Charles Plotkin, 87, former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, died July 27, 2019. Mr. Plotkin was born in the Bronx, New York, to Ethel and Abraham “Arthur” Plotkin. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the City College… Read more »
Lisa R. Strober, M.D, Ph.D., 76, died July 13, 2019 of pancreatic cancer. A psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Dr. Strober received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and attended medical school at Downstate Medical Center (S.U.N.Y.) in Brooklyn, New York. She did her psychiatric training at… Read more »
Edith S. Makler, 91, died July 12, 2019, of pancreatic cancer. Born in New York on April 18, 1928, Mrs. Makler graduated from the University of Arizona in 1948, married Howard Makler in 1949, and returned to New York to start a family. The family resettled in Tucson in… Read more »
Pearl Joseph of Oro Valley, 88, formerly of Brooklyn and White Plains, New York, and Lake Waubeeka, Connecticut, died July 7, 2019. Mrs. Joseph was a teacher, ceramicist and poet. As a volunteer, she was a founding member of the Greenburgh Nature Center and WISH Westchester, both in New… Read more »
Robert “Bob” Amo Strauss, 75, of Dallas, Texas, died Aug. 4, 2019. Mr. Strauss was born in Dallas, the oldest son of Helen and Bob Strauss. He attended St. Mark’s School of Texas before graduating from Hillcrest High School. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and University… Read more »
Bernie Carl Orman, 94, died July 19, 2019. Mr. Orman was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Fannie and Jack Orman. A skilled musician, he played the violin, trumpet, and clarinet. He drove Highway 66 from Detroit to Tucson in 1959 in a red two-door Chevrolet with his wife, Betty,… Read more »
Marshall Fealk, 72, died July 7, 2019. Mr. Fealk was born in Detroit, Michigan. He obtained a BA from the University of Michigan; JD from the University of Wisconsin Madison; and LL.M. in taxation from the University of Miami. He practiced law for over 46 years. He served as… Read more »
Claire Stollman Cohon, 89, of Los Angeles, died Aug. 2, 2019. A teacher and philanthropist, she was born to Louis and Dora Stollman in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1930, as the Great Depression was taking hold. By age 4 she was operating the cash register in her parents’… Read more »
Dorleen Greta Mallis, 89, died July 6, 2019. Mrs. Mallis was born in San Francisco. Her parents, Herman and Pauline Ray, brought her, their only child, to Tucson when she was six months old. She was a proud Tucson High Badger and UA Wildcat. Soon after graduating, she married… Read more »
Josie Shapiro Josie Shapiro will join the staff at the Jewish History Museum as the 2019-2020 Zuckerman Fellow. Shapiro will serve as curator of community engagement, which includes program development work. Shapiro has been active in social movements for more than 15 years. They studied Women’s Studies and Chicana/o Studies at… Read more »
The late Fred Fruchthendler, left, with Jewish Family & Children’s Services’ President and CEO Carlos Hernández at the 206 JFCS Celebration of Caring event on April 10, 2016, which marked JFCS’ 75th anniversary. (Photo courtesy Jewish Family & Children's Services)
I remember when I first met Fred Fruchthendler. It was my first interview with the board of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona for the position of president and CEO. After an hour or so of many tough and thoughtful questions, a voice that had not yet… Read more »
Michael Markowitz, Joyce Luna, Bat Florence Portugal, and Eric Schaffer (Photo courtesy SpryTime)
On Saturday, June 15, Tucson Jews for Justice hosted the Tucson Jewish Summer Arts Festival at the Jewish History Museum. The event raised over $500 for local migrant shelters, which will be matched by Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. About 75 people attended, enjoying music from Joyce Luna with… Read more »
As Jews, we have a special responsibility to stand up for the migrants currently being held under deplorable conditions in ICE detention centers. The situation is completely untenable. A Trump administration lawyer recently argued to a court that the government’s obligation to provide “safe and sanitary” conditions for child… Read more »
I wish to thank the Arizona Jewish Post and interviewer Debe Campbell for the well-written article (“Retiree takes social justice to heart,” 6/28/19). She provided important information I shared with her when we met at the monastery. She has seen firsthand the role that so many volunteers and Catholic… Read more »
Donald W. Grose, 72, died June 30, 2019. Mr. Grose graduated Arizona State University in 1972, and received his teacher certification from the University of Arizona in 1990. He taught art/photography at Marana Middle School from 1990 to 2009. As a professional photographer for over 50 years, he was… Read more »
Arthur Naiman Arthur Naiman, 78, died May 13, 2019. A longtime San Francisco Bay Area writer, editor and publisher, Mr. Naiman was best known as the creator of the first independent Apple user manual, “The Macintosh Bible.” Mr. Naiman was born in Chicago, graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and… Read more »
Sima Aziz Sima (Simi) Aziz, 88, died May 28, 2019. Mrs. Aziz was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jennie (nee Finesilver) and Benjamin Gerel of Russia. She grew up in the Bronx with two brothers and three sisters. In 1951, she moved to Tucson, where she met and married Rahmat… Read more »
Ivan Gur-Arie Ivan Gur-Arie, 84, died Jan. 15, 2019. Mr. Gur-Arie was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Marvin and Mania (Diamond) Gur-Arie. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1954 and received his juris doctor from New York University School of Law in 1957. After graduating from law school, he worked… Read more »
A son, Jack Abel Stantus, was born June 19, 2019 to Debbie and Kyle Stantus of Phoenix. Grandparents are Shelly Abell and Dan Weisz of Tucson, and Paul and Connie Stantus of Libby, Montana.… Read more »
Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, far right, is flanked by other local faith leaders as she addresses a crowd in front of the U.S. District Court in downtown Tucson on June 5. (Photo: Debe Campbell/JFSA)
Dozens of faith leaders from across Southwestern borderlands, including two local rabbis, rallied June 5 in front of the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Tucson in solidarity with Arizona State University geography instructor and activist Scott Warren, Ph.D. A volunteer with the Tucson-based aid group No More Deaths, Warren… Read more »
