December 25
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Irv Weinstein has passed away.
We send prayers and comfort to the family.
Most of you know by now that Irv Weinstein, the legendary WKBW-TV (Channel 7) news anchor, died at age 87 on December 26 in Irvine, Calif. after a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
What you may not know is that Irv, a Rochester native who was the son of Lithuanian immigrants, and his wife, Elaine, were members of Temple Sinai, which merged with Temple Beth Am to became Congregation Shir Shalom.
In addition to Elaine, Irv is survived by two daughters, Beth Krom of Irvine, Calif., and Rachel Lloyd of suburban Pittsburgh; a son, Marc, of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren.
A graveside service was held December 28 at Harbor-Lawn Cemetery in Costa Mesa, Calif.
For those wishing to make a donation in Irv’s memory, the family requests it be made to the ALS Association.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
December 18
Norman H. Friedman of Hampton Bays, NY died in his home on December 18, 2017 at age 92.
A visual artist, systems designer and computer programmer, Norman was born in NYC and attended Townsend Harris High School, the City College of New York and The Cooper Union. He served in the 84th Infantry Division during the Second World
War, landing in Normandy one month after the invasion and participating in the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. On November 29, 1944 while in action in Germany, Private Friedman volunteered to serve as a stretcher-bearer and transported wounded men to a collection point over 1000 yards of open terrain under enemy artillery, machine gun and sniper fire. On January 1, 1945 he was awarded the Silver Star for his courageous action in combat.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents Milton and Edith Ramer Friedman, his wife of 58 years Lucille Deutsch Friedman, his brother Arnold Friedman and a son, Evan Friedman. He is survived by his son Alan Friedman (Donna Massimo) of Buffalo, NY and his granddaughters Sophie Wilson (Alex Wilson) and Lily Friedman.
Funeral services were held at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, NY.
Shiva will be at 7:00 pm on 1/4/2018 at the Friedman/Massimo residence at200 Lancaster Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at
Southampton Hospital.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
December 7
Jason M. Kaiser, wife of Sharon, and brother of CSS member Elaine Kellick, (Kenneth) passed this morning in Rochester, NY.
Memorial services will be held in Rochester, Sunday, and Shiva will be observed in Chili, NY.
He is also survived by children: Aric Kaiser, Patti Lynn Schmitt, Roni Jo Bellos and grand children, Jordan Schmitt, Karlee Schmitt. Gregory Schmitt, Jonah Kaiser, and Malina Bellos, and sister, Eileen Gale of New Jersey. and several nieces and nephews.
While living in Buffalo, Jay was a long time very active member of Temple
Sinai, Serving as Vice President of the board.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
November 26
Georg G. Iggers, renowned historian and civil rights activist
(Article from Sunday’s Buffalo News)
Dec. 7, 1926 – Nov. 26, 2017
Georg G. Iggers, an internationally renowned historian and civil rights advocate, died Sunday in Canterbury Woods, Amherst, of complications from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 90.
Mr. Iggers’ experience of anti-Semitism as a child in Nazi Germany inspired his activism as an adult. He laid the groundwork for the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., in the 1950s and was a leader in local branches of the NAACP for more than 50 years.
During the Vietnam War, he counseled hundreds of conscientious objectors.
As a historian, he worked to overcome Cold War divisions in his profession by hosting conferences of East and West German historians at the University at Buffalo. Later, he worked for German-Jewish reconciliation.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, he fled with his family to the United States in 1938.
“We left five weeks before Kristallnacht,” he told an interviewer in a film documentary about his life. The family settled in Richmond, Va., where Mr. Iggers earned a bachelor’s degree in Romance languages at the age of 17 from the University of Richmond. He received his master’s degree in Germanics from the University of Chicago in 1945 and did graduate study at the New School for Social Research in New York City. He then returned to the University of Chicago, where he completed a doctorate and met his future wife, Wilma Abeles, a refugee from Czechoslovakia. They were married in 1948.
