Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 497
(JTA) — Richard Belzer wasn’t just a hard-boiled Jew who rose from a troubled childhood to the top of his field — he played one on TV. Belzer, who died Sunday at 78, was a familiar face because of his longstanding roles on “Homicide: Life on the Streets,” “Law and Order: SVU” and other TV shows. In each of those series, he played a presumptively Jewish detective named John Munch whose biography overlapped significantly with Belzer’s own. Belzer was born in 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and had what he described as a difficult child...
Submitted by his wife, Debbie Kantor It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Joseph (Yossi) Kantor on Feb. 8, on his 80th birthday, his family by his side. Joe was a pillar of strength, a joy to be with, a giant of a man, and always an optimist! Family came before anything else as he looked forward to his Shabbat calls from his children and grandchildren. He loved to travel and he and Debbie went to Israel, France, England, Italy, Brazil and throughout the U.S. Together they...
(JTA) - Songwriter Burt Bacharach, who with his longtime lyricist Hal David turned out a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s - including "Alfie" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" - died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94. Bacharach and David, both Jewish New Yorkers, also wrote a host of songs that made Dionne Warwick a megastar, such as "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "I Say a Little Prayer." The duo came to fame while working in the Brill Building -...
Mr. Joseph “Joe” Kantor, 80, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 at his Sanford, Florida home following a brief illness. Mr. Kantor was born Feb. 8, 1943 in Israel to the late Samuel & Miriam (Wohlfeld) Kantor and moved to the Orlando area in 1980. Mr. Kantor was a retired homebuilder and a member of Congregation Reform Judaism. Mr. Kantor is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Debbie (Wolkind) Kantor of Sanford, Florida; sons, Avi (Rachel) Kantor, Ori Kantor and Jonathan (Allison) Brooks); dau...
Ms. Merle Bellinkoff, 92, Lake Mary, Florida died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 at Advent Health Hospice following a brief illness. Ms. Bellinkoff was born May 22, 1930 in Canada and moved to Miami, Florida in 1953 before coming to the Orlando area in 1983 from Miami, Florida. Ms. Bellinkoff is survived by her loving son, Irwin (Donna) Bellinkoff of Casselberry, Florida; grandsons, Ira (Lindsey) Bellinkoff of Winter Park, Florida and Brian (Sarah) Bellinkoff of Inglewood, California; great grandson, Benjamin Bellinkoff. Funeral Services for Ms....
Norma Jane Kusnetz, MD, 59 of Winter Park, Florida, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 at her Winter Park home following her brave battle with breast cancer. Norma was born March 3, 1963 in Southfield, Michigan, a small suburb of Detroit, to Harold & Phyliss (Kurtz) Kusnetz. She had many friends growing up, many of whom she kept in touch with through the years. Norma was a loving and caring person. Norma graduated Country Day High School and subsequently attended the University of Michigan...
Aaron Liberman, 83, of Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Feb. 5, 2023. Mr. Liberman was born in Gary, Indiana to Irwin and Anne Liberman on Aug. 25, 1939. He went to school at Horace Mann High School, received his B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University, M.S. in Psychology from Indiana University, and an M.S. and PhD in Hospital Administration from the University of Iowa. He married Joan Schwartz Liberman on July 4, 1964, in Waco, Texas. During his long and ecle...
Dr. Jack N. Shorr, age 72, of Tavares, Florida lost his battle to cancer on Feb 4, 2023. Dear brother of the late Fred (Eileen) Shorr and the late Gayle (Lee) Poulos; fond uncle of Larry Shorr, Mandy (John) Bogner, Adam (Kristen) August, Lauren (Rudy) Wolf and great uncle to Justin Bogner, Jason Bogner, Cora Wolf, Maya Wolf, Jacob Shorr and Jasper Shorr. Cherished son of the late Ida Shorr-Levy-Witkin and the late Lawrence Shorr. Optometrist to many and friend to all. Graveside Services were held at Menorah Gardens (2630 S. 17th Ave.,...
