally published by The Birmingham News.

California

Chasen M. Alibrando, Gamma Xi (University of California-Santa Barbara) 2018

With deepest sorrow, we announce that Chasen Michael Alibrando, age 26 our most beloved Son, Brother, Family Member and Friend passed suddenly on Friday, April 29th 2022.

Those who knew Chase, even just a little, lost a shinning light in their lives……………………..

And we have lost a great love of our life and Heaven received an amazing Angel & Soul…………………….

Chase will be missed everyday by his father Michael Alibrando; his mother Heather Havens; his brothers Cruz Marsella and Aiden Westbrook; his loving Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Many, Many Great Friends.

A Celebration of life was in May.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the Alibrando family.

Originally published by Dignity Memorial.

Mark H. Berman, M.D., Alpha Rho (University of California – Los Angeles) 1974

Prominent surgeon, researcher, author, world renowned stem cell treatment pioneer, visionary leader in the regenerative medical community, mentor, husband, father, and friend. Mark obtained his undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles, before training to be a physician at Chicago Medical School. He excelled during his residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Loma Linda University, where he trained as an ENT surgeon.

For more than three decades, Mark practiced cosmetic surgery in Beverly Hills and was active in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, where served in various leadership positions, culminating in service as president in 2010. It was through cosmetic surgery that Mark first learned about certain adipose tissue (fat) transfer techniques, which led to Mark’s groundbreaking application of these surgical techniques to non-cosmetic applications. A true renaissance man, Mark invented medical devices, constantly innovated new surgical techniques, and was instrumental in optimizing the isolation of stem cells using techniques that are now used in operating rooms all over the world.

He co-founded California Stem Cell Treatment Center in 2010 followed by the creation of Cell Surgical Network, a highly respected international clinical research collaboration dedicated to utilizing a person’s own stem cells to mitigate trauma, disease, and degenerative conditions. The surgical treatments innovated by Mark and his medical team have been used safely to treat over 15,000 patients in the US alone since 2010 and Mark remained dedicated and steadfast in his commitment to healing sick patients under any conditions and teaching other doctors to do the same. Mark’s extensive and anonymous free charitable donations of his medical services, provided to veterans in particular, are just now coming to light. Since 2010, Mark worked day and night to advocate for his patients and create a world where all individuals have full access to their own healing cells. He was famous for his contagious energy, passion, brilliant insights, sense of humor, and most of all, his unyielding integrity, honesty, and moral compass.

Mark passed away in Santa Monica, California at age 69 on April 19th 2022 due to complications of Covid-19. He is survived by the love of his life, his best friend, and wife of 36 years, Saralee Berman, and his treasured son, Sean Berman.

Originally published by Los Angeles Daily News.

Bertram Fields, Alpha Rho (University of California – Los Angeles) 1949

Bert Fields, the renowned entertainment litigator whose clients included Edward G. Robinson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Tom Cruise, Warren Beatty, The Beatles and a host of other luminaries, studios and talent agencies, has died. He was 93.

A longtime partner at Greenberg Glusker and mainstay on THR‘s annual Power Lawyer list, Fields during his six-decade career also represented the likes of David Geffen, James Cameron, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Jackson, Mike Nichols, Jerry Bruckheimer, Joel Silver and Madonna; companies such as DreamWorks SKG, MGM, United Artists, The Weinstein Co. and Sony Music; and famed authors including Mario Puzo, James Clavell, Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler and Richard Bach.

Born in Los Angeles on March 31, 1929, Bertram Fields was the only child of Mildred Arlyn Ruben, a former ballet dancer, and Maxwell Fields, an eye surgeon whose patients included Groucho Marx and Mae West. For a time in his teens, after his parents divorced, he lived in a boarding house and worked as a caddy.

At UCLA, Fields received a bachelor’s degree at age 20 and then his law degree three years later in 1952 from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. He married his college sweetheart, Amy Markson, and served on the faculty at Stanford Law School.

Fields was in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a first lieutenant — in England, he was assigned courts-martial — then began practicing law at a Beverly Hills firm in 1955, the year his son, James, was born.

On a 1967 episode of NBC’s Dragnet, he portrayed a prosecutor (Jack Webb, the show’s creator, was a client).

A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct professor at Stanford Law School, Fields also was an author, having published four novels — two under the pseudonym D. Kincaid — as well a biographical work on Richard III, a book analyzing the authorship of Shakespeare’s works and 2020’s Summing Up: A Professional Memoir, recounting his career.

When Puzo died while working on The Family, Fields finished it for him (Puzo had left him notes).

He also played the vibraphone for Hollywood’s Les Deux Love Orchestra.

After his brief marriage to Markson, he married fashion model Lydia Menovich, whom he met as a client, in 1960. She died of lung cancer in 1986, leaving the lawyer heartbroken. Ovitz ultimately tried to set him up with a friend, internationally known art consultant Barbara Guggenheim, at first to no avail, but Guggenheim later became a Fields client, and they wed in 1991.

She survives him, as does his son, John, and his grandchildren, Annabelle and Michael.

Originally published by Hollywood Reporter.

Morton Gantman, Alpha Rho (University of California – Los Angeles) 1956

Mort Gantman passed away peacefully on July 10, 2022 at the age of 88 in Encino, CA, with his children at his bedside. The older of the celebrated Gantman twins born to Max and Belle Gantman in Los Angeles, Mort attended Fairfax High and earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1956 where he was a brother of ZBT. In 1959, he graduated from USC law school and following his enlistment in the Air Force began a successful 50-year career as a family law attorney – the majority of that time with his twin brother Seymour. After retiring he remained active in the community, volunteered as a family law mediator, and officiated over several marriages for family and friends.

It’s hard to sum up a man’s life in just a few words, but Mort grew up at time when Los Angeles was a much smaller town and all through his life it didn’t matter what room he was in he always seemed to know everybody and everybody sure loved him. Many of his closest friends were people he’d known for half a century or longer and with Mort it was never a handshake it was always a hug!

Mort was a voracious reader, a fantastic writer, a student of history, and before going to law school gave serious consideration to becoming a teacher and he applied that love of learning to everything he did. He had a wickedly dry sense of humor which never failed him and an inexhaustible capacity for compassion and patience, especially as a little league and soccer coach.

He was a great athlete, a competitive tennis player, and an avid Dodgers and Lakers fan and he passed that love of sport and adventure onto his children. He travelled often and saw much of the world, but his most cherished memories were of his road trips as a boy to Yosemite with his family and extensive group of cousins, something he would revisit again and again with his own wife and kids.

He was the last of the great patriarchs of his family, a mensch and a class act of the highest order, and he will be greatly missed by everyone who loved him and was lucky enough to know him and call him a friend.

Mort is survived by his daughter Julie, sons Jeffrey (Myra) and Michael (Sara), his three grandchildren: Morgan, Riley & Keaton, his sister Natalie, and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Originally published by Los Angeles Times.

Robert Goodman, M.D., Alpha Rho (University of California – Los Angeles) 1955

Bob was born in New York City to parents Louis and Rose Goodman. Attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga California where he was an outstanding student and varsity basketball player. He married his high school sweetheart Doris Solochek in 1954 who remained the love of his life, his companion and soulmate for 68 years until his passing.

From childhood he wanted to become a doctor and never wavered from that goal. Bob began college life at UCLA and was a proud brother of ZBT. After graduation he was accepted at the newly opened UCLA medical school. He did his internship there as well as residency in internal medicine. He began his practice as an internist cardiologist and continued as a practicing physician in Tarzana California until 2020.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Doris and children Beverly, Sheri, Bryan (Tina) and Leslie. Grandchildren Louis (Samantha), Andrew, Brooke, Jenna, Jake and the first great grandchild on the way. He was affectionately known as Apa to his grandchildren. Bob will be dearly missed by his brothers Martin (Bobbe), Larry (Patty) and many nieces and nephews.

Originally published by Los Angeles Times.

Donald H. Kahn, Alpha Eta (University of California – Berkeley) 1956

Donald Harold Kahn died peacefully on March 26, 2022. He was the eldest son of Anita and Zel Kahn. Don was a loving and beloved son, husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He also was a successful businessman, admired and respected by all who knew him. He was generous in every way, deeply philanthropic and he particularly loved Jewish causes.

Don grew up in the Sunset District of San Francisco. He went to public school and graduated from Lowell High School where he was a proud all-city guard on the football team. At Lowell, he met his love and best friend, Roz (Schwartz) Kahn. Following Lowell, they both went to UC Berkeley where Don was a proud brother of the ZBT fraternity where he made lifelong friends.

Don and Roz married in 1954 at the Palace Hotel and he joined his father in the salvage business where they worked together for more than 27 years. He was joined in the business by his brother Scott Kahn and ultimately, to his delight, his son Daniel Kahn.

Don loved spending time at the Concordia Club with a wide circle of friends. He loved San Francisco sports and was a Giants season ticket holder for many years. He loved trips to Kona Village and Silverado with his family. And he loved traveling the world with friends including Morrie and Ellie Green, Howie and Jeanie Cohn, Bobby and Don Kamler, and Irv and Varda Rabin.

Above all else, what Don loved the most was his treasured wife who was the center of his world. He lived to make her happy and supporting her whether it was when she returned to school to earn a master’s degree, when she ran with an Olympic Torch on its way to Los Angeles in 1984, or when she became a lifetime master at bridge. Whatever made her happy, Don was all in.

Nothing made Don prouder than his amazing and loving family who all knew him as Pop. His respected son, Dr. James Kahn (daughter-in-law, Karen); his devoted daughter Robin Mayer (son- in-law, Bob); and his cherished youngest son Daniel Kahn (daughter-in-law, Sheri Lempert). He is a beloved grandfather to Benjamin (Stacy) Mayer, Amy (Tom) Kelly, Danielle (Ben) Cohen, Annie Obermeyer, Sophia and Samuel Klein, and Zoe and Hannah Kahn. And he was an over the moon great-grandfather to Oliver, Asher, Peri, Livana, Nev, Micah and Gavin. And his heart expanded to a wide circle of important nephews and nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

The family would like to thank his incredible care givers, Telesia (Sia) Niu and Longovuka (Vuka) Tau. Their kindness and compassion sustained Don and enabled him to live happily at home.

Don was laid to rest at Hills of Eternity, Colma, CA. Charitable contributions can be made to the Hebrew Free Loan Society.

Originally published by San Francisco Chronicle.

Joel D. Rapp, Alpha Delta (University of Southern California) 1955

Joel Rapp, who had writing or co-writing credits on 16 feature films and more than 250 classic sitcoms, died Sept. 15, 2021, at home. He was 87 and no cause of death was given by his family.

Born on May 22, 1934 in New York City, Rapp grew up Beverly Hills in a family considered part of Hollywood royalty. His father, Philip Rapp, created radio series The Bickersons and Baby Snooks. His godmother was actress and singer Fanny Brice, and his godfather was actor-singer Eddie Cantor.

Joel Rapp went on to work with director Roger Corman on many films and wrote for such television hits as Gilligan’s Island, The Lucy Show, McHale’s Navy, My Favorite Martian, The Patty Duke Show, The Joey Bishop Show and The Donna Reed Show.