In 1950, he and his wife took positions in a historically black college, Philander Smith College in Little Rock. He joined the NAACP in 1951 and was one of the first white brothers inducted into Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Philander Smith College. Many years later, he arranged a cooperative agreement between UB and Philander Smith. For the NAACP, Mr. Iggers compiled a report detailing the differences between Little Rock’s all-black and all-white high schools, which formed the basis of the organization’s historic desegregation lawsuit against the Little Rock School Board. He also gained admission for black students to the segregated Little Rock Public Library.
Mr. Iggers and his wife continued their civil rights activities after they went to Dillard University in New Orleans, another historically black school, in 1957.
He spent a year in France and Germany on a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1960-61, followed by a year in Germany on a Rockefeller Foundation grant. The couple returned to Dillard, then taught for two years at universities in Chicago.
Mr. Iggers came to UB as a professor of European intellectual history in 1965, became a distinguished professor in 1977 and retired in 1997, but he continued teaching a graduate seminar every fall through 2007. In retirement, he and his wife divided their time between Amherst and Gottingen, Germany.
His first landmark work, “The German Conception of History,” appeared in 1968. In the forefront of the study of how history is compiled and related, he incorporated methods from social sciences and post-modern academic analysis.
His other books include “New Directions in European Historiography” in 1975, “Historiography in the Twentieth Century” in 1997 and, with Qingjia Edward Wang and Supriya Mukherjee, “A Global History of Modern Historiography” in 2008. His books have been translated into 14 languages.
In 1980, he founded a worldwide organization, the International Commission on the History of Historiography, and served as president from 1995 to 2000.
He arranged graduate student exchanges between Buffalo and the Technical University of Darmstadt, West Germany, and the Academy of Sciences in the former East Berlin. He also established contacts with colleges in China, Japan and South Korea.
He was a visiting professor in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Russia and Australia, as well as at several American universities. He was given fellowships from the American Philosophical Society, the Fulbright Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In 2007, he received the Order of Merit from German President Horst Kohler for his work in civil rights and his efforts to link scholars from East and West Germany during the Cold War. He also was awarded the Humboldt Prize, which is given to internationally renowned scientists and scholars.
He and his wife, a professor emerita of modern languages at Canisius College, wrote a joint autobiography, “Two Lives in Uncertain Times: Facing the Challenges of the Twentieth Century as Scholars and Citizens,” which was published in German in 2002, in English in 2006 and in Czech, Chinese and Spanish editions.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Dr. Jeremy (Carol Bouska), Daniel (Janet Ortved), and Karl Jonathan; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Mesnekoff Funeral Home, 8630 Transit Road, East Amherst.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the NAACP. Share condolences at mesnekoff.com.
There is no shiva.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
November 8
LANDSMAN – Linda
November 8, 2017. Sister of Alice Landsman and Barbara Wrona. Aunt of Richard (Sonya) Glaser, Daniel Glaser, Diane (David) Safir, Steven Glaser, and Elizabeth (Robert) Adelman; great-aunt of Michael, Lawrence, Justin, Jonathan, Alison, Lilith, Jacob, Alana and Hayle. A celebration of her life will be held next Sunday, November 19th at 1:30 PM at Mesnekoff Funeral Home, 8630 Transit Rd., East Amherst, 14051. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Congregation Shir Shalom. Share condolences at www.mesnekoff.com.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
November 4
KARCH, Michael
On November 4, 2017. Husband of Judith Karch; father of Shana (David) Dutkewych, Dr. Joelle (Dr. Kevin) Taylor, Deena (David) Sobel and Philip Karch; step-father of Douglas (Elizabeth) Barber; brother of Linda (Robert Kanner) Karch; also survived by eight grandchildren. A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7, 10-12PM with a Memorial Service at 12PM at COLUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 2730 Military Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14304. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the SPCA of Niagara County or charity of your choice. Share condolences at mesnekoff.com. Arrangements by Mesnekoff Funeral Home.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
October 17
RITZER, Harriet
Harriet Ritzer, sister of Myra (Herb) Falk, passed away October 17th. The funeral will be out of town. Family will sit shiva at the home of Myra and Herb Falk on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Please call the temple office, 633-8877, by Friday, for the address and times.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
WAKOFF – Robert October 12 2017. Beloved husband of Ruth Wakoff; father of Michael Wakoff, Brian (Anne) Wakoff and the Late David Wakoff; grandfather of Sophia Hilsman, Canaan Boyer, Zoe Wakoff, Josh, Alex, and Danielle Wakoff.
