In Memory
April 11, 2008

FEIST. Mr Herbert Feist, 89, passed away peacefully April 1, 2008, at the Regency Heritage Home in Somerset. He was 89.

Born in Solingen, Germany, Mr. Feist immigrated to the U.S. in 1939, settling in New Brunswick. He was a resident of Highland Park for 41 years. He served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II and received the Purple Heart. He was a 1938 graduate of the Institute of Arts and Meters in Brussels, Belgium, and attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He joined the family real estate and insurance business, Harry A. Feller and Sons, first as a partner, with his father-in-law, Harry Feller, and his brother-in-law, then became the senior partner in the Feller & Feist Agency in North Brunswick, which he operated for more than 40 years. Today, the firm is based in Somerset and known as DeMiglio, Feller & Feist. He was with the firm for more than 62 years and never truly retired. Mr. Feist was a member of the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick and was active in professional and civic organizations. He was a member of the Borough of Highland Park planning board and president of the YM/YWHA of Highland Park. He was the treasurer and a member of the board of directors of New Brunswick Tomorrow for more than 30 years as well as president of the local and state chapters of the Association for Retarded Citizens. He was also former president of the United Way of Central Jersey. He was the chairman of the State Mental Retardation Board and a national board member of NARC. He belonged to the Salvation Army and the Jewish Federation of Raritan Valley, and was president of the Info Line of New Brunswick. While serving on the many different organizations, he was awarded the Lifetime Community Service Award from New Brunswick Tomorrow and was named realtor emeritus of the National Board of Realtors. For more than 50 years, he had been involved with the Association for Retarded Citizens, first as a volunteer. He was responsible for making the New Brunswick based agency a success. Mr. Feist was instrumental in getting many people and organizations involved in the cause for better treatment for the mentally disabled. He led a concerted effort to get life insurance coverage for people with mental retardation. His beloved first wife, Julia Dorothy (Feller), died in 2005. He was also predeceased by his son, Carl.

Mr. Feist is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Christine (Corey) of Vero Beach, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Eva of New York City; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; and two great-granddaughters. Arrangements by Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to ARC of Central Jersey, the United Way, New Brunswick Tomorrow or Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple.

FINKLER. Mr. Philip Finkler died April 6, 2008, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. He was 80.

Born in Montreal, Mr. Finkler lived in Newark, Linden and Elizabeth before moving to Hillside 46 years ago. He was an inside salesman for the Bucket Supply Co. Previously, he was the owner of Gamm Rubber Stamp Co. of Hillside and a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Roth Lodge, the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorasan, the American Legion Post 50 and B’nai B’rith, all of Hillside. He was a current V.P. and longtime board member of the Gomel Chesed Cemetery and a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House. He was also a member of the David Blick Post of the Jewish War Veterans of Elizabeth, the Hillside Scholarship Fund and the Hillside Senior Center.

Mr. Finkler is survived by his daughters, Arlene Finkler and Gail Caminsky; son-in-law, Gary Caminsky; sister, Toby Zane; and grandchildren, Rachel, Megan and Tyler. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Interment at Gomel Chesed Cemetery, Newark. Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Friedman. Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, a former CEO, executive vice-chairman and lay leader of the United Jewish Appeal (UJC’s predecessor organization) and the founding president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation. He was 89.

Born in Connecticut in 1918 to immigrant parents, Rabbi Friedman spent his adult life caring for world Jewry and building a Jewish homeland in Israel. After serving as a U.S. Army chaplain in World War II, Friedman devoted himself to aiding Holocaust survivors in displaced persons camps in Germany and Austria and helped thousands get visas to immigrate to Palestine. He fought for the Jewish State when he was recruited by David Ben-Gurion to join the Haganah (the precursor to the Israel Defense Forces). Friedman returned to the United States to continue his work for the Jewish people and to bolster American Jewry’s support of Israel. He served the United Jewish Appeal for 35 years, from 1947 to 1982, including 18 years as a volunteer leader, and 17 years as CEO and executive vice-chairman from 1954 to 1971. Working with philanthropist Leslie Wexner, Rabbi Friedman co-created the Wexner Heritage Program, which serves to educate Jewish community lay leaders. Rabbi Friedman served as president of the Wexner Heritage Program for a decade and donated a library to the foundation as well. As a strong proponent of Jewish education, Rabbi Friedman worked with Wexner Heritage members and alumni to create a national network of pluralistic Jewish Day schools. Inspired by his vision, several alumni helped create new Jewish Day schools throughout North America.

Rabbi Friedman is survived by his wife Francine Bensley, five children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandsons. Rabbi Friedman is also survived by two brothers and two brothers-in-law. UJC plans to establish a National Young Leadership Cabinet fund in memory of Rabbi Friedman. Donations may be sent to United Jewish Communities c/o UJC National Young Leadership Dept., 111 8th Ave., Suite 11E, New York, NY, 10011.

(See tribute to Rabbi Friedman, Page 7.)