Later, he became VP Comedy Development at Universal Pictures. But in a departure, he left that position in 1969 to pursue two different passions: indoor gardening and cooking.

Rapp became known as “Mr. Mother Earth, Plant Man to the Stars” after launching a successful indoor plant business. He authored 14 books on indoor gardening and cooking and spent more than a decade on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee as their regular gardening expert, while also dispensing gardening advice on WABC-AM in New York.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Susan Stoller Rapp; his daughters, Lisa Stanley and Danielle Lawrence; son-in-law Michael Lawrence; grandchildren Hannah and Sophie Lawrence; and a brother, Paul Rapp.

Originally published by Deadline.com.

Ronald H. Rouda, Alpha Eta (University of California – Berkeley) 1956

Renowned attorney and true renaissance man Ron Rouda passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 12, 2022.

A native San Franciscan, Ron was born in 1934. His parents, Harry and Marguerite (Migs) raised their three children Bob, Ron and Carole in the Marina district and St. Francis Wood. Growing up, Ron and his neighborhood pals would play at the Marina green or spend the day at Playland at the Beach. Ron attended Marina Junior High School where he was known as a practical joker who loved to make people laugh. During his youth, the Rouda family spent summers at Tahoe Tavern in Lake Tahoe where he later was a lifeguard. He graduated from Lowell High School and later UC Berkeley where he was a brother of Zeta Beta Tau. After attending law school at Hastings, Ron began a celebrated career in law that lasted over 50 years.

He had his first date with the love of his life and soul mate, the model Sue Speer at Tosca in North Beach on Valentines Day 1963. They married later that year. Together the Rouda’s raised their daughters Davia and Meika on the lagoon in Belvedere where Ron was well known for jogging around Belvedere Island, swimming in the lagoon, playing tennis at the Tiburon Peninsula Club and golfing at the Marin County Club. A natural entertainer, Ron starred in many musical productions with The Pelican Players, a beloved community theater group with Sue as the producer.

A lifelong athlete, Ron was an avid runner, swimmer and skier who could be found on the slopes of Alpine Meadows well into his eighties. He completed 12 marathons in Paris, and embraced the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe every summer for a daily swim.

He and Sue fulfilled a lifelong dream when they bought a house on Lake Tahoe forty years ago. Together they have shared many summers, holidays and celebrations with friends and family at their beloved retreat, “The Rouda Roost.” Ron was known as a wonderful storyteller, and many nights at the ‘Rouda Roost” were spent sharing jokes and laughing with friends.

A talented musician and artist, Ron spent hours oil painting on the shores of Lake Tahoe, the Belvedere Lagoon and the fields of Provence, France inspired by Monet, a favorite artist. He practiced the piano daily, often late into the night to memorize a song and had a vast repertoire that included broadway musicals, jazz, Cole Porter and the Beatles. In 2001 he played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with a full orchestra at the legendary club Bimbos in San Francisco.

His love for the arts balanced his passion for practicing law. For over fifty years Ron was devoted to representing persons and families who had suffered catastrophic injuries or the loss of a loved one. The firm Ron founded, now known as Rouda, Feder, Tietjen & McGuinn, is nationally and internationally well known.

Over the course of his storied career, Ron obtained numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. While doing so he also served as an officer in numerous legal organizations including President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and President of the California Trial Lawyers Association (now known as Consumer Attorneys of California). Ron was an invited Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Attorneys, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. In recognition of his excellence in trial advocacy, his decades of service to the legal community, and his passion for educating the public on the importance of the right to trial by jury, Ron received ABOTA’s highest award, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. He was also the recipient of ABOTA’s California Trial Lawyer of the Year, the Don E. Bailey Civility award, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Consumer Attorneys Marvin E. Lewis and Robert E. Cartwright, Sr. Award. He was admitted by the United States Supreme Court in Washington DC to try cases before this august body.

As national president of ABOTA, he and a group of trial attorneys were invited to a state reception by Hungarian President Arpad Goncz in the historic Parliament building in Budapest. Together they discussed civil reforms and the adoption of trial by jury in Hungary.

Ron was committed to the art of trial work. He wrote numerous articles on trial practice and was a coauthor of the 5-volume California Tort Practice Guide. He was also devoted to educating the public, particularly youth, on the importance of the right to trial by jury, a subject on which he taught and wrote extensively. Ron was a sought after counselor to his peers and mentored many young attorneys. Additionally, he was the guiding spirit behind ABOTA’s successful nationwide program, The Youth Education Project, an Interactive Curriculum teaching children about the history, importance and value of trial by jury that was adopted by Scholastic Publishing.

Ron is survived by his wife Sue, his daughter Davia Rouda and her husband Brian Skinner, his daughter Meika Rouda and her husband Christopher Brown, his four grandchildren: Brianna Skinner, Casey Skinner, Kaden Brown and Asha Sue Brown; his sister Carole Engler, her children and her husband Peter, and Ron’s many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ron will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, adoring father and grandfather; by the thousands of people he helped through his trial work, and by his colleagues for his enduring contributions to the practice of law. His humor, compassion and zest for life will live on in many memories. Ron was a friend to many and an inspiration to all.

A private Celebration of Life will take place in April. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those interested in honoring Ron to donate to the ABOTA Foundation in Ron’s name www.abota.org/foundation or the League to Save Lake Tahoe, www.keeptahoeblue.org.

Originally published by San Francisco Chronicle.

Morris H. Stalk, Beta Pi (California State University – Long Beach) 1961

6/14/38 – 01/7/22 Morris “Tod” Stalk’s life was filled with the love of friends and family. An alumnus of Long Beach State, he remained lifelong friends with his ZBT fraternity brothers. Until his retirement, he was the proud owner of Broadway National Paint Company in Long Beach, the oldest independent paint and wallpaper business in America.

Morrie was a major booster of Long Beach State’s women’s basketball, and was for many years a volunteer coach and mentor for many players on the team. Moore loved nothing better than gathering with family and friends, and he always served as event photographer and chief cookie-eater. He was an eager athlete and easily ran several marathons. He had a wry sense of humor, and was well known for sharing the best jokes on the internet. With his winning smile–a smile he worse until the day before he passed– he was a beacon of kindness and gentleness. A ZOOM celebration of Morrie’s life will be scheduled soon; email stalkfamily@yahoo.com. Morrie is survived by his nieces and nephew, Lori, Jill, and Rick, and his great niece and nephew, Kara and Jason.

Originally published by Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Carl J. Weinberg, Alpha Eta (University of California – Berkeley) 1952

Carl Jacob Weinberg aka Poppa Carl

The Man, the Myth, the Legend set sail on his next adventure July 6th. He was surrounded by his loving family when he left. Carl was born in Magdeburg, Germany in 1930. He escaped the Holocaust, as a stowaway on a boat to Norway where he was reunited with his family. The whole family left by freighter, landing in Oakland in 1940. Shortly after arriving his mother passed away. His father remarried. Two sisters came next, Miriam and Teri.

Carl went to Oakland High where he became student body president and where he met Geraldine Murphy the love of his live. Carl graduated with a BS and Masters in Engineering from Cal Berkeley – where he was a proud brother of the ZBT fraternity, He later received a Masters degree in Physics from Vanderbilt University. Carl started a career in the Air Force and was sent to Korea. Becoming part of the BEE’s (Bio Environmental Engineers) that led to a 21-year career before retiring as full Colonel.

Moving back to the Bay Area to head up the new R&D department for PG&E where he built an internationally respected energy research and development program. A trailblazer in the Renewable Energy sector, Poppa Carl departed PG&E after more than 20 years, becoming a leader, teacher, and international consultant in renewables – where he was well ahead of his time in recognizing their importance. He impacted many lives as not only the “best boss” but also as mentor to many, sharing his “pearls of wisdom” which became known as “Weinbergisms”. Vowing that his ultimate revenge on the Nazis would be his family.

Carl is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Gerry, and children David (San Antonio,TX) and wife Debbie, Kevin (Wiesbaden, Germany), Susan (Nashville, TN) and husband Mike, and Alan (Dayton, Ohio). Becoming Poppa Carl, 5 grandchildren came: Nik, Britney, Elizabeth, Chelsea, and Ryan. It got even better for him with 7 great grandchildren Bryce, Blair, Isabella, Sloane, Mari, Mia, & Jaxon. He was a poet, greeting card maker, and Facebook muser, he had an Instagram account and recently posted on Tic Toc.

Poppa Carl was an adventure and memory maker. A member of the Old Codgers, traveling many times to the outback of Australia. Lifelong, memories were made when he took the family to tour Israel and to visit the place of his birth. The best of all was the annual trip he took with Grandma Gerry to stay in the beachside cabins on Bellows Air Force Base in Oahu. Making that trip over 20 times and bringing along various family members. Donations are being accepted in his name to the nonprofit organization in which he was a long-serving Board member RAP (Regulatory Assistance Project) – Energy Solutions for a Changing Word 50 State Street, Suite 3, Montpelier, VT 05602 (802-498-0727). A celebration of Carl’s life will be announced soon.

Originally published by San Francisco Chronicle.

Colorado

Arden O. Wandel, Iota (University of Denver) 1965

Ardie Wandel, Denver; husband of Charlene Wandel; father of Stephen Wandel and Rayna Wandel; son of Hazel Gensberg; brother of Sura (Norman) Veta and Mort (Fran) Gensberg. Service, Wednesday, 12:30pm, BMH-BJ Congregation. Interment, Rose Hill Cemetery. Contributions to The Arden Wandel Educational Fund at BMH-BJ Congregation.

Originally published by Denver Post.

District of Columbia

The Honorable Norman S. Early, Jr., Beta Psi (American University) 1967

Norman Strickland Early Jr., beloved father, brother, grandfather, uncle, father-in-law, esteemed public official and lawyer, and fierce advocate for the rights of victims and the betterment of Black lawyers, transitioned on May 5, 2022, at the age of 76.

Norm was born on November 14, 1945, in the District of Columbia, to Norman Strickland Early, Sr. and Gloria Robinson Jackson. In Washington, D.C., he attended Paul Junior High School and Calvin Coolidge High School—class of 1963. As a student at Coolidge, he distinguished himself as both a scholar and athlete. He was a top college recruit in track and field, and his courses of study included Spanish, which he would continue to use during his trips to Spanish-speaking countries.

After graduating from high school, Norm attended American University (AU) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government and distinguished himself, again, as a student-athlete and campus leader. He was a member of AU’s track team for all four of his college years. His coach, Jack Linden, modeled a racially integrated team environment and had no tolerance for racism. Norm competed in a variety of events including the triple jump, long jump, and relays. He still holds records at AU in both the triple jump, second all-time at 14.08 meters, and the long jump, first all-time at 7.04 meters. It was during his years at AU that Norm’s passion for politics began, serving as President of his Sophomore Class (1964-1965) and as Vice President of the Student Association (1965-1966). He also was the first Black elected president of AU’s student government (1966-1967). Norm won the 1966 election with 52% of the vote and established a campaign that called for the end to status quo type government and a reorganization of representation in student government based upon school enrollment and area of residence. Norm also honed his natural gift of oration at AU, winning the oral interpretation contests at the school’s Speech Festival in 1964.

While in college, he joined Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, which was a welcoming all-white organization at the time. He established close relationships with his fraternity brothers, and these connections evolved into many lifelong friendships that supported Norm both professionally and personally.

After graduating from AU, Norm earned a law degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law. At Illinois, his love of competition and recreational sports continued, which expanded his diverse group of friendships. His law degree provided him with the opportunity to pursue a fellowship to assist under-resourced communities in Denver, Colorado. He was admitted to the bar in 1970 and worked for the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow (Reggie). Norm continued to pursue his interest in politics, becoming the Colorado delegate for Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to run for president.

Norm then joined the Denver District Attorney’s Office in 1973 as a deputy district attorney under Dale Tooley, eventually becoming a Chief Deputy D.A. Norm distinguished himself as a highly-skilled trial attorney with a keen sense of fairness and justice, and he naturally became a mentor to his colleagues. After ten years in the office, he was appointed Denver District Attorney by Governor Dick Lamm in 1983, a position he held until 1993 after winning elections in 1984, 1988, and 1992. During his tenure as Denver D.A., he would write handwritten notes to his colleagues, affectionately called “Norm-a-Grams.” Norm also worked hard to create the most diverse district attorney’s office in the state, hiring lawyers and staff of color and various other identities as well. His leadership style facilitated numerous colleagues cultivating their gifts as leaders. His staff often ascended to city, state, and national positions, including (but not limited to) elected Denver District Attorney, the Governor of Colorado, Manager of Safety, equity partners at major law firms, and trailblazers in service of community. Norm was grateful to those with whom he worked, for both their incredible professional contributions and their friendships, and he consistently credited his team’s efforts for the professional accomplishments in his life.

During his career, Norm helped establish and lead numerous organizations. One organization Norm championed was the National Organization for Victim Assistance. He served as the president of the organization, continuing his career-long legacy of fighting on behalf of victims’ rights. These efforts led to him earning multiple awards throughout his life, including: the Justice Department award for unrelenting service on behalf of victims of crime, a government leadership award from the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, and an Ending Violence Effectively award for his work in helping survivors of sexual abuse. Finally, the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance also named their highest honor “The Norm Early Exemplary Leadership Award.”

In addition to becoming a champion of crime victims’ rights, Norm was a co-founder of two premiere organizations that were dedicated to helping ensure the success of Black lawyers within the profession. First, noticing a lack of prosecutors of color around the country and the absence of an organization connecting them, he created a pathway to unite and advance Black prosecutors. He started calling offices around the country and compiled a list of 175 Black prosecutors, many of whom were from the Chicago area. Wanting to be a part of establishing an organization dedicated to connecting and supporting Black prosecutors, over one hundred individuals gathered in Chicago in 1983. After numerous meetings, the National Black Prosecutors Association was born with Norm becoming its first president. The organization is still committed to the mission to “uplift and engage the communities we serve through programs and outreach.” Second, Norm co-founded the Sam Cary Bar Association, which is dedicated to advancing the careers of Black lawyers in Colorado. As an attorney in Colorado since 1970, he wanted to provide more Black lawyers with the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and thrive. Norm continued to support these organizations even after transitioning to the business world.

After running for Mayor of Denver and leaving the district attorney’s office in 1993, Norm entered the business world forming the Criminal Justice Services line of business for Lockheed IMS. He also was a partner with BounceBack, Inc., a company that provides prosecutors and judges with software, education products, and services that support efficient, professional misdemeanor diversion, probation, and offender education programs including an automated bad check management software program.

Norm co-authored (with Danielle Young and illustrated by Brent Naughton) a book in 2000 entitled Step Ball: A child’s book about feelings and differences. The book is about Norm’s childhood experience playing a game called step ball with a white neighborhood boy who invented the game. The experience helped Norm realize, even as a young child, the realities of racial discrimination and the impact it has on relationships and friendships. This and other experiences of racial discrimination in his life helped make Norm a person accepting of all people, no matter their race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Later in his career, Norm made frequent appearances on national television as a legal analyst and maintained a full speaking schedule on topics relating to children, victims of crime, substance abuse treatment, trial tactics, and diversity and workforce enhancement. He also joined the Denver law firm of Welborn, Sullivan, Meck & Tooley as special counsel. In addition, enjoying bringing people together, he was a brilliant officiant at the weddings of his closest friends’ children.

Although Norm was a public figure, he also treasured his time with those he loved: his family and friends. Whether it was at a community function, family gathering, sporting event, or household get-together, family and friends would surely experience one of Norm’s bear hugs, huge smiles, and laughs that would bring joy to an entire room. Norm loved spending time with his son, Ali, during events through Slippers-N-Sliders (Denver’s Black ski club) in particular. He also enjoyed going to Broncos games and school events with his son, Kendall. Both Ali and Kendall learned lessons from Norm that positively impacted their lives in many ways. His love for them and his entire family will always remain in their hearts.

Norm did not just tell you how much he cared about you, he showed you. He was a spirited supporter and cheerleader during youth sporting games and had a knack for creating nicknames for his sons and players that they still remember and laugh about to this day. Decades later, the impact of Norm’s efforts as a public figure and family member continue to leave an indelible impact on the lives of all with whom he encountered.

As a father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and father-in-law, Norm was the patriarch of the family. His love of family was recognized throughout the community, and he was awarded “Father of the Year” by the Father’s Day Council in 2007. While Norm will forever be missed, his family will always be grateful for the love he shared and the wonderful, defining memories he leaves behind. Norm was predeceased by his father, Norman Strickland Early, Sr.; his mother, Gloria Robinson Jackson; his stepfather, Ellsworth Jackson, Sr.; and his son, Norman Ali Early. He is survived by his son, Kendall Turner Early; three grandsons – Khalon Ali Early, Keon Ali Early, and Kalel Ali Early; daughter-in-law, Tené Anika Early; two sisters, Brenda (BJ) Flowers and Jan Early Mingo; and two brothers, Ellsworth (Jack) G. Jackson, Jr. and Edward (Eddie) Lee Early II. Norm is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends for whom he was grateful to have in his life.

Norm’s celebration of life was in June at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. The event was on the west side of the stadium. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) located at 510 King Street, Suite 220, Alexandria, VA 22314 and/or to the Sam Cary Bar Association located at P.O. Box 300205, Denver, CO 80203.

Originally published by Marshall’s Mortuary and Cremation Service.

Georgia

Paul R. Mandé, Xi of Phi Epsilon Pi (Georgia Institute of Technology) 1969

Paul Mandé, a devoted family man and standout musician with a passion for serving his community, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2022 at the age of 74.

Paul was known for his engaging personality, his love for storytelling and his dedication to family, friends, and the organizations he so passionately served. His commitment to his many causes was surpassed only by his love for his wife, Audrey, his three children and their spouses, and his four beloved grandchildren.

Paul was born in Mamaroneck, N.Y. and raised in Miami, where he attended Coral Gables High School and honed his skills on the clarinet. He later attended Georgia Tech on a full academic scholarship where he was President of the Georgia Tech Band and a proud brother of Phi Epsilon Pi. He was a long-time ZBT volunteer and served as executive trustee, house corporation president and chapter advisor for the Georgia Tech chapter from 1986 – 1996.

After earning a physics degree in 1969, Paul embarked on a career in engineering before beginning his own company, Cherry Systems, which specialized in data recovery. Later, he branched out into an emerging new cybersecurity realm by launching Discovery Computers and Forensics.

Inspired by his experience on Georgia Tech’s campus, Paul was an executive trustee for Zeta Beta Tau’s House Corporation for more than 15 years, and a generation of graduates still remember him fondly. His passion for Judaism ran deep, and he was a proud member of Temple Emanu-El and, later, Chabad of East Cobb.

For much of his life, Paul could often be found on nights or weekends in friendly competition on the tennis court, speeding through choppy waters on his boat at Lake Arrowhead or playing clarinet and saxophone for the Modernaires Big Band and other large audiences. His passion for music was a constant throughout his life, and he relished the chance to play music in shows at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, his Dixieland group, and the Cobb New Horizons Band.

In addition to bringing joy to his many audiences through music, he served for years on various committees for the Willow Point Homeowners Association and more recently took on a role as a patient and family advisor for Emory Healthcare. He never missed a chance to volunteer his time when he felt he could make a difference in people’s lives.

Paul is survived by his wife of 28 years, Audrey, whom he loved dearly, and his children and their families: Chris and Marion Mandé, Craig and Pam Marbach and Sheryl and Greg Bluestein; and four grandchildren: Noah Marbach, Claire Marbach, Nicole Bluestein and Brooke Bluestein. He’s also survived by his sister Fran Pollack and his niece Michele Gust. He was predeceased by his former wife Debbie Mandé and his parents Sally and Pierre Mandé.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Winship Cancer Institute at winshipcancer.emory.edu/support-winship/give/ or Chabad of Cobb chabadofcobb.com.

Originally published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Illinois

Ralph A. Mantynband, Mu of Phi Sigma Delta (University of Chicago) 1953

Ralph Aubrey Mantynband, of Highland Park, passed away peacefully at home on January 15th, 2016, at the age of 86.

He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Nancy Beers Mantynband, and his children Martyn (Barbara), Daniel (Deborah Handler), Peyton James, Alexander and Elizabeth Anne. He was preceded in death by his first wife Roberta Marie Mantynband, his son Mark, and his sisters, Babette Richman (Irvin) and Portia Kern (Norman). He is also survived by his brothers- and sisters-in-law Richard Beers (Lorraine), Bruce Beers (Jeanne) and Elizabeth Beers (Frank Peryea), and his nephews and nieces Thomas Richman (Shanti Metz), Andrew Kern, Robert Kern, Amy Mueller (Gregory), Dr. Emily Beers, Adam Beers (Allison), Lauren Creighton (Adam), and Lindsey Beers.

He was a partner and litigator at Arvey, Hodes, Costello & Burman and at Shefsky & Froelich for more than 60 years. He was a Korean War veteran, a Company Commander in the 2nd Infantry Division and recalled when the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. He was a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, and the Graduate School of Business. He received his Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He also attended Harvard College. Service Monday, 10 AM at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Road, Glencoe. Interment Rosehill. Ralph: “Please omit flowers and take your honey out for dinner instead.” Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Skokie Chapel.

Originally published by Chicago Tribune.

Myron J. Sholem, Rho (University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign) 1945

Myron J. “Mike” Sholem passed away peacefully at home on May 19, 2022.

Mike was born Feb. 23, 1924, in St. Louis, the son of Jerome J. and Faye Siegal Sholem. He was raised in Champaign and attended both Uni High School as well as Champaign High School.  A veteran in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II, he then attended the University of Illinois and was a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.

Mike married Sonya Ades on Aug. 29, 1950, in Louisville, Ky., and she survives him. Their incredible 71-plus years of marriage created the foundation for a large loving family and inspired many. They raised two sons, David Sholem (Jan) of Champaign and Barry Sholem (Frankie) of Santa Monica, Calif. Mike was very proud of his two sons and, in particular, his five grandchildren, Jamie (Mariel) Sholem of New York City, Katie (Scott) Arnoldy of Houston, Texas, Caroline (Ben) Weinberg of New York City, Jordan Sholem of Santa Monica and Grant Sholem of New York City. Mike was also blessed with six wonderful great-grandchildren, Jackson, Juliette, Annabel, Libby, Sidney James and John, born May 17, just two days before Mike’s passing. Also surviving are brother and sister-in-law Stanford (Tank) and Susan Sholem of Rochester, Minn.

In addition to his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, William and Connie Sholem.

Mike was very active in the Champaign business community throughout his career.  He started his career after college by joining his father in the family business, Sholem’s Shoes, which was established by his grandfather, William Sholem, in Paris, Ill., in 1872. Later joined by his brother, Stanford (Tank) Sholem, at the company, the Sholem brothers worked side by side for over 25 years as they expanded the business until its sale in 1979. At that point, Mike adjusted his focus to family farm management and real estate development. Never officially “retired,” Mike kept a small family office in downtown Champaign, where he retreated to manage his family business interests; always finding time to join his daily coffee group and lunch group for a spirited discussion among friends of all major local, national and world events. During this period, Mike was an active member of the board of Champaign National Bank, Mercy Hospital and the Champaign Salvation Army. He was also a member of the Champaign Rotary Club, Champaign Country Club, University of Illinois Foundation and Sinai Temple.

Even at age 98, Mike had an active mind and incredible memory, with the ability to recount specific details of his childhood, career, personal travels and winters with Sonya in Longboat Key, Fla, California and Hawaii. In his later years, some of his greatest joys revolved around reading the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover each day and sharing the day’s events with his two sons and five grandchildren. He loved getting calls from his family and trying to keep up with the details of their various business activities. An avid sports fan to the end, Mike rarely missed a televised St. Louis Cardinals baseball game or any Illinois football or basketball game. Mike’s impressive longevity is likely attributed to his consistent diet of Steak ‘n Shake burgers, fries and milkshakes for most of his adult life.

The Sholem family would like to thank the numerous loving and dedicated caregivers who endeared themselves to Mike by tirelessly helping him in his later years with care and compassion. Additionally, Caroline Phelps and his daughter-in-law, Jan, treated him with incredible care, and he greatly appreciated their efforts as well.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Champaign Park District Foundation for the benefit of the Sholem Aquatic Center (Marketing@champaignparks.org or 217 819 3843). A private family service will be held. Condolences may be offered at morganmemorialhome.com.

Originally published in Champaign’s The News-Gazette.

Robert J. Witt, Rho (University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign) 1949

Robert “Bob” Witt lived 94 beautiful years. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years – Diane Witt nee Glassman. He was a loving father of sons Gregg (Bruni) Witt, Steven (Liza) Witt and daughter Teri (Thomas) Sapiro. A cherished grandfather to Zachary (Emily) Witt, Joshua (Lauren) Witt, Samuel Witt (Emily Ruffolo), Max (Heather) Sapiro, Sadie Witt, Dana Sapiro, and Olivia Witt. Treasured great grandfather to Noah Witt and Madison Witt.

Bob was the ultimate Chicago adman whose long career at Garfield Linn & Co was highlighted by such iconic moments as launching the first Dove Ice Cream Bar, introducing the world to Tootsie Pop Drops, and even naming the original Lava Lamp. For several years he served as President of the Chicago chapter of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and chairman of communications at JUF. In later years, Bob could be found on the golf course shooting his age at Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield or Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. In his retirement his creative spirit led him to painting as a hobby. All of his grandkids have an original “Baba” painting hanging in their homes. Like most Chicago natives, he had his heart broken by the Bears, Bulls, and Cubs. Nevertheless he always rooted for the home team. Bob was a crossword puzzle enthusiast, a great friend to many, and loved by his community.

A graveside service was in August. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jewish Child and Family services, 216 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago 60606, www.jcfs.org/donate/make-gift.

Originally published by Chicago Tribune.

Indiana

Robert A. Borns, Beta Gamma (Indiana University Bloomington) 1957

Robert “Bob” Borns was the son of Irving and Sylvia Borns, who fled the pogroms of Eastern Europe for a new life in America, Di Goldene Medina (Land of Gold.) He was raised to reflect the values of his treasured parents: eternal optimism, a love of Judaism and the then new State of Israel, a deep commitment to family and a belief in America as the land of opportunity.

Bob was a self-made man who embodied the American dream. As a youth he worked in the steel mills of Gary, Indiana to put himself through Indiana University. As an adult, he founded Borns Jewish Studies, the largest Jewish Studies Program in the country, at that same school. After graduating with a Business degree from I.U.’s Kelley School, he returned to Gary with his bride, Sandra Solotkin Borns, then moved to Indianapolis to work as a stock broker. He left this job because, as his wife always says, “The Borns family is allergic to working for other people.”

The couple moved to Indianapolis, where they founded Borns Management, a real estate development company that started with South View, a small apartment complex, and grew to include over 20 significant developments, including rental apartments, condominium projects, housing developments, hotels, office buildings, restaurants and shopping centers. In addition to this, he was responsible for sparking the revitalization of downtown Indianapolis with his development of the old Union Station as one of the first festival marketplaces in the United States. He would tell you that his many accomplishments were not his alone.

He and Sandra were partners in all that they did. He often said, “The most important decision you make in life is choosing the right spouse. And with Sandra, I hit a home run.” Rich or poor, Bob’s life was defined by generosity. When he and Sandra were newlyweds, so poor their electricity was turned off, they helped Bob’s cousin through college by sending him what they described as, “Money we didn’t have.”

Throughout his life, Bob gave generously of his time and money to universities, cultural institutions and charities benefiting Israel, Indianapolis, Palm Springs and beyond. Bob served on numerous boards, including The Northern Trust Company, The Indianapolis Power and Light Company, the Indianapolis Water Company, The Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children, The Air Museum of Palm Springs, The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Marion University, St. Vincent’s Hospital, The Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Jewish Welfare Federation of Indianapolis. He was Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Indiana University Foundation, and of Israel Bonds for Indiana. Among his numerous awards were an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Indiana University, the Peace Award from the State of Israel, an Honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Indianapolis and the Award for National Excellence from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

His memberships included the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, the Tamarisk Country Club, Temple Har-El in Palm Desert and Congregation Beth-El Zedeck of Indianapolis.

Near the end of his life, our father told us something that shaped every aspect of his life: “When I was a child, I decided I wanted to spend my life being a giver, not a taker.” If Robert Borns had a bumper sticker, that would be it. Bob was not afraid to take chances in business or in life. In 1970, he and Sandra took Betsy and Stephanie to Rome for a year and, in 1989, spent a year in London with Emily. When his daughters asked why they were doing such a crazy thing, he said what he always said in the best and worst of times: “Girls, it’s all part of the fun…”

Robert Borns is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sandra, their three daughters, Stephanie Borns-Weil and her spouse Alex, Betsy Borns and her spouse Jonathan Shapiro and Emily Borns and her partner Nolan McFadden, his six grandchildren, Yonah Borns-Weil, Sarah, Abraham and Ezekiel Shapiro, Indiana and Lorelei Behr, his sister and brother-in-law Judy and Sid Laikin and all of his beloved nieces, nephews and their children. Funeral services were in August. In remembrance of Robert Borns’ life, the family asks that donations be made to the Borns Jewish Program of Indiana University.

Originally published in The Indianapolis Star.

Nathan H. Miller, Beta Gamma (Indiana University Bloomington) 1955

Nathan Harold Miller, age 88, of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on June 17th surrounded by family. Nathan was born on May 15, 1934, to Dave and Ida Rose Miller in Burlington, Iowa.  He graduated from Shortridge High School and Indiana University, where he was a brother of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity.

Nathan served in the United States Army during the Korean War where he served as a tank commander.  Following his service, he returned to Indianapolis and started his career with Morris Plan, a savings and loan. Later, he joined his father-in-law Arthur Cassell at Arch Beverage.  Arch Beverage was sold in 1973. While considering his next business venture, Nathan took this time and became president of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.

Nathan then went out on his own, forming three liquor distributorships across the state, with partner Dan Domont, Miller Distributing, Columbia Liquors and Heritage Liquors.  He expanded to Illinois with the purchase of Great Lakes Wine Company in 1976, which sold in 2000.  Nathan never formally retired.  He kept busy with his love for stock trading, and volunteer commitments with Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. Nathan will be remembered for his kind and generous nature.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Joan Cassell Miller and his loving children, Gregory (Melissa) Miller and Beth (Richard) Conen; grandchildren, Aaron Miller and Joseph Edmonds, Sarah (Andrew) Pernikoff, Alana (Joseph) Bernstein, Jared (Andrea) Conen and Adam Conen; great grandchildren, Julia and Eliana Pernikoff; and sister, Nanette Shane.  His brother-in-law, Robert Shane preceded him in death.

Graveside services were in June.

Donations can be made to Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.

Originally published by A.R.N. Funeral and Cremation Services.

Micah Ross, Beta Gamma (Indiana University Bloomington) 1959

Micah Ross passed away peacefully in South Bend, Ind., on May 12, 2022.

Micah Ross was born on April 29, 1938, in Benton Harbor, the son of the late Gertrude (nee Piser) and David Ross.

He graduated from John Adams High School in 1955 and Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1959 and was a brother of ZBT fraternity.

In the early 1960s, he was employed by Interstate Glass Co. in South Bend and opened up Great Lakes Glass Co. in Benton Harbor. For 23 years, he created lasting friendships and had a wonderful association with Jantzen Apparel of Portland, Ore., selling women’s swimsuits and sportswear. After Jantzen, he worked for Ivan Bloom Associates in Chicago.

He enjoyed golf and had a lifetime record of two holes-in-one, in Benton Harbor and Doral Golf, Fla., and was thrilled to play at Augusta National once in the 1970s. Micah enjoyed a golf handicap of 8 and had a best round of one under par 71. He was a very well-dressed man, enjoyed crossword puzzles, watched sporting events, and had an occasional visit to Las Vegas. Ross was also a proud U.S. Army veteran.

Ross loved jokes and his favorite comedians were Don Rickles and Henny Youngman. He was famous for his one-liners and when asked for his favorite, appropriate-for-the newspaper joke, he said, “When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading,” or “I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. The doctor said, ‘Stop going to those places.'”

Micah was very well-loved by friends and family and all who knew him. He was predeceased by a brother, John J. Ross; sisters: Ruth Ann Ross, and Naomi (Ross) Ronen; cousin, David Piser; and his aunt, Ruth Piser, who raised him and his siblings after he was orphaned at age 11. He leaves behind friends: Jerry and Phyllis Alberts; sister-in-law, Suzanne Ross; nephew, David Ronen; nieces: Mihal and Gili Ronen; his devoted caregiver, Pam Shankle; and many friends and cousins in Peoria, Ill., and South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) or the American Heart Association.

Originally published by The Herald-Palladium.