Funeral services Sunday 10 am at MESNEKOFF FUNERAL HOME 8630 Transit Rd, E. Amherst 14051.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to The American Cancer Society or congregation Shir Shalom.
Shiva Sunday through Tuesday 7-9 pm. Minyans at 7 pm at Ruth’s residence- 4545 Chestnut Ridge Road apt 113a.
Share condolences at:mesnekoff.com
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Graveside service, Monday 1 PM at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery (Niagara Falls Blvd & Tonawanda Creek Rd)
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be made to a charity of ones choice.
There will be no formal shiva.
Arrangements entrusted to AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC.
Funeral services on Long Island on October 2.
Andrew and Einav will sit shiva (receive comforters) Tuesday, October 3 from 5 – 9 PM. Andrew, Einav and Diane will receive comforters on Wednesday, October 4 from 5 – 9 PM including welcoming Sukkot. Both at 31 Pino Verde Lane, Williamsville, NY 14221.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be made to Congregation Shir Shalom, 4660 Sheridan Drive, Buffalo, NY 14221 or Kadimah Academy, 1085 Eggert Road, Buffalo, NY 14226.
Arrangements entrusted to AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC (716-636-4174)
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
The family will be present on Friday from 4-8 PM at the (Amherst Chapel) AMIGONE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5200 Sheridan Dr. (at Hopkins Rd.), where a Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 10 AM. Friends invited.
Interment to be held privately. Flowers gratefully declined.
Share condolences at www.AMIGONE.com.
Funeral services, Monday 1:30 PM at Congregation Shir Shalom, 4660 Sheridan Dr., Williamsville 14221.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Shiva will be Monday and Tuesday, 7-9 PM with prayer services at 7 PM at the family residence: 77 Chestnut Hill Lane South, Williamsville, NY 14221.
Share condolences at mesnekoff.com.
Arrangements by MESNEKOFF FUNERAL HOME.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
US Army Veteran and a member of the Cleveland Softball Hall of Fame (elected 2007), Local 18 Operating Engineers and a member of VFW Post 1974. He was a diehard Cleveland sports fan and a player/manager for many local teams.
Services Monday, Aug. 28, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. at GOLUBSKI FUNERAL HOME 5986 RIDGE RD. PARMA, 44129 and at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.
Friends received Saturday, 4-8 p.m. and Sunday, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the America Heart Association or the American Lung Association of Cleveland.
Published in The Plain Dealer from Aug. 24 to Aug. 25, 2017.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
August 26
Jack Millman, 82, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away August 26, 2017. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene Millman, and his mother, Florence Weiner. He is survived by his brother, Howard Millman of New York and by his three children: Fern Lee (Cliff) of Magalia, California, Steven Millman (Michele) of Gilbert, AZ, and Michael Millman (Nancy) of Williamsville, NY, and his six grandchildren: Ariel Lee, Sydney and Jacob Millman, Hershel, Jeremy and Leah Millman.
He was known for being the smartest man in the room, with a great sense of humor that has been passed on to his children and grandchildren. He very much enjoyed reading, mostly non-fiction, but also science fiction and mysteries with, at one point, a personal library of several thousand books.
Services have been held.
Shiva will be at Mike Millman’s home, 5 Columbine Dr, Williamsville, NY 14221 on Saturday 7-9, Sunday 2-5 and 7-9 with prayer service at 7:30.