Ms. Mary Stout, 92, Winter Springs, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 at Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital following a brief illness. Ms. Stout was born May 14, 1930 in Englewood, New Jersey to the late Julius & Daisy (Binder) Bernstein. She is predeceased by her husband Lynn F. Stout and her son Richard Ritz. Ms. Stout is survived by her loving son; Dr. Stephen (Angela) Ritz of Stone Mountain, Georgia; and grandsons — Anthony, Joshua and Adam. Funeral Services for Ms. Stout were held in the Chapel of Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel (835 Lee Road, O...
Ms. Ida Bessie “Betty” Goldfarb, 104, of Orlando died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at Dr. Phillips Assisted Living following a brief illness. Ms. Goldfarb was born Nov. 3, 1918 in Hartford, Connecticut to the late David and Lena (Brodin) Mashman and moved to the Central Florida area in 2016. Ms. Goldfarb is survived by her devoted daughter, Beverly (Michael) Gordon of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren — Jill (Michael) Weinstein of Atlanta, Georgia and Jeremy Gordon of Orlando, Florida; great-grandchildren — Avery, Sam, A.J., Oscar, Reese; and niece,...
Mr. Franklin Schwartz, 89, of Lake Mary died Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 following a brief illness. Mr. Schwartz was born May 19, 1933 in Manhattan, New York, to the late George and Martha (Lowin) Schwartz. He was a Certified Public Accountant and moved to the Central Florida area in 2004. Mr. Schwartz is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Marilyn (Joseph) Schwartz of Lake Mary, Florida; daughter, Laura (Shmuel) Hendler of Israel; and son, Michael (Lara) Schwartz of Orlando, Florida; grandchildren — Tamar Levi, Yuval Hendler, Connor Schwartz a...
Orlando lost another builder of the Jewish community. Described over the years by many friends as compassionate; serious; deeply devoted to the community, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Israel and the world, Burt Chasnov, 75, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. Burton R. Chasnov was born on Aug. 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and attended Brooklyn College where he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity. He received his bachelor's degree and became a Certified Public Accountant. He started his...
Mr. Robert Burton Crystal, 87, of Winter Spring, Florida died Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, at his home following a brief illness. Mr. Crystal was born April 21, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Louis and Shirley (Masch) Crystal. Mr. Crystal was a United States Army Veteran and the owner/operator of Crystal’s Penthouse Dry Cleaners. He is predeceased by his wife, Iris Crystal. Mr. Crystal is survived by his loving children; Jody Crystal of Winter Springs, Jeffrey (Barbara) Crystal of Oviedo; grandchildren, Cady, Jacob, Jesse, Sean and Zak. G...
We sadly lost our beautiful Molly Belle Todras, 28, of Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. Molly was born May 23, 1994 in Syosset, New York. Molly is survived by her loving parents, Jay and Amy (Kaminsky) Todras of Valrico, Florida; beloved sister, Lindsay (Alberto) Delgado of Longwood, Florida; nephews, Landon Roberts and Noah Delgado; niece, Ella Delgado; andmaternal-grandfather, Robert Kaminsky of Boynton Beach, Florida. Molly was a creative light in this world. She adored and...
(JTA) - Barbara Walters, the iconic newswoman and celebrity interviewer who made history for women and Jewish anchors on mainstream American news television, died at 93 on Friday, Dec. 30. ABC News, where Walters regularly appeared on shows such as "20/20" and "The View," shared the news without giving a cause of death. Before becoming one of the most enduring and talked about news hosts in the world from the 1970s through the 2000s, Walters was raised by parents descended from Jewish immigrants...
(JTA) - Jewish groups are among those marking the death of Benedict XVI, the Catholic pontiff who died Saturday at 95, a decade after shocking the world by becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign. "It is with great sadness that I learned today that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away," Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, said in a statement issued Saturday. "He was a towering figure of the Roman Catholic Church, both as pope and before that as the cardin...
Natalie Ann Abramson, age 88, of Longwood, Florida passed away at her home in Village on the Green on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. A native of New York, Natalie was born in the Bronx on July 1, 1934, to Abe and Lillian (Litschitz) Solomon. Natalie graduated from high school and was employed as a bookkeeper. On Jan. 25, 1958, she married Eli Abramson, her husband of nearly 65 years. After they retired to Delray Beach, Florida, she and Eli spent many hours volunteering, including working in the local JCC thrift shop. Natalie loved knitting and spent...
Miss Rheda Epstein, 77, of Sanford, Florida died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, following a brief illness. Miss Epstein was born May 26, 1945 to the late Dr. Edwin & Sara (Snyder) Epstein. Miss Epstein was a retired librarian and she moved to Sanford in 1950. Miss Epstein is survived by her loving sister Adrienne Brothers and several nieces and nephews. Graveside service for Miss. Epstein were held at Congregation of Judaism Cemetery (9200 Morton Jones Road) with Cantor Kim Singer of Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo officiating. Services entrusted to...
Ms. Sylvia First, 97 of Maitland, Florida died Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Savannah Court of Maitland following a brief illness. Ms. First was born May 22, 1925 in Bronx, New York to the late Samuel & Rebecca (Bloom) Benson and moved to the Orlando area in 1966 from Bayside, New York. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years Douglas First and also her grandson Abe First. Ms. First is survived by her loving children, son; Victor (Diane) First of Winter Springs, Florida, daughters; Valerie First of Winter Springs, Florida and Sherry...
(JNS) — Freddie Roman, a Jewish comedian known for his impeccable timing and his performances at Borscht Belt hotels, died on Saturday in Boynton, Florida at 85. He was the creator of the “Catskills on Broadway” musical and one of the show’s four performers. “I had the pleasure to perform with Freddie Roman many times, including with Sid Caesar, Pat Cooper and Dick Capri,” Jewish comedian Modi Rosenfeld, who performs under the moniker Modi, told JNS. “No matter who you were, he made everybody feel special and he was always encouraging.” Comedia...
Marc Katzen, 82, of Winter Park, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. He was born Feb. 11, 1940, in Sykesville, Pennsylvania, to Margaret Gordon Katzen and Harry Katzen and was the middle of five children. Marc's mother took care of the children and his father was a businessman. Marc and all four of his siblings attended college, graduate school and professional programs. His sisters went to Jewish camps in the summer; one of them attended with Henrietta Harris and "fixed them up." Their first...
Mrs. Agnes Rosalie Friedman, 95, of Lake Mary died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at AdventHealth Altamonte following a brief illness. Mrs. Friedman was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Max and Esther (Melnick) Don and moved to the Lake Mary area in 2016 from Delray Beach, Florida. Mrs. Friedman is predeceased by her loving husband of 71 years Saul Friedman. Mrs. Friedman is survived by her loving sons, Dr. Michael (Roz) Friedman of Longwood, Florida, and Dr. Steven (Lori) Friedman of Merrick, New York; her grandchildren — D...
Gloria Newberger, mother of Nancy Ludin and Craig Newberger, passed away on December 11, 2022. Gloria was born on May 27, 1928. She was a beloved community member and very active in many charities. Her favorite organization was the Jewish Pavilion. In 2003, Gloria moved to Orlando and became an active member of the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion board. She also volunteered and visited a woman who had been involved in her congregation and sang in her synagogue choir but had never been visited by...
Elliott Jordan Layish, Hebrew name Chaim Moishe Dov Ben Daniel Tzvi, age 22, died in Lake Mary, Fla., on Nov. 26, 2022 - 10 years to the day of his bar mitzvah, according to the Hebrew calendar. Born in Orlando on Nov. 29, 1999, Elliott's mother is Nancy Boime Layish and his father and step-mother are Dr. Daniel and Staci Layish. Elliott graduated Cum Laude from Center Academy in May 2018 and was a member of Jewish Boy Scout Troop 641. He attended Valencia College and was employed in the food...
Born on Aug. 30, 1930, Martin M. Prague (Marty) died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Martin was born in Bronx , NY. He graduated cum laude from CCNY (City College of New York), now known as The Baruch School of Business. Martin received his C.P.A. certificate in 1954. He worked in small, medium and national CPA firms in New York City before moving to Orlando in 1972 to manage the Laventhol & Horwath offices in Orlando, Tamps and Jacksonville, simultaneously. In 1978 Laventhol & Horwath closed their...
