Obituaries

Research Professor Emerita of the Gender and Women’s Studies Department, University of Arizona, Myra Dinnerstein, passed away in her sleep in the early hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the age of 92, having lived a rich and meaningful life. She was the founding director of the Women’s… Read more »

Murray Leipzig aka Moshe David ben Shrage Fival v. Ettka Zipa aka MDL, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026, before Shabbat. Murray lived eighty-one tremendous years full of accomplishment both professionally and personally. Murray grew up in Syracuse, New York. He lived and worked in hospital and medical… Read more »

Stanley Lehman peacefully said his final goodbye on May 11, 2026, surrounded by family and encircled with love. He was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, and moved his family to Tucson in 1970 with the hope of improving the health of his beloved wife Renaye (Ricki). They… Read more »

Holly Kitay transitioned peacefully out of this life on Jan. 22, 2026, from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. She was a Tucson resident for over 40 years, almost half of that living with Parkinson’s. Through her journey of 73 years, first as a teacher, then as a nurse, and… Read more »

Herman Zelig Neuberger of Scottsdale, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026, with family by his side. He was born on July, 1, 1937, to parents Adele and Rabbi Adam Neuberger in Chicago, Illinois. He is survived by his children, Scot (Bonnie), Felice, Nanci (Eric) of Tucson,… Read more »

Dr. Hirsch Handmaker, a devoted physician, lifelong learner, and beloved father and grandfather, passed away March 9, 2026, surrounded by the enduring love of his family. His life was defined by intellectual curiosity, compassion for others, and deep devotion to the people he loved. Born July 2, 1940, in… Read more »

Evelyn “Dolly” Toff (nee Gross), 102, of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, passed away on March 15, 2026. Wife of the late Fred Toff. Mother of Sandra (Joseph) Toff Berger, Dr. Kenneth (Alla) Toff, Dr. Howard (Cheryl) Toff of Tucson, and the late Karen B. Toff. Grandmother (Nanny) of Aaron (Ting),… Read more »

Charlotte Mae Toppel died March 7, 2026. She was born in Chicago, Ill., on June 2, 1936. She was an exceptional person who was beloved by so many of her family and countless friends. Charlotte grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, where she met the… Read more »

Elissa Toni (Shavin) Tempkin, 77, passed away on October 26, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. Elissa was born on January 17, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Ruth (Piassick) Shavin and Samuel Joseph Shavin. Elissa graduated from Grady High School in Atlanta in 1965, where she was the class… Read more »

Howard Polster passed away on Nov. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. Howard was born exactly two years before D-Day to Jerome I. and Margie Polster in Cleveland. He was the oldest of five siblings – Richard (Fran), Marilyn Katzel (James), Carolyn Bayer (Todd) and David (deceased). After graduating from Cleveland… Read more »

Martin (Marty) Victor Drozdoff said, “Hasta la vista!” to his body at age 78 on Jan. 14, 2026. He valiantly fought idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for eleven years, which was many years longer than expected for those facing the disease. In the face of his illness, he continued many meaningful… Read more »

Local Holocaust survivor Andrew Schot died Jan. 11, 2026, at the age of 94. A 25-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Andrew dedicated much of his life to Holocaust education and memory by sharing his own testimony with thousands across Southern Arizona and beyond. One of Andrew’s… Read more »

Donald S. Novitt, born on July 30, 1947, in New York City, passed away on November 5, 2025 in Tucson. He was a devoted husband to Morleen, a loving father to Lisa (Rick), and proud “Pa” of Mia and Ruby, who brought him endless joy. Don was a successful… Read more »

Adelle Abrahams, age 102, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love on September 4, 2025. Born Adelle Bickart on October 17, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio. Adelle lived a remarkable life filled with creativity, intelligence and an unwavering commitment to her family and to a large and diverse circle of friends.… Read more »

Larry passed away peacefully in his home in Tucson, Arizona, looking out at the view of the mountains that he so cherished. He was 87 years old. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years Gail Leiken, daughters Karen Farley and Julie Leiken in Boulder, Colorado, son… Read more »

Sam Horowitz (Photo courtesy Congegation B'nai Midbar)

Samuel I. Horowitz, 79, died Aug. 18, 2025, in Rockville, Maryland, after a yearlong battle with leukemia. He was formerly a resident of SaddleBrooke, Arizona. Sam grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he attended yeshiva day school and forged a deep passion for Judaism. He served in… Read more »

Born on July 19, 1942, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lynn completed his undergraduate education at Harvard University, his medical degree at Washington University in St. Louis and residency at the University of Colorado. Lynn then completed his military service at the National Institutes of Health followed by a fellowship… Read more »

With full hearts, we remember the life of Alvin “Al” Lightman, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of August 7, 2025, at the remarkable age of 103. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Al lived a long and meaningful life defined by service, devotion,… Read more »

Elise Danino Hirshberg, a creator and enhancer of beauty, philanthropist, consummate homemaker, and true matriarch, passed away at home surrounded by her family on August 5th, 2025. She was 99. Born in 1925, Elise entered a world of shifting tides and held her own through each era, upheaval, and… Read more »

Reuben Henry (Reuven Hennoch) Grinstein, of Houston, Texas, died Aug. 5, 2025, at the age of 89 after a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Maxine (formerly Stein); children, Leah (David) Marks and Joe (Amy) Grinstein; grandchildren, Boaz (Lior) Marks, Miriam (Sean Teater) Marks, Batsheva… Read more »