Jack was born in Hunts Point Hospital in the Bronx, NY. He attended PS 93, PS 77 and James Monroe HS. He then got a BS in Physics from City College/New York (CCNY), did a year at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh PA, two years (part time) in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA and finally a Masters in EE at New York University in 1960. His all-time favorite professor/class was Wirth/Mathematics. His fondest collegiate memory was arguing with an English professor at CCNY. Jack believed man would walk on the moon someday. The professor said Jack had a closed mind because that was never going to happen. The professor was very wrong! Jack met his wife, Arlene, at a party he attended as a favor to friends in September 1953. It took a whole week before they decided to go “steady,” and a little over a year to decide to get engaged. They were married on June 10, 1956 and stayed together 57 years, until her death in 2013. After being moved 5 times cross country by companies that wanted Jack’s services, the family finally settled in Scottsdale permanently so he could begin work at Motorola in 1966. He was a Motorola employee for 31 years in design and management before retiring. The highlight of his career was a presentation to the Secretary of Defense about designing controllable drones for the Navy for target practice. He holds two patents, including Software Programmable Radio and Method for Configuring and author of A Methodology for Measurement of Publications Quality.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
ROSNER – Alan David August 25, 2017, husband of the late Paula Alcala Rosner; father of Beth (Anthony Kew) Rosner-Kew; zaidie of Carol McGuire and Pandora L. Kew; son of the late Ida (Sugarman) and Irvin Rosner of Detroit, MI; brother of Evelyn (Dr. Joel) Bennett and the late Carol Rosner Caminiti.
Graveside services at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209, on Monday, August 28th at 11 a.m. Please assemble at 10:45 a.m. at the Delaware gate.
Shiva through Thursday at 511 W. Delavan Ave., Buffalo 14222, evening minyans at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Share condolences at mesnekoff.com. Arrangements by MESNEKOFF FUNERAL HOME.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Patti Sperling, 69, of Palm Isles West in Boynton Beach, Florida passed away Wednesday August 9, 2017. Born in New York City, Patti retired to Florida four years ago from Buffalo, New York where she graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in education and went on to attain her Masters in Education from Buffalo State University. A passionate and devoted teacher, Patti touched the lives of countless children, instilling in them a love for learning. She saw the best in every student, and encouraged their imaginations to grow and their skills to blossom. Patti was known for her love of all things Dr. Seuss, which she integrated into both her teaching and her life.
Patti was the beloved wife of Richard, her husband of 48 years; the devoted mother of Jason (Gretchen Helmreich) Sperling and Jodi (Josh Kaplan) Sperling; the cherished grandmother of Emmett, Elijah, Ruvi, and Romy; the devoted daughter of Syd and Morris Wartley; and the dear sister of Ed (Arleen) Wartley.
Services are 9:30 AM Friday August 11, 2017 at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, 11115 Jog Rd., Boynton Beach, Florida 33437 with burial at 10:30 AM on Monday August 14, 2017 in Long Island at Wellwood Cemetery Wyandanch, New York.
The family kindly asks that those wishing to honor Patti’s memory with a memorial contribution consider First Book, www.firstbook.org (providing books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children in need) or The National Brain Tumor Society, www.braintumor.org.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Age 94, of North Tonawanda, on August 1, 2017 surrounded by his loving wife of 70 years, Alva (nee Simon) and his three children, Burt (Susan) , Elaine (Andrew) Green and Mark (Marina Maulucci); beloved grandfather of Aaron (Wendy), Alison (Dee) and Jeremy Green, Joshua and Leah, and great-grandfather of Noa, Lilah and Levi Gartman. Born in Buffalo, Nate worked for Markel Electric for over 40 years. From 1942 to 1946 he served as a radio operator in the U.S. Army and was awarded the American Service, Asiatic-Pacific Service, Good Conduct and World War 2 Victory medals. He was active in the Buffalo Area Boy Scouts and the Jewish Committee of Scouting. Nate and Alva were founding members of Temple Sinai (now Congregation Shir Shalom). Funeral Services will be held at the AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC., 281 Dodge Road, Getzville on Friday, August 4, at 1 PM, followed by burial at White Chapel Cemetery. Shiva will be at the home of Elaine Green, 139 Four Seasons Road East, Amherst, on Saturday from 7-9 PM with a 7pm service, and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM with a 7pm service. Marina and Mark Finkelstein will be present to receive family and friends on Friday and Saturday only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to charity of your choice. Family guestbook available at www.amherstmemorialchapel.com
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials made to the Alzheimer’s Assn., WNY Chapter, 2805 Wehrle Dr., Suite 6, Williamsville, NY 14221.
Online condolences shared at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
A private funeral service was held.
Family requests no condolence calls.
There will be no Shiva.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gene’s memory may be made to HospiceFoundation or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements entrusted to AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL, LLC. Family guest book at amherstmemorialchapel.com
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
June 8, 2017, age 98.
Beloved husband of the late Lillian Goodman; loving father of Stephen (Karen) Goodman and Sherry (Stephen) Wolbarst of Tampa, FL; brother of Jeremiah Goodman; grandfather of Joshua and Adam Wolbarst, Faith and Jacob Goodman and Rachel Jolbert; also survived by three great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held Friday 1 PM at Beth Israel Cemetery, 5477 Military Rd., Lewiston, NY.
Memorials may be made to Congregation Shir Shalom or Buffalo VA Medical
Center, c/o Palliative Care Unit.
Arrangements by MESNEKOFF FUNERAL HOME.
Share condolences at mesnekoff.com
May 24
ARBESMAN – Irwin David, D.D.S. Of Williamsville, NY on May 24, 2017. Beloved husband of the late Peggy Arbesman; devoted father of Susan (Leonard) Stokes and Harvey (Marian) Arbesman; loving grandfather of Jennifer (Gregg) Fox, Stephen (Angela) Stokes, Samuel (Debra) Arbesman, Joshua (Michelle) Arbesman and seven great-grandchildren; brother of the late Rose Levy, Carl and Edward Arbesman.
He was admired and loved by all, and will be especially remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, and his recurring advice to everyone to keep a positive attitude and to make a better world, “Tikkun Olam”.
Funeral services will be held at AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL, LLC, 281 Dodge Rd. on Thursday at 2:00 PM.
No prior visitations.
In lieu of flowers those wishing may make donations to the Jewish National Fund, Feeding America or the charity of their choice.
Family guest book at www.amherstmemorialchapel.com
Shiva times are as follows:
Thurs. Eve- 8:30 PM
Fri AM- 6:30 AM
Sun. AM- 8:30 AM
Sun. Eve- 6:55 PM
Mon- 8:30 AM & 6:55 PM(Memorial Day)
Tues. 6:45 AM
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
May 8
There will be a Meal of Consolation immediately following the internment at Congregation Shir Shalom, 4660 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221. Shiva will be observed at the home of David Buch, 71 Hickory Hill Road, Apt. C, Williamsville, NY 14221 on Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
May 3
Susanne KESTER; March 18, 1924 – May 3, 2017. Susanne was the wife of Paul Kester, mother of Daniel Kester (President of Shir Shalom Men’s Group), mother-in-law of Gunilla Kester (guitar player in the Shir Shalom band, Tizmeret), grandmother of Shiri Kester (Shir Shalom Youth Group advisor), and grandmother of Anya Kester.
She is also survived by her sister Eva, and several nieces and nephews.
Susanne was a mother, a homemaker, a superb chef, a talented gardener, and an artist. For over 33 years she worked as a dedicated volunteer organizing and managing the photo library and archive of the Skirball Museum and Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Shiva will be this Sunday, May 14, at the Kester home in Williamsville, from 2 PM through 6 PM with prayer services led by Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein at 3 PM. The address is 104 Deer Run Road, Williamsville, NY 14221.
Funeral services have taken place in Los Angeles, California.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Congregation Shir Shalom Youth Group.
April 18
GROSS, Matilda “Tillie” Age 105 1/2 of Getzville, NY – April 18, 2017- Beloved wife of the late Bert Gross. Survived by many nieces and nephews. “She lived a great life”
A graveside service will be held at White Chapel Memorial Park 3210-3400 Niagara Falls Blvd. Friday at 2:00PM.
A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced.
Arrangements entrusted to AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL, LLC.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make donations in Tillie’s memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
April 13
RATNER – Ida April 13 It is with great sadness that we inform you that Ida Ratner has passed away.
We send prayers and comfort to the family.
The funeral will be private and there will not be a Shiva.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
March 27
ROSENTHAL – Richard L. “Rich” March 27, 2017. Beloved husband of Marsha Rosenthal; devoted father of Scott (Venera Giannetto) Rosenthal; loving grandfather of Samuel and Micah Rosenthal; son of Norman and Muriel Rosenthal; brother of Hal (Mari Vosburgh) Rosenthal and the late Paul Rosenthal. Funeral services will be held at AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL, LLC. 281 Dodge Rd. Wednesday at 10:30AM. No prior visitations. In lieu of flowers those wishing may make donations to Congregation Shir Shalom.
There will be no shiva.
Family guest book at www.amherstmemorialchapel.com
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
March 12
GREENBERG – Jerome March 12, 2017, of Buffalo, NY, loving companion of Shirley Wagner; loving father of Linda Jo (Jeffrey) Shohet and Dr. Gary Lee Greenberg; grandfather of David (Kari) and Brian Shohet, Max and Philip Greenberg; brother of Dorothy Marks and Harold Greenberg.
Funeral Service will be held at AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL, LLC, 281 Dodge Road on Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
No prior visitations.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make donations to the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, P.O. Box 426, Clarence, NY 14031.
Family guest book available at www.amherstmemorialchapel.com
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
March 7
HESKINS, Rabbi Donald Beloved Rabbi On March 7, 2017. of Buffalo, NY. Husband of the late Jane Selya Heskins. Brother of Patricia (Jack) Gumbiner, of Los Angeles, CA. Also survived by nieces and nephews.
Graveside burial service will be held in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA on Friday March 10th at 10:45 AM.
A memorial service will be held at Congregation Shir Shalom 4660 Sheridan Dr. Williamsville, NY 14221 Tuesday March 14th at 2:00PM.
No prior visitations.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be made to the charities of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Amherst Memorial Chapel LLC.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
February 27
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Anita Rauch has passed away.
We send prayers and comfort to the family.
RAUCH – Anita February 27, 2017. Wife of the late Albert Plaskin and Seymour Rauch; loving mother Debra (Martin Poole) Plaskin, Glenn Plaskin and Madison Kane; devoted partner of Dr. Marvin Feuerstein; cherished stepmother of Jacqueline Waltz, Phyllis, Martin and Ellen Rauch.
Graveside services were held last Thursday, March 2nd, at Chapel Memorial Park.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
February 17
WAGNER – Barbara L. (nee McCarthy), a musician, teacher and choral conductor, passed away after a long illness at the Garden House Nursing Home in Getzville NY on February 17, 2017. She was 80 years old. A long time resident of Buffalo, she was born in Lockport and graduated from Lockport Senior High School and the University of Buffalo. She was the daughter of Richard and Flora McCarthy.
Ms. Wagner was the former Minister of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, in her 50th year of service when she retired in 2012. She also taught vocal music at Nichols School for 25 years and later taught at Buffalo Seminary. She was the first artistic director for the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, leading the group through their first rehearsal on the tragic occasion of 9/11/2001, and continuing as their conductor for 10 years. Additionally, she served as the Music Director at Temple Beth Am for 12 years and as conductor of the Orchard Park Chorale for five years.
In addition to conducting the Unitarian Universalist Choir and numerous BPO musicians and other instrumentalists on Sunday mornings, she led the choir on two European tours, the first to Germany, Austria and Czech Republic and the second to Great Britain. Under her direction, the choir recorded for American Public Radio, and performed locally with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Amherst Saxophone Quarter and the Arts Nova Chamber Orchestra. Under her direction, the UUCB Choir was well known throughout Western New York for its dozens of acclaimed concerts, productions of operas and oratorios, Music Sunday performances, and, more recently, a Fall and Spring Bach Cantata Series, featuring her 60 -voice choirs and chamber orchestras of BPO musicians, all performed in the Church’s sanctuary.
Most notable among her many career achievements was conducting her church choir in the world premier performance of a Requiem with text by Kurt Vonnegut and music by Edgar David Granna in March of 1988. Later that year, Ms. Wagner was the conductor for the Peace Odyssey Tour of Hungary and the Former Soviet Union with singers from across the United States. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist denomination’s Hymnbook Resources Commission, which published the 1993 hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition, and chaired the New Hymns Task Force, which published another denominational songbook in June of 2005.
Ms. Wagner earned a BFA Degree from the University of Buffalo, where she studied organ with Squire Haskin and did graduate work at Westminster Choir College. She did advanced organ study with Karl Richter at Munich Conservatory (Germany) and studied advanced conducting with Raymond Harvey, the former Assistant Conductor of the BPO. She was a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, the Erie County Music Educators Association, the American Guild of Organists, the Chromatic Club, and a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Musician’s Network. She was awarded the Erie County Music Educator / BPO Award for Excellence in Choral Education in 2002.
She was predeceased by her husband, the Rev. William G. Wagner, who died in 2003. Survivors include her daughters, Carrie Martin of Hamburg, and Molly Wagner of Sydney Australia; grandchildren Jay and Evan (Jenna) Wopperer, Cheri (Matthew) Pritchard, and Erica, Rachel and Gideon Heller-Wagner; a sister Jeanne (Ronald) Gumby; sisters-in-law Susan Dull and Libby Wagner; and several cousins and nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, 695 Elmwood Avenue (at West Ferry) on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 3:00 PM.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Funeral services will be held from AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC. 281 Dodge Rd. Thursday at 11:00 AM.
No prior visitations.
Shiva will be Thursday 7-9 PM, Friday and Saturday 2-4, at Doreen’s apartment, 102 Forest Creek, Weinberg Campus.
In lieu of flowers those wishing may make donations in his memory to Alzheimers Association of WNY or a charity of their choice.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Bock, Fred B.– Jan. 27, 2017- Beloved husband of the late Elaine C. Bock. Devoted father of Michelle Bock. Brother of Cindy Seide.
Graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Delaware/Delavan Entrance) Monday at 2:00PM.
No prior visitations. There will not be a Shiva.
In lieu of flowers those wishing may make donations to the American Diabetes Assoc..
Arrangements by AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
Henry Lefcourt, son of Renata and Charles Lefcourt passed away on Friday in Dallas, Texas after a brief illness.
LEFCOURT, Henry David We sadly say goodbye to Henry David Lefcourt who passed on Jan. 21, 2017 at age 52. He is survived by his parents Charles Lefcourtand Renata Lefcourt; wife Yolanda Lefcourt; son Samuel Lefcourt; sisters Yvonne Lefcourt and Suzanne Harris.
Henry lived in Keller. He was born in Bremen, Germany, and grew up in Amherst NY. He held a BA Fine Arts from Alfred University and Masters in International Relations from St. Mary’s University. Henry served in the U.S. Army from 1989-2001 with active duty during Operation Desert Storm. He had a 21 year career with Health Management Systems.
Henry was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, and brother, known for his kindness, sense of humor, honesty, and intelligence. He was very proud of his son, with whom he spent many weeknights and weekends practicing and coaching baseball.
Funeral is Friday, Jan 27 at 2pm at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.
CARMEL – Nathan Abraham;
May 24, 1997 – January 16, 2017 at age 19, of East Amherst, NY. Loving son of Alice and Paul Carmel. Adoring brother of Shailee (Michael) Herter. Also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 12 Noon at AMHERST MEMORIAL CHAPEL LLC, 281 Dodge Road.
Nathan was a great boy who had an excellent sense of humor. His smile would brighten up each room he entered. Nathan placed an emphasis on other people’s needs before himself. He will never be forgotten.
Shiva will be observed at his parents’ residence, 5790 Kippin Drive, East Amherst, NY 14051. Visitation times will be immediately after the funeral, plus 10-11 and 7-9 on Thursday, 10-11 on Friday, 7-9 on Saturday, and both 10-11 and 7-9 on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be made in Nathan’s memory to the Roswell Park Cancer Alliance, Elm & Carlton Streets, Bufffalo, NY 14263.
May the memory of the righteous forever be a blessing.