Obituaries

Of Blessed Memory: June Simmons

Frances June Simmons, born in the Bronx, N.Y. on June 15, 1933, passed away August 22, 2022 in Tucson, Ariz., with her family by her side. June was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Laurence J. Simmons; devoted mother of Ronald E. Simmons of Phoenix,… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Gail Kushner

Gail Kushner (Jampole) passed away July 28, 2022, at age 86. Formerly of Tucson, AZ, Shorewood, WI, she was born in Brooklyn, NY. Beloved wife of the late Gordon L. Goodman, to whom she was married for 32 years, and the late Arthur Kushner, Gail was the former spouse… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Dinah Taub

Dinah Taub was born on February 27, 1931, in Chicago to Sol and Esther Geller. She is a long time Tucson resident having moved here in 1958 with her husband, Marvin. She died peacefully surrounded by her family in Tucson on July 31, 2022, after a recent diagnosis of… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Bill Sampson

William (Bill) Sampson, born April 28, 1948, passed away July 20, 2022, in Tucson, Ariz. Born in Chicago, Bill came to Tucson with his parents, Walter and Charlene (Shafer), and Sister Judy in 1965. Bill achieved Master’s degrees in both Music (French Horn – Performance) and Physical Education. He… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Richard Belkin

Richard Bernard “Dick” Belkin, born June 5, 1933, in Hartford, Connecticut, died July 7, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. Dick Belkin was perhaps the most positive and inspirational person you will ever meet, a man of great integrity, creativity, and infinite kindness. In his younger days as a television personality,… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Charles Whitehill

Charles H. (“Chuckles”) Whitehill passed away on July 5, 2022. Chuck was a longtime Tucsonan and dedicated member of the Jewish community since arriving as a freshman at the University of Arizona (UA) in 1948. He was a member of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity. Shortly after coming to Tucson,… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Phyllis Salmon

Phyllis Salmon passed away March 25, 2022, just short of her 94th birthday. A dedicated wife and mother, Phyllis was preceded in death by Norman, her loving husband of 66 years, and survived by daughters Chelley Salmon and Gayle Salmon Gayle. Due to Covid, no public service was held.… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Edward Feder

Ed passed away April 27, 2022, at the age of 95. He was born in Chicago. He is survived by his two sons Mark and Mike, and his sister Libby Hoffman. He also leaves four beautiful grandchildren – Rosanne, Tami, Nate, and Kevin; and five great-grandchildren – Brennan, Sienna,… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Dr. Jill Rosenzweig

Dr. Jill Ellen Rosenzweig passed away suddenly on March 19, 2022. Jill was born in Boston, MA and grew up in Waban, MA. She attended Simmons College for her B.A., New York Teachers College for her M.A., and the University of Arizona for her PhD in special education. Jill… Read more »

Harold Shapiro dies

Harold B. Shapiro, the oldest son of Janis (Bramson) and Hyman B. Shapiro, was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Jan 8, 1936, and died on Feb 3, 2022, at the age of 86. A member of the Jewish War Veterans, having served in the U.S. Marines during the… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Sally Duchin

Sally Duchin, age 88, of Tucson, Arizona passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. “I’ll remember Sally as a tremendous force for good, and I’ll always admire her for her deep commitment to Jewish education,” said Ed Wright, the Director of the Arizona Center for Judaic Studies. “She and… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory : Ruthann Pozez

Ruthann Kornbleet Pozez passed away with her family by her side on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Ruthann was born July 13, 1926 in Kansas City, Kansas. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 61 years, Louis Pozez, her brothers, Seymour and Lawrence Kornbleet, and her parents, Hy and… Read more »

In Blessed Memory: Bruce Friedman

With heartfelt sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of Bruce Donald Friedman on Dec. 19,2021. Bruce was predeceased by his wife Minnette Doris Marks Friedman who passed in December of 2020. They were happily married for over 63 years. Bruce is survived by his two sons Howard (wife Cara),… Read more »

Judge Norman S. Fenton dies

Tucson has lost a devoted citizen and civil servant in the passing of retired Superior Court Judge Norman S. Fenton on January 5,2022, at the age of 98. Fenton was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Syracuse University where he received his law degree and met his future… Read more »

Mitchell Scott Pozner, M.D. dies

Dr. Mitchell Scott Pozner

My loving son, Mitchell, a pediatrician, died suddenly in his sleep on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Sharon, Massachusetts. He was born on July 22, 1960 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to me, his mom, and his dad, the late Dr. Samuel Pozner. He will be dearly missed by his… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Rabbi Arthur Oleisky

Rabbi Arthur Oleisky

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Rabbi Emeritus Arthur Oleisky passed away on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Rabbi Sara Metz of Congregation Anshei Israel shared the following message with us: We are sad to inform you of the passing of Rabbi Arthur Oleisky this Shabbat… Read more »

Dr. Seneca Erman dies

Dr. Seneca Erman and Cantor Janece Cohen at Congregation Or Chadash in 2016 (Elliot Framan).

Dr. Seneca Erman passed away on Sept. 29, 2021. Seneca was the husband of Dorothy Erman z”l; father of Cantor Janece Cohen, Dr. Spencer (Nancy) Erman, and Dr. Russ (Anat) Erman; grandfather of Brayton (Danielle), Derek, Lara, Zachary (Katie), Jared (Erica), and Ariel, great grandfather of Aivi, Cillian, Abigail,… Read more »

Remembering Phyllis Maizlish: a true friend to our community

Phyllis Maizlish

Phyllis Ruth Goldberg Maizlish, age 88, died on Thursday, August 26th at her beloved “Little House” in Park City, Utah, surrounded by multitudes of flowers and her loving daughters and son. Phyllis was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, and moved to the Kansas City area as a teenager.  At Paseo… Read more »

Murray Keshner, art director, dad, painter, singer, and teacher dies

Murray Keshner and his wife Joyce

Murray Keshner, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather left this earthly plane early Saturday, July 31, just days before his 96th birthday. He was born August 2, 1925 in Brooklyn, NY. In his many roles as husband of 73 years, art director, dad, painter, singer, and teacher, he touched… Read more »