GOLDBERG. Mrs. Esther Beller Goldberg died, March 31, 2008, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold. She was 85.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Goldberg lived in Monroe for the last 15 years. Her husband, Seymour, died in 2003.

Mrs. Goldberg is survived by her nephew, Gary Weine, and his wife, Sheryl of Morristown; and nieces, Wendy Sayet and her husband, Sandy, of Long Beach, N.Y., and Cindy Hamou and her husband, Daniel, of Montreal. Interment at Wellwood Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.

HABER. Mr. Leonard H. Haber of Monroe died March 28, 2008, at the Medical Center at Princeton. He was 81.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Haber lived in Staten Island, before moving to Monroe 21 years ago. Before retiring in 1995, he was the administrative vice president of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies in Manhattan. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and a member of the Clearbrook Post of Jewish War Veterans, Monroe. He was a congregant of the Jewish Congregation of Clearbrook, Monroe; served as treasurer of the Clearbrook board of directors Section 16, Monroe, and was an avid golfer and artist. He was predeceased by two brothers, Irwin and Arthur.

Mr. Haber is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bessie; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Donna of Howell; daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn Haber-Mattie and Stephen Mattie of Norwell, Mass., and Sharon and William Morris of Staten Island; grandchildren, Matthew, Jamie, Rachel, Edward, David, Sydney and Shana; and great-granddaughter, Maya. He loved his dogs, Charlie and Emme. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick. Interment at Beth Abraham Cemetery, East Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2600 U.S. Hwy 1, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902.

JASPAN. Mr. Howard Jaspan died March 26, 2008, at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge. He was 90.

Born in Newark, Mr. Jaspan lived in Carteret until moving to East Brunswick five years ago. Prior to retiring in 1983, he was a tax clerk for the township of Carteret, where he worked for approximately 10 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Jewish War Veterans Carteret Memorial Post 745. His wife, Tessie, died in 1981.

Mr. Jaspan is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Ilene Jaspan and Ben Seibel of East Brunswick and Susan Jaspan and Albert Ferreira of Yorba Linda, Calif.; and grandchildren, Tamara and David Ferreira. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge.

KARP. Mr. Allen Karp of Kendall Park died on April 3, 2008, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was 60.

Born in Brooklyn, Allen excelled in academics, earning both a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering from the City College of New York. He also attained a master’s degree in business administration from Ridger University, and was licensed as a professional engineer in New York. He was a purchasing manager, Capital Projects, for Hess Corporation in Woodbridge and recently celebrated his 25th anniversary at the company. He was greatly admired by his business associates for his work ethic, diligence and outgoing personality. Allen was a devoted family man who took immense pleasure in both his wife and children’s accomplishments, capturing most of them on videotape. His warmth and generosity made lasting impressions with his family, friends and colleagues, and he had a unique gift for drawing constant smiles from their faces and laughter from their souls. An avid musician and historian, Allen taught himself both the piano and guitar, and served as master of ceremonies for nine years at a benefit oldies concert for Congregation B’nai Tikvah in North Brunswick. He loved attending Yankees games with his family and was also a world traveler, photographer, artist, and handyman extraordinaire. Most importantly, Allen was a true role model for his children. He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Leon and Pauline Karp.

Allen is survived by his adoring wife of 37 years, Ilene Sondike Karp of Kendall Park; son, Joshua of New York; daughter, Stacie of New York; brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Andrea of New Rochelle, N.Y.; sister- and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Michael Margolies of Marlboro; mother- and father-in-law, Lucille and Jack Sondike of Manalapan; and many other loved ones, including a nephew and three nieces. Interment at Washington Cemetery, South Brunswick. Arrangements by Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick.

KOTLER. Mrs. Shirley Kotler died March 26, 2008, at St. Joseph Wayne Hospital. She was 88.

Shirley was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frank, and is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Barry and Susan, and David and Cecilia; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Interment at Forest Green Cemetery, Marlboro. Arrangements by Belkoff-Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Lakewood. Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimers Association Greater N.J. Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, N.J. 07834.

NEWMAN. Mrs. Pauline R. Newman, 95, died March 20, 2008, at her home in Bridgewater. She was 95.

Born in Jersey City, Pauline lived in Clark for 40 years before moving to Bridgewater in 2007. She was employed as an information operator for the N.Y. Telephone Co. for 10 years until 1939. She enjoyed playing bingo at Temple Beth-Or in Clark, traveling to Bally’s in Atlantic City, where she loved to play the slot machines, and doing crossword puzzles. Her husband, Milton, died in 2002.

Pauline is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Susan and Gerald Halpern and Carole Troum; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, Somerville.

WATKIN. Mr. Abraham Watkin died March 21, 2008, at Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Ill. He was 87.

Born in New Brunswick, Mr. Watkin lived in Somerville and Monroe before moving to Deerfield, Ill., in 2003. He was a purchasing agent for Lefkowitz Leather Works, New Brunswick, where he worked for more than 30 years before retiring. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., and served in the Merchant Marine