Kentucky

Fredrick Rosenberg, Alpha Iota (University of Kentucky) 1961

Frederick Irwin Rosenberg, 82, of Poolesville, Maryland, died Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Fred was very well respected and loved for his integrity, wisdom, kindness, humor, generosity and infectious warm personality.

Fred was born on October 13, 1939, in Frankfort, Kentucky, to Deborah and Solomon Rosenberg. He graduated from Frankfort High School. He earned an undergraduate degree and a law degree from the University of Kentucky and was a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He was also a proud member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Fred served in the U.S. Army, entering active duty in May 1966. He was assigned to Ft. Story, Virginia, with the 458th Transportation Company, a LARC (Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo) unit. Rising to the rank of Captain, he was awarded several medals, including the Army Commendation Medal, which he received for his service in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He served in Cam Ranh Bay, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet.

Fred and Brenda met in 1965 at a reform school in Kentucky, where they both worked as social workers. They married in 1968 in Ft. Story, Virginia, where Fred was stationed. Following his military service, he worked as a civilian for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), a component of the U.S. Navy Department, in Oakland, California. In 1971, he joined the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as a Postal Inspector, and in 1975, he became an Inspector Attorney. He retired in 1996.

A 46-year resident of Poolesville, Fred loved living in the small town, reminiscent of his hometown of Frankfort. He especially loved the friendly people of Poolesville, who look out for each other and make the town truly special.

Fred was an avid stamp collector and enjoyed popping in to say hello at local post offices on his various journeys. Over the years, he also enjoyed boating on the Potomac, driving his RV across the country and collecting antiques. Fred was a sentimental soul who loved all kinds of music, but especially oldies from the 1950s.

A sweet man with a sweet tooth, he had a weakness for soft-serve ice cream and peach cobbler, and he couldn’t resist a pie from Lewis Orchard. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and make others laugh. Most of all, Fred loved his family.

He is survived by his brother, Edwin (Melinda), of Hudson, Ohio; wife, Brenda, of Poolesville, Maryland; sons, Bryan (Bonnie) of Mebane, North Carolina, and David of Mableton, Georgia; daughter, Jennifer, of Fairfax, Virginia; two grandchildren, Rachel and Matthew; and his beloved dog, Casey.

For those wishing to honor Fred’s memory, please consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project or to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in support of two causes that were near and dear to his heart.

A funeral service with full military honors was in March.

Originally published in The State Journal.

Louisiana

Jack I. Selber, Sigma (Tulane University) 1967

Jack Ira Selber died at Houston Hospice on Tuesday, the 6th of July, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. He was surrounded by his wife, Phyllis, and his daughters, Jill and Sandy. Jack fought bravely and courageously for 9 weeks. Born in Greenwood, MS on the 29th of September, 1945 to Flo and Irving Selber. Jack attended Byrd High School in Shreveport, LA. He graduated Cum Laude from Tulane University in New Orleans where he was a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. He received his MBA from Columbia University in New York City.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Flo and Irving Selber; and his brother, Charles Paul Selber. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Phyllis; their two daughters, Jill Selber Handaly (Jason) and Sandy Selber Sturm (Tim); his sister Kay Selber Zeidman; his grandchildren whom he adored, Eli and Jacob Beilinson; Holly, Whitney and Timothy Sturm. Being their “Papa Jack” was truly one of his greatest joys.

Jack proudly built the investment firm of Scott and Selber Capital Management. He was an avid golfer and loved his Wednesday night Bohemios Beatles gigs.

Private graveside service were in July.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Congregation Beth Israel and Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030.

Originally published by Shreveport Times.

Sidney B. Steiner, Sigma (Tulane University) 1965

Sidney B. Steiner died Sunday, March 13, 2022, following a brief illness. Mr. Steiner was born on November 30, 1943, in New Orleans to the late Dr. Melvin D. Steiner and Jane Blumenthal Steiner. Mr. Steiner graduated from Isidore Newman School, the A.B. Freeman School of Business of Tulane University, and the Tulane School of Law. He was a brother Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and an absolutely devoted fan of the Tulane Green Wave, attending games at Yulman Stadium, Fogelman Arena, and Turchin Stadium with great regularity.

Mr. Steiner spent his career in business. He was Owner and President of Molecular Conservation Systems, Inc. and Executive Vice President of Blumenthal Print Works, Inc. Mr. Steiner leaves behind a legion of friends from his days at Newman, Tulane, and in business. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Carol Steiner Rubenstein.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Kathleen Langan; his brother, Jerome D. Steiner (Melissa); his stepchildren, Mark Kutash and Ashley Boisfontaine (Arthur), and their children, Brandon, Madison, and Adeline; and a number of nieces and nephews. A memorial service was in March. Arrangements entrusted to Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70119. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Tulane Green Wave Club, 333 Ben Weiner Drive, New Orleans, LA, 70118, or Animal Rescue of New Orleans, 271 Plauche Street, New Orleans 70123. To view and sign the virtual guestbook, please visit schoenfh.com.

Originally published by The Times-Picayune.

Missouri

Sidney Wasserman, Omega (University of Missouri) 1954

Sidney Eugene Wasserman, age 90, Marietta, GA. Born in St. Louis, MO on January 8, 1932, Beloved husband of Marcia Wasserman for 62 incredible years; Sid passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, Sunday, August 7, 2022.

Born to Abraham and Amy, he went to University City High School, Washington University, graduating from The University of Missouri with a BA and MBA in Finance. He was a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He worked as co-owner of the retail chain Fashion Lane with his brothers Jerry and Bill until he retired. Retirement did not suit his active spirit and he became a real estate agent, broker in St. Louis with Coldwell Banker, continuing in Orlando for many years.

The father of Anthony Wasserman of Tampa, father and father-in-law of Amy (Jeff) Tatro; adoring grandfather of Jaquelyn (Tom) Hurdle and Nicole Tatro of Atlanta. Preceded in death by his brothers Jerry (Eleanor) Wasserman of Orlando and Bill (Shirley) Wasserman of Dallas. Dear uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

Sid made an indelible impression on all who knew him – there was no one quite like him, and his legacy shall live on through the many who loved or were impacted by him. He will be dearly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the American Diabetes Foundation or a charity of your choosing. A graveside service was in August.

Originally published in St. Louis Jewish Light.

New York

Mark H. Fleischman, Beta of Phi Sigma Delta (Cornell University) 1961

Mark Fleischman, a nightclub impresario who purchased the hedonistic New York nightspot Studio 54 from its imprisoned founding owners and was its self-described “ringleader” in the early 1980s, died July 13 in Zurich. He was 82.

Early in his career, Fleischman owned and managed hotels in New York, Florida, Virginia and the Virgin Islands. He was in his late 30s when he joined the party scene at Studio 54, which opened in Manhattan in 1977 and became a prime hangout for celebrities. The nightclub became notorious for is decadence and famous clientele.

After the original owners sold the property in 1981, Studio 54 reopened with Fleischman as its new impresario. He sold Studio 54 in 1984, and it closed for good in 1986.

Mark Harvey Fleischman was born Feb. 1, 1940, in New York City and grew up in the Long Island community of Great Neck. His father owned hotels, and his mother was a homemaker.

Fleischman graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in 1962, then served in the Navy for two years, managing an officers’ club. He was in his 20s when — with a loan from his father — he bought his first hotel in Forest Hills, Queens, near the U.S. Open tennis venue. He later owned other hotels, restaurants and ski resorts.

After Studio 54, Fleischman opened Tatou, a New York music club and restaurant, then established other branches in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo and Aspen, Colo. From the 1990s to about 2007, he operated the Century Club, featuring hip-hop music, near Los Angeles.

In later years, he ran a chain of fitness studios with his second wife.

Originally published in The Washington Post.

Rabbi Stanley T. Relkin, Alpha (City College of New York) 1955

Rabbi Stanley T. Relkin died peacefully at home in Bethesda, MD on July 30, 2022. His loving wife, Ivy Reade Relkin, was by his side until the end. Stanley was born in New York City to Isidore and Frieda Relkin. He was raised in the Bronx and was the youngest of three children. Siblings Gerard and Rosalind both predeceased him.

Stanley served the Jewish community throughout his life, beginning when he was president of his ZBT fraternity chapter while at City College of New York and then later as the national president of that organization. He was ordained as a Rabbi in 1962 upon graduating from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, OH. During his long career, he served congregations in London, England (as a student); Glen Burnie, MD; Chicago, IL; Atlantic City, NJ; Salt Lake City, UT; St.Thomas, VI; and Greenville, MS. It is believed that Stanley held the pulpit at the historic St. Thomas Synagogue longer than any other Rabbi. He was an active member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and in retirement, the National Association of Retired Reform Rabbis, of which he rose to its presidency.

In 1996, Stanley married Ivy Reade, with whom he shared a love of travel and opera. In Ivy, Stanley found the love of his life and his intellectual equal. They traveled around the world multiple times and enjoyed each day together. Stanley’s twenty-six years with Ivy were the happiest of his long and varied life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mazon: a Jewish Response to Hunger at: mazon.org.

Originally published by The New York Times.

North Carolina

Harold L. Kadis, Alpha Upsilon (Duke University) 1955

Harold Leon Kadis died peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2022, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Felicia Rudolph Kadis, and two children, Randi Williams (Mitchell) and Jonathon (Lisa). He leaves five grandchildren: Savannah and Ross Williams and Alexandra, Madison, and Owen Kadis. His loved ones will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

He was born in Goldsboro, NC, on December 6, 1932, to Isaac and Mary Tesler Kadis. Harold was an eagle scout and participated in the international Boy Scout jamboree in Moisson, France, at the age of 14; he would later serve as Scoutmaster in Goldsboro. He attended Goldsboro High School, where he was elected class president and editor in chief of the yearbook, and from which in his senior year, he won the prestigious Angier B. Duke Scholarship, a four-year academic scholarship at Duke University. During college, Harold was a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC). He was a brother of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), Duke’s Jewish collegiate social fraternity, and the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. In 1955, Harold graduated from Duke with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.

After Duke, he served his country in the United States Navy on active duty as a division and communications officer on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. While visiting his brother at the University of Pennsylvania, he met Felicia. As luck would have, Harold’s naval carrier was stationed in Felicia’s hometown, New York City. On January 25, 1958, the pair were married and would share over 64 beautiful years together.

After completing his military service, Harold returned with Felicia to Goldsboro, NC, to manage the family retail business. What had started as a single retail-clothing store opened by his father, Isaac, had grown into a small chain of retail clothing stores located across Eastern NC. After several years, Harold and his late brother Bobby Kadis transitioned the family business from retail to commercial real estate. The brothers joined with their good friend, the late Charles Norwood Jr., to form the Carolina Development Company, a 27-year partnership in which they developed shopping centers in Eastern NC. In the early ’90s, Harold and Bobby founded Centrex Properties, Inc., a commercial real estate development and investment company. For more than 50 years, the Kadis brothers worked to develop, own, and operate numerous properties throughout North Carolina and the contiguous states.

Harold was passionate about giving back to his hometown of Goldsboro and the Wayne County community. He was the founder and chairman of Wayne Country Day School, a trustee of Wayne Memorial Hospital, and served on the Wayne County United Way Fund and Walnut Creek Country Club boards. He was also an active member of the local business community, serving as chairman of the board of First American Savings Bank in Greensboro, NC, and as a member of the Goldsboro advisory board of First Union National Bank.

Additionally, Harold was deeply committed to sustaining the North Carolina Jewish community. He served as president and trustee of Temple Oheb Sholom in Goldsboro. He was a generous and loyal supporter of the Judaica Art Fund through the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery. He also made contributions to numerous Jewish institutions and organizations across the region, including The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary.

Harold was buried May 1 on a beautiful spring day in the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery. The family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) in his memory.

Originally published by The News & Observer.

Gerald (Jerry) H. Kanter, Alpha Pi (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) 1949

Gerald “Jerry” Hirsch Kanter, 94, died at his home in Kinston on Tuesday. A memorial service will be held at Temple Israel in Kinston on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. followed by a reception for family and friends.

Kanter was born on May 25, 1927. He was a lifelong athlete, a World War II veteran of the United States Navy, a professional baseball player with the Houma (LA) Indians, a successful New Orleans liquor salesman, and respected Kinston merchant, a national specialty sales consultant, an aquatics director and water safety specialist, and a competitive long-distance swimmer, according to a release from the Rotary Club of Kinston.

After attending UNC-Chapel Hill for one year, he enlisted in the United States Navy during the latter days of World War II, trained at the Navy’s Bainbridge, Md. boot camp, and boarded the Navy’s last active wooden ship, the USS Prometheus, in California bound for the Pacific Theater of the war. As his troopship crossed the Pacific the war was coming to its end.

Kanter returned to Kinston and joined his father and mother in operating Sidney’s, a men’s clothing store on North Street in downtown Kinston that is today the Mother Earth Brewery taproom. He also played semiprofessional baseball in the old Coastal Plain League as a utility infielder/shortstop. After a few seasons, he was offered a professional contract by the Houma Indians in southern Louisiana’s Evangeline League, where he played for two seasons.

He also met Sharon L. Lamb, a Minnesota native who became his wife of 59 years, in 1963. He became an active member of the business community, spearheading the designation of downtown Kinston as a special tax district to fund the formation of Pride of Kinston. He was an active member of the Kinston Chamber of Commerce, the Kinston Rotary Club, the Committee of 100, coached Junior Babe Ruth League baseball, and was active in and Master of St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 4. Outside of his family, Kanter had two great and passionate loves: aviation and swimming.

In 2013 Kanter was appointed by the Lenoir County Commission to the Global TransPark Foundation Board of Directors, where he served on the Aviation Committee for five years. Kanter’s love of swimming began in childhood summer visits with his family to Wrightsville and Atlantic Beaches, grew during his teenage summers as a lifeguard, and become serious when, in middle age, he discovered adult competitive swimming.

He began swimming for exercise and then commuting to train at the Goldsboro YMCA. Entering the North Carolina Senior Games, won dozens of medals, and became one of the oldest competitive swimmers in the state, consistently winning the 50- and 500-yard freestyle events until he was 91.

To celebrate his 90th birthday, Kanter swam 100 laps in the new Woodmen Community Center’s competition pool, raising more than $6,000 for Rotary’s CART Fund for Alzheimer’s disease research.

Following his retail career, Kanter also became the aquatics director and taught swimming lessons for 23 summers at the Kinston Country Club. He claimed to be the world’s oldest living lifeguard.

Kanter was a lifelong member of Temple Israel and a member of the Kinston Country Club.

Originally published in The Free Press.

Ohio

Stanley M. Palevsky, Alpha Phi (Miami University) 1958

Stanley Martin Palevsky, 86, of Solon, passed away June 4, 2022, surrounded by his family, after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. He was born May 19, 1936.

Dearly loved husband of Frances Palevsky of 60 years; cherished father of Penny Borella (Jon Paul) (deceased) and Keith, devoted son of the late Sam and Leah Palevsky; dear brother of the following deceased, Irwin (Madelyn) Palevsky and Enid (Stanley) Rothenfeld; dearest grandfather of Casey Rae Borella. Cherished brother-in-law of Roger (Sharon) Solomon of Atlanta and Jeff (Carol) Solomon of St Louis, Miss. Dear uncle and great uncle of many.

Stan grew up in Shaker Heights and graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1954. A three sport captain, he was a proud member of the Red Raiders 1954 state champion wrestling team. Stan attended Miami University of Ohio, was president of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and graduated in 1958. He served his military conscription in the Ohio National Guard.

Stan’s father started Palevsky’s Hardware in Cleveland on Kinsman Road in the 1920’s, and after graduating from college Stan worked in the family business through 1982. He and his wife Fran lived and worked in Atlanta from 1983 to 1993, and Stan closed out his professional career as a Vice President at Ohio Savings Bank and retired in March of 2006. He was a friend and mentor to many that he worked with.

Stan had many hobbies, including gourmet food and fine wine, and was a fan of the big band jazz era. On any weekend during the spring, summer, and fall, Stan could be found tending to the many plants and vegetables in the yard around the home. He was a kind person, who treated everyone from all walks of life the same.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, or the NCJW (Cleveland Section), or Cycle For Survival (bit.ly/3MXJtJq).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at bkbmc.com for the Palevsky family.

A private funeral service was in June.

Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.

Originally published by Cleveland Jewish News.

Pennsylvania

Alan S. Cooper, Eta of Phi Epsilon Pi (University of Pennsylvania) 1953

Alan S. Cooper, 79, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky, died on May 11, 2022 in Potomac, Maryland. He was the oldest child of Rudey and Rosalie Cooper.

He is survived by his two daughters, Lauren K. Cooper (Kevin) of Washington, D.C. and Jennifer C. Alford (Jon) of Vienna, Virginia, and by his five grandchildren, Sophie, Rory, Madelyn, Jacob and Maisy. He is also survived by his three brothers, Dr. Barry Cooper (Lynn) of Dallas, Texas; David Cooper (Helane) of Louisville, Kentucky; and Dr. Mark Cooper (Brenda) of Solon, Ohio. Alan was married to the now deceased Linda Morguelan Cooper, also formerly of Louisville, and previously was the surviving widower of Maxine Jacobs Cooper (the mother of Lauren and Jennifer).

The funeral was in May.

Alan was very active in High School in Resnick AZA where he was President. He was also both Vice President of the KIO Region and District 2. He was loved, admired and respected by all his Resnick Brothers, with all of them remaining very close throughout the years. He attended Vanderbilt as an undergraduate and was president of his ZBT fraternity, where he also created many lifelong friendships. He later graduated from Vanderbilt Law School.

Throughout his professional career, Alan was a “lawyer’s lawyer”, one of the most pre-eminent specialists in trademark and unfair competition law. In 1994, Alan was the Special Advisor on Trademarks to the US Delegation to the Nairobi Conference on the Revision of the Paris Convention dealing with international trademark matters. He was a frequent lecturer at trademark law seminars and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law School. Practicing law was Alan’s passion.

Alan was also very interested in his family’s genealogy. Alan did extensive research on Serey, a little shtetl in Lithuania, where his maternal grandmother was born. He interviewed some of the very few survivors of the Nazi massacre and contributed information to the Litvak community around the world.

Contributions can be made to the Charles Weisberg BBYO Fund, c/o The Jewish Federation of Louisville, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40205 or the charity of choice.

Originally published by Herman Meyer & Son, Inc.

Howard J. Creskoff, Alpha Psi (Pennsylvania State University) 1963

Creskoff, Howard J. peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones in his daughter’s home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania on June 7, 2022 at the age of 81. He was the beloved son of Edith (née Milgram) and Leonard Creskoff and was born in Philadelphia on March 26, 1941. Howard was exceptionally close to his siblings and is survived by his older brother, David (Joyce Belchic) and younger sister Susan Creskoff Hirsch (Larry).

Howard attended Olney High School, from which he graduated in 1959. He received his B.A. degree four years later from Penn State and was an brother of ZBT. While there, he met his wife-to-be Betty Jane Sauer (BJ).

Post college, Howard worked in California after driving cross-country there with his best friend Robert Wechsler and then returned to Philadelphia to attend Temple University Law School, graduating in 1966 with a J.D. degree. Howard served his country in the United States Army Reserves, where he met life-long friends.

Howard’s professional legal career began as an associate attorney in the firm of Freedman, Borowsky, and Lorry in Philadelphia. He became a partner and successfully practiced there under the mentorship of Bill Lorry. He and a few partners later left and formed the firm of Adler, Barish, Daniels, Levin and Creskoff. In 1982, Howard founded his own firm in partnership with Michael J. Rotko. In 1993 he became business partners with Gary Baker, joining Windsor Distribution, Inc. as co-owner.

Howard’s legal acumen was recognized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which appointed him as a judge of its disciplinary Board where he served for nine years. He was an officer and director of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association for four years. Among his many honors, he received The Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Legal Aid Society of Philadelphia for pro-bono work. Howard’s charitable work included serving for many years on various boards including Willowcrest-Bamberger, Albert Einstein Medical Center, and the Jewish National Fund.

Growing up, Howard, along with his parents and siblings, spent blissful summers in Longport on the Jersey shore. He helped build their family home on Sunset Avenue in Longport in the early 1960’s. All of Howard’s siblings, nieces, nephews as well as his wife and children spent many summers together there. Howard ultimately built his own family home in Longport in the mid-70’s, which his children and grandchildren enjoy to this day.

It would take volumes to write just how wonderful, revered, and kind Howard was and how much help and joy he gave to so many people. He was a caring and loving father to daughters Lauren Kline (Chris) and Rebecca Creskoff (Michael Glassner) and a devoted grandfather to Josh, Jenna, and Maggie Kline and Sadie, Isla, and Goldie Glassner and his step-grandchildren Max (Liz Giampa), Ilana (Greg Milstein), David, and Mackenzie Glassner. Howard is also survived by his nieces and nephews; Hope, Nancy, Danny, Stacey, Daria and Brad as well as his faithful and loyal friend, Lucy, his 13-year-old springer spaniel. We mourn the loss of this sweet-natured, smart, genial, devoted father, grandfather, attorney, brother, and friend who loved and appreciated the simplest joys in life: a beach, a good book, and family. We are grateful for the compassionate care Howard received from Dr. Michael Mastrangelo at Jefferson and Dr. Lynn Schuchter at Penn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Howard’s memory to the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the Abramson Cancer Center, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Joseph Pasternack, Jr., Theta (University of Pennsylvania) 1954

Former Ferriday businessman and civic leader Joe Pasternack, Jr, died Wednesday in New Orleans. He was 90.

A memorial service was in August.

Pasternack was a cornerstone of Ferriday for years. He was born on August 1, 1932, in Ferriday, Louisiana, the son of Agatha and the late Joe Pasternack Sr.

Joe Pasternack Jr., graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1954.  Joe was a brother of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. Following graduation, Joe joined the United States Air Force where he served as a Deputy Finance Officer at Edwards Air Force Base in California.  After serving his country, he returned to Ferriday and joined his father in the family business, the Pasternack’s Store.

In 1972, he married Sarah Teles. The family then moved from Ferriday to New Orleans.  Joe is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Sarah Teles Pasternack, their son Joe Pasternack III (Lindsay) and grandchildren, Joe Pasternack IV, Lilly Rose Pasternack, Max Saltz, and Sarah’s daughters Leslie Mcgavran (Greg), Paige Lubritz (Randy) and Jody Dorsey (Bren), and a devoted circle of friends.

Pasternack’s building on First Street housed a variety of businesses – furniture, clothing, grocery, hardware and drug stores since 1913. It closed in 1983.

Joe operated the family business for over 20 years before moving to New Orleans. In 1958, Joe was elected to the Board of Directors for Concordia Bank and Trust Company and later would become Chairman of the Board. After 50 years of service, he retired from the Board in 2008. In the early ’80s, he built Pasternack’s Mini Storage, a self-storage facility in Metairie which continues to operate today.

Always active in the community, Joe volunteered in multiple capacities, including as President of the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club of Ferriday, the Board of Temple Ban’s Israel in Natchez, President of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana (JEF), the Boards of Willow Wood Jewish Home, Jewish Children’s Regional Service, and the Goldring-Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. He received the Young Family Award for Professional Excellence for his years of service and leadership with the JEF.

The Family would also like to thank Joe’s wonderful caregivers including Doris Mesias and Jannel Edwards and many others.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to The Jewish Endowment Foundation, One Galleria Blvd., Suite 1040, Metairie, Louisiana 70001, or the charity of your choice.

Originally published in Concordia Sentinel.

Robert S. Speizman, Theta (University of Pennsylvania) 1962

Charlotte, North Carolina – Robert Stephen Speizman was born in Charlotte on April 10, 1940, to Morris and Sylvia Speizman. “Bob” graduated from Myers Park High School in 1958 and attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Degree in Economics. While at Penn, Bob played lightweight football and was a proud brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He often compared his days at ZBT to the antics depicted in the film Animal House. There’s no doubt that Bob and his fraternity brothers enjoyed those years in college, and his family has pictures to prove it. Many of Bob’s favorite stories to tell came from his days growing up in Myers Park. Up until his passing, Bob was still chanting “Roll ’em Down You Myers Park Mustangs.”

While still in college, Bob met Carol Kantor at a local temple. They were married in Wilkes-Barre, PA on November 30, 1963, and had been married for 59 years before Carol passed away just 5 months ago in December 2021. Carol was simply the love of Bob’s life. Even as he dealt with dementia, and couldn’t remember yesterday, he still knew that Carol Kantor was the love of his life. Their love was forever etched into his memory even as he moved into the final stages of his life.

After college, Bob served in the Air National Guard and worked briefly for Inland Steel before moving back to Charlotte to join his father, Morris, and brother, Larry at Speizman Industries in 1964. Bob served proudly as President of Speizman Industries from 1976 to 2004. Bob commonly referred to himself as an MD – Machinery Dealer. There’s nothing he loved more than selling machinery and closing a deal. At its peak, Speizman Industries was the leading distributor of new sock knitting machines in the United States and Canada, with offices in New York, California, Canada, England, and Switzerland.

Bob proudly served on the boards of Charlotte Country Day School, Sacred Heart College, Temple Israel, Charlotte Jewish Federation, and Belmont Abbey College. Despite his many business accomplishments and nonprofit work in the local Jewish community and broader Charlotte community, Bob’s most significant legacy might be found at The Fletcher School. Alongside Mac Fletcher– The Fletcher School started in 1982 with 6 students and 1 teacher to help children with specific learning disabilities. Today, The Fletcher School sits on a 13-acre campus with 280 students, 90 teachers, and an outreach program called the Rankin Institute.

Bob was the definition of sacrifice. Whatever you needed, Bob would give it to you – even to his own detriment. He loved his family deeply and truly enjoyed life. There was nothing better than hearing Bob laugh – that uncontrollable, wheezing laughter was enough to fill anyone’s heart with joy. Bob was an avid runner and was well known for his one-handed push-ups and arm-wrestling competitions. Bob never met a stranger and could make anyone feel welcome.

Despite his loving heart and warm demeanor, Bob was a fighter to the core. Dylan Thomas wrote some of his favorite words – Do not go gentle into that good night; Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Sylvia Speizman, and his wife of 59 years, Carol Kantor Speizman. He is survived by his brother, Larry Speizman of Boca Raton, and his four children – Bryan Speizman (Kim), Amy Mullen (Don), Mark Speizman and Barry (Heather) Speizman – as well as nine grandchildren – Connor Speizman, Samantha Smith, Sarah, Luke, and Tess Mullen, Justin Speizman, Maddie, Hudson, and Parker Speizman.

A graveside service was in June.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fletcher School.

Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com

Originally published by Charlotte Observer.

Tennessee

Dr. Jack N. Bisno, Alpha Gamma (Vanderbilt University) 1953

Jack Norman Bisno, 91, of Memphis, died peacefully at home on August 4, 2022. Dr. Bisno was a loving son, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was a member of Baron Hirsch Synagogue and The Memphis Jewish Community Center.

Dr. Bisno was born and raised in Memphis where he went to Snowden Elementary and Junior High and Central High School. He attended Vanderbilt University, and then University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Following Dental school Dr. Bisno served in the Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. He was a brother of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, The American Dental Association, Tennessee Dental Association, Memphis Dental Society, American Endodontic Society and Alpha Omega Dental Society. He was a professor of Endodontics at the University for several years. He served on the board of Baron Hirsch Synagogue for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Rosella Katz Bisno, his wife, Beryl Shainberg Bisno and his brother, Dr. Alan L. Bisno. He is survived by his children, Eileen (Irv) Cherny, Edward (Jayne Jamison) Bisno, and Diane (Michael) Kaplan, 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 4 great granddogs.

Dr. Bisno practiced dentistry for more than 55 years and was one of the first Endodontists in Memphis. He treated three generations of many Mid-south families and created wonderful smiles for his patients, friends and family with his talents and personality. All patients were immediately comfortable in his presence.

A lifelong fitness enthusiast long before it was popular, Dr. Bisno managed to fit multiple swimming and weight workouts into his busy schedule each week. He swam over 1000 miles in his lifetime.

His funeral was in August.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Baron Hirsch Synagogue Sally Kaplan Fund or the charity of your choice.

Originally published by The Daily Memphian.

Salil A. Dalvi, Alpha Gamma (Vanderbilt University) 1992

Salil Dalvi lost his valiant battle with an unforgiving cancer on May 22, 2022, at the age of 51. He is irreplaceable as a partner, father, son, nephew, cousin and friend.

Salil grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and though an only child, was part of a tightly knit extended family, spending summers in Maryland with his cousins.

He pursued his interests with vigor, and determination, helping him excel in anything he tried. He was an accomplished soccer player, guitarist, and photographer, among many other pursuits. Film and music were passions through which he connected with friends and family.

Salil attended Vanderbilt University, joining the ZBT fraternity where he made lifelong friends. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Salil worked for MTV Networks in Atlanta. After receiving his MBA from Emory University, he and Lori moved to New York City 1998 and he launched a successful career in media with NBC Universal.

In 1999, Salil married his best friend, Lori, and in 2003 their son Luke was born. In 2005, their new family life took them to South Orange, NJ, where they were blessed to build an incredible community over the last 17 years.

During the past year, Salil remained an avid cyclist and runner, went on bucket-list trips, pursued his passion for photography, and played his music. In his last months, he was able to spend time with all those closest to him. He was curious, kind, considerate, and always looked for ways to help family, friends and colleagues. Salil loved a good political discussion and remained open and patient with any views other than his own. Salil will be deeply missed and leaves behind his wife, Lori, son, Luke, and his parents, Meena and Ajit.

For more information about Salil, please visit www.salildalvi.com.

Originally published in The Village Green.

Texas

Todd A. Chilton, Zeta Lambda (Stephen F. Austin State University) 1995

Todd Chilton, 48, of Irving went to his heavenly home on August 11, 2022. Todd was born into a career Air Force Family on August 15, 1973, in Bitburg, West Germany, to parents Thomas Allan Chilton and Jean (Harrington) Chilton. He saw the world until his father retired and settled in Texas.

He graduated from Weatherford High School in 1991, and later graduated from Stephen F. Austin University where he met the love of his life, Cindy. He is a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at Stephen F. Austin.

He worked as a finance manager for J.P. Morgan for the last twelve years. Todd was a huge Steelers fan; the only thing more important than his Steelers was his love for the Lord and his family. He was a member of Irving Bible Church for many years. Todd enjoyed seeing movies at the theatre and cooking for his family who called him a true grill master. He will be remembered as the best loving husband, dad, son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend to many. He had a goofy sense of humor and made Cindy laugh every day.

Todd is preceded in death by his mother-in-law Yvonne Mullen; grandparents Russell and Marion Chilton; and Frank and Dorothy Harrington. He leaves behind to cherish his memory wife of 24 years Cindy Chilton; son Nathan Allan Chilton; daughter Emily Reese Chilton; parents Tom & Jean Chilton; sister Kellie Brickhouse and husband Anthony; nephews Will and Alex Brickhouse; niece Maryann Riley; sister-in-law Connie Riley and husband Mark; father-in-law Glenn Mullen. Funeral service was in August. Memorial donations may be made to M.D. Anderson at www.mdanderson.org.

Originally published by Legacy Remembers.

Dr. Marion L. Stahl, Lambda (University of Texas at Austin) 1947

Marion Leonard Stahl, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, Frater and friend, passed away March 15, 2022, after a long, vibrant and beautiful life. He liked people, and people LOVED him, and he LOVED Phi Sig and ZBT. Over the course of his life, he answered to many different names, all affectionately penned by those he came to know and love – During his time as a pledge/active in Phi Sig he was Stahl. As an Advisor for close to 40 years in ZBT he was, to most, Doc Stahl. Doc Stahl was born to Florence Picard Stahl and Dr. Louis J. Stahl in Gonzales, TX on August 9, 1927. Always the over-achiever, he graduated from High School 2 years early and attended college at THE University of Texas at Austin. While at THE University he became a brother of Phi Sigma Delta fraternity in 1943. At the ripe old age of 18, he left college two years early to start medical school at the University of Tennessee’s Medical School in Memphis – the other UT, ultimately graduating medical school first in his class in 1948 at age 21.

In between residencies, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Wurzburg, Germany from 1951-53, practicing general medicine, obstetrics and gynecology. In 1956 he moved to ATX to set up his own practice, and was Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1961, becoming one of the first OB/GYN specialists in Austin. In addition to his OB/GYN practice, which spanned over 40 years, he also reconnected with the fraternity he loved as an Advisor which lasted for close to 40 years. It was during this stint in Austin that following a blind date and lengthy 3-week romance, he met and later married the SDT love of his life Marilyn Faye Saikin on December 3, 1961; they recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.

His passion for Phi Sig and ZBT were without measure. He was a key player in Phi Sig’s transition to ZBT and instrumental in the purchase of a new House for ZBT for which he and other advisors, like Billy Koen, held the note. There were many aspects of the fraternity Doc Stahl was passionate about but one in particular was the timely collection of Dues. Billy Koen recently recalled, “Doc and I were Advisors for Lamba Chapter, Phi Sigma Delta Fraternity and ZBT for forty years at the University of Texas. He had the hard job, he made sure everyone paid their dues on time! I had the easy job; I was in charge of rush. No one wanted Doc Stahl to call their parents and tell them their son had not paid their dues!!! I Never had a problem, with delinquent dues! What a wonderful, sweet man he was! I have great memories serving with him! We were very proud that the FRAT is now the best and largest on the University of Texas campus and nationwide. Thank you, Doc Stahl!”

In addition to his UT chapter role, Doc Stahl also served for several years on ZBT’s Supreme Council.

Steve Ehrlich, who was Lambda’s National Advisor commented on Doc Stahl’s passing by saying “He was one of the really good guys. I enjoyed spending time with him on Supreme Council as well as my time working with the brothers at Lambda.”

Lambda Chapter, like others across the country “occasionally” ran into some challenges. In Lambda’s case, they were removed from the ZBT Brotherhood in the 90s but despite that, Len Komen, former Past National President said “In spite of our stress of removal of the Texas Chapter in the 90s, he handled the situation with class”. Doc Stahl also took great pride in the fact that his brother Henri (PC ’45) was also his “Brother” and that his “legacies”, 2 sons and 1 grandson, also joined and became active Brothers in ZBT.

A few of his other Fraternity related “hot topics” were how the brothers presented themselves and how they maintained the condition of the house. “Would you treat your mother’s house this way”, he would often say. I’m sure many chapters have heard and/or used the phrase “the house looks like S&#@”. While the absolute original origin of this phrase is unknown, it would not be surprising if Doc Stahl was the first to say it.

Doc took special pride in having been the attending physician for the UT-Austin Golf Team for many years; more than one of those he cared for went on to win several PGA golf majors – just sayin’.

Doc Stahl is survived by his wife Marilyn, and his children: Stuart Stahl (PC ’82) and wife Ronda, Brent Stahl (PC ’83) and wife Susan, Nancy Stahl Shuman and her life’s love Lee Dickerson. Grandpa is survived by seven grandchildren: Courtney Kizer and husband Steve, Harrison Stahl, Bradley Stahl (PC 2011 – Triple Legacy), Seth Shuman, Noah Shuman, Jacob Stahl, and Gabe Stahl along with tons of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and Phi Sig / ZBT Brothers. Great Grandpa is survived by great granddaughter Wesley Shuman.

Doc Stahl, you will be missed but never forgotten and your fraternal legacy lives on every day at 710 W. 28th! WHAT ELSE?

Provided by Lambda Chapter.

Stuart A. Veeder, Lambda (University of Texas at Austin) 1983

Stuart Allan Veeder passed away on June 19, 2022. Born in Mineola, NY to Leon and Leona Veeder on April 19, 1961, and raised in Dallas. He attended Greenhill High School and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. An avid sports fan and athlete, he played many high school and college sports and excelled at all of them. His knowledge of sports trivia and statistics was uncanny. He loved his college days where he was an active member of ZBT fraternity and created many lifelong friends.

Stuart had a personality that could light up a room. He was especially drawn to kids; his nieces, great-nieces and nephews, as well as his friends’ children who commonly called him “Uncle Shlewy”. Stuart had a big heart and was willing to put others before himself. Stuart was predeceased by his father Leon Veeder of blessed memory and is survived by his mother, Leona Veeder; his brother David (Sandra) Veeder; nieces Katherine (Michael) Hutshneker and Stephanie (Eric) Newmark; great nieces and nephews Preston, Sari, Charlie and Leah; and many loyal friends. Contributions in Stuart’s memory can be made to the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Services of Dallas, or ZBT Fraternity – Lambda Chapter.

Originally published by Dallas Morning News.

Quebec

Dr. Frank S. Yelin, Upsilon (McGill University) 1960

Dr. Frank Sheppard Yelin of Houston, Texas, passed away with his wife and children by his side on July 22, 2022. Husband, father, grandfather, friend, physician, lover of life, he was 83.

Born March 21, 1939, in Montreal, Canada, he was the son of Moses Samuel Yelin and Bess Dermansky. He graduated from McGill University (Montreal) with a BSc and the University of British Columbia Medical School (Vancouver) with an M.D. He completed post-graduate training at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Baylor College of Medicine (Houston), National Hospital for Neurological Diseases at Queen’s Square (London, England) and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (Columbia University, New York).

Frank served as a major in the United States Army Medical Corps in Vietnam. He was a neurosurgeon in Houston, Texas, for 29 years at the Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, where he was chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery for 10 years.

A curious and adventurous soul, Frank was a lifelong learner, enjoying trips he meticulously planned, as well as outings and trips organized by the World Affairs Council of Houston. He and Linda visited 164 countries.

He is survived by his lifetime love, Ruth Linda Goldenberg, his wife of 61 years. He also is survived by his children, Lewis Yelin and wife, Teresa; Julie Beth Yelin and her children, Sean and Callie; Melanie Marglous, her husband, Eric Marglous, and their children, Rachael and Daniel. He also is survived by his brother, Lawrence P. Yelin, and wife, Marsha, as well as several cousins.

Donations in his memory can be made to Holocaust Museum Houston.

Originally published by Jewish Herald-Voice.

Phi Epsilon Pi

Georgia

<strong>Paul R. Mandé, Xi of Phi Epsilon Pi (Georgia Institute of Technology) 1969</strong>

<img class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-3278″ src=”https://www.zbtdigitaldeltan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/f22_Paul-Mande.jpg” alt=”” width=”250″ height=”300″ />Paul Mandé, a devoted family man and standout musician with a passion for serving his community, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2022 at the age of 74.

Paul was known for his engaging personality, his love for storytelling and his dedication to family, friends, and the organizations he so passionately served. His commitment to his many causes was surpassed only by his love for his wife, Audrey, his three children and their spouses, and his four beloved grandchildren.

Paul was born in Mamaroneck, N.Y. and raised in Miami, where he attended Coral Gables High School and honed his skills on the clarinet. He later attended Georgia Tech on a full academic scholarship where he was President of the Georgia Tech Band and a proud brother of Phi Epsilon Pi. He was a long-time ZBT volunteer and served as executive trustee, house corporation president and chapter advisor for the Georgia Tech chapter from 1986 – 1996.

After earning a physics degree in 1969, Paul embarked on a career in engineering before beginning his own company, Cherry Systems, which specialized in data recovery. Later, he branched out into an emerging new cybersecurity realm by launching Discovery Computers and Forensics.

Inspired by his experience on Georgia Tech’s campus, Paul was an executive trustee for Zeta Beta Tau’s House Corporation for more than 15 years, and a generation of graduates still remember him fondly. His passion for Judaism ran deep, and he was a proud member of Temple Emanu-El and, later, Chabad of East Cobb.

For much of his life, Paul could often be found on nights or weekends in friendly competition on the tennis court, speeding through choppy waters on his boat at Lake Arrowhead or playing clarinet and saxophone for the Modernaires Big Band and other large audiences. His passion for music was a constant throughout his life, and he relished the chance to play music in shows at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, his Dixieland group, and the Cobb New Horizons Band.

In addition to bringing joy to his many audiences through music, he served for years on various committees for the Willow Point Homeowners Association and more recently took on a role as a patient and family advisor for Emory Healthcare. He never missed a chance to volunteer his time when he felt he could make a difference in people’s lives.

Paul is survived by his wife of 28 years, Audrey, whom he loved dearly, and his children and their families: Chris and Marion Mandé, Craig and Pam Marbach and Sheryl and Greg Bluestein; and four grandchildren: Noah Marbach, Claire Marbach, Nicole Bluestein and Brooke Bluestein. He’s also survived by his sister Fran Pollack and his niece Michele Gust. He was predeceased by his former wife Debbie Mandé and his parents Sally and Pierre Mandé.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Winship Cancer Institute at winshipcancer.emory.edu/support-winship/give/ or Chabad of Cobb chabadofcobb.com.

<em>Originally published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.</em>

Phi Sigma Delta

Ralph A. Mantynband, Mu of Phi Sigma Delta (University of Chicago) 1953

Ralph Aubrey Mantynband, of Highland Park, passed away peacefully at home on January 15th, 2016, at the age of 86.

He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Nancy Beers Mantynband, and his children Martyn (Barbara), Daniel (Deborah Handler), Peyton James, Alexander and Elizabeth Anne. He was preceded in death by his first wife Roberta Marie Mantynband, his son Mark, and his sisters, Babette Richman (Irvin) and Portia Kern (Norman). He is also survived by his brothers- and sisters-in-law Richard Beers (Lorraine), Bruce Beers (Jeanne) and Elizabeth Beers (Frank Peryea), and his nephews and nieces Thomas Richman (Shanti Metz), Andrew Kern, Robert Kern, Amy Mueller (Gregory), Dr. Emily Beers, Adam Beers (Allison), Lauren Creighton (Adam), and Lindsey Beers.

He was a partner and litigator at Arvey, Hodes, Costello & Burman and at Shefsky & Froelich for more than 60 years. He was a Korean War veteran, a Company Commander in the 2nd Infantry Division and recalled when the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. He was a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, and the Graduate School of Business. He received his Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He also attended Harvard College. Service Monday, 10 AM at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 N. Sheridan Road, Glencoe. Interment Rosehill. Ralph: “Please omit flowers and take your honey out for dinner instead.” Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Skokie Chapel.

Originally published by Chicago Tribune.

Mark H. Fleischman, Beta of Phi Sigma Delta (Cornell University) 1961

Mark Fleischman, a nightclub impresario who purchased the hedonistic New York nightspot Studio 54 from its imprisoned founding owners and was its self-described “ringleader” in the early 1980s, died July 13 in Zurich. He was 82.

Early in his career, Fleischman owned and managed hotels in New York, Florida, Virginia and the Virgin Islands. He was in his late 30s when he joined the party scene at Studio 54, which opened in Manhattan in 1977 and became a prime hangout for celebrities. The nightclub became notorious for is decadence and famous clientele.

After the original owners sold the property in 1981, Studio 54 reopened with Fleischman as its new impresario. He sold Studio 54 in 1984, and it closed for good in 1986.

Mark Harvey Fleischman was born Feb. 1, 1940, in New York City and grew up in the Long Island community of Great Neck. His father owned hotels, and his mother was a homemaker.

Fleischman graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in 1962, then served in the Navy for two years, managing an officers’ club. He was in his 20s when — with a loan from his father — he bought his first hotel in Forest Hills, Queens, near the U.S. Open tennis venue. He later owned other hotels, restaurants and ski resorts.

After Studio 54, Fleischman opened Tatou, a New York music club and restaurant, then established other branches in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo and Aspen, Colo. From the 1990s to about 2007, he operated the Century Club, featuring hip-hop music, near Los Angeles.

In later years, he ran a chain of fitness studios with his second wife.

Originally published in The Washington Post.