Elaine Judith Smelkinson, 71, died Feb. 23, 2011. Born in Baltimore, Md., Mrs. Smelkinson graduated high school at age 16 and was a registered nurse. After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1985, she moved into psychiatric nursing. After retiring, Mrs. Smelkinson did volunteer work chairing community events for organizations… Read more »
Jerry Sorkin, 77, died Feb. 10, 2011. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Mr. Sorkin grew up in Passaic, N.J. , where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Cohen. Mr. Sorkin was a captain in the U.S. Air Force before beginning his career in engineering and aerospace… Read more »
Marcia Burstein, 86, died Feb. 10, 2011. Born in Newark, N.J., she lived in Tucson since 1952. Mrs. Burstein was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Joel. Survivors include her children, Barbara Burstein of Tucson, and Larry (Linda) Burstein of St. Paul, Minn.; brother, David (Bryna)… Read more »
Sara G. Blumenthal, 91, died Feb. 10, 2011. Mrs. Blumenthal was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Blumenthal; sister, Bertha Korn and brother, Jacob Schachter. Survivors include her daugher, Sharon (Richard) Walton of Tucson; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Blumenthal was an active member of Congregation Anshei… Read more »
Daniel Haiken, 92, died Jan. 19, 2011. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Haiken attended City College of New York before entering the military. As a first lieutenant, he completed 50 combat missions (including the raid on Ploesti) as a B-24 pilot during World War II. His awards included a… Read more »
Mary Johannessen, 85, died December 22, 2010. Born in New York City, Mrs. Johannessen graduated from the High School of Fashion Design in Manhattan. Mrs. Johannessen was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard “Bunny” Johannessen. Survivors include her daughters, Koreen (Ted Seger) Johannessen and Robyn Anyaeji Johannessen, both… Read more »
Miriam Alyce (Harris) Adler, 86, died Jan. 21, 2011. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and raised in Canton, Ohio, Mrs. Adler attended Ohio State University. After World War II, she resided in Great Neck, N.Y., where she worked at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., as the volunteer… Read more »
Sarah Berkowitz Ullman, 97, died Jan. 12, 2011. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Mrs. Ullman lived in Syracuse, N.Y., where she was a secretary for over 20 years at Temple Concord. She lived in Tucson for 25 years. Survivors include her daughter, Karen (Dr. Jeffrey) Katz of Tucson; four grandchildren… Read more »
Rose S. Laz, 87, died Jan. 13, in La Jolla, Calif . Mrs. Laz lived in Tucson for more than 40 years before moving to California in 1987. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Harold; children, Janice of Camarillo, Calif., and Louis of Prides Crossing, Mass.; three grandchildren,… Read more »
Debbie Friedman, Jewish songwriter and performer, dies. SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — Over the weekend, as singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman lay dying in a hospital bed in Southern California, the call went out to Jewish congregations around the world to pray for the popular musician. But early Sunday morning Friedman, who composed “Mi Shebeirach,” a popular version of… Read more »
Stephanie L. Balch, 30, died unexpectedly Dec. 14, 2010. Beloved daughter, sister, niece, grandchild and friend, she will be remembered as a beautiful, loving and generous person. Private services were held. Arrangements were made by Evergreen Mortuary and Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of… Read more »
Renaye "Ricki" Lehman Renaye “Ricki” Lehman, 81, died Dec. 13, 2010. Although she was hampered by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and later Alzheimer’s, Mrs. Lehman was certified by the Library of Congress as a braillist and proofreader. She was a patient instructor in the muscular and skeletal examination program for second year medical… Read more »
Anita Labovitz, 87, died Dec. 5, 2010. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., she volunteered with B’nai B’rith Women. Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Hy; daughters, Susan (Charles) Childers of Tucson and Renee (Peter) Nowell of Phoenix; and three grandchildren. Graveside services were held in the Congregation Anshei Israel… Read more »
Maurice Halper Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Maurice Jacob Halper, 94, died Dec. 4, 2010. After retiring from the U.S. Army, Brig. Gen. Halper founded Orient East and was later president of the Tucson Girl Scout Council. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; sons, David Halper of Plano, Texas, Stephen Halper of Las Cruces,… Read more »
Aimond "Pep" Pepper Aimond “Pep” Pepper, 83, of Oro Valley, Ariz., died Dec. 1, 2010. Born in Providence, R.I., a first generation American, he grew up in City Island, N.Y. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School. Mr. Pepper managed a bar and grill in New York City. He was the owner… Read more »
Evie Pozez Evelyn Shirley Whitebook Pozez was “always gracious and grateful to people around her,” says Stuart Mellan, CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. “First and foremost, I’ll remember her shining spirit and ever-present smile.” Mrs. Pozez, 84, died on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. Born in Iowa… Read more »
Joy Isenstein Joy Barbara Isenstein, 78, died Nov. 29, 2010 in New Brunswick, N.J. Mrs. Isenstein was a frequent winter visitor to Tucson. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Joshua Joseph. Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Robert Isenstein of Monroe Township, N.J.; daughters, Judy (John) Peterson of… Read more »
Jordan Fassler, 85, died Nov. 17, 2010. After serving in the U.S. Army under General Patton, he completed his education at the University of Arizona in 1951 with a master’s degree in education. He moved to New York City and returned to Tucson in 1955. He worked at… Read more »
Jane Elizabeth Klimist, 89, died Nov. 17, 2010. Survivors include her husband, Ben Klimist; children, Carol (Lee) Druckman of San Diego, Calif., and Barry (Joyce) Klimist of Denver, Colo.; two grandsons and three great-grandchildren. Services were held at Evergreen Mortuary with Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon officiating. Interment followed in… Read more »
Eugene C. “Sonny” Rickles, 84, died Nov. 11, 2010 . Born in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Rickles owned several mobile home parks for over 40 years. He was a member of the Pima County Planning and Zoning Commission and was a political lobbyist for the manufactured home industry. Survivors include… Read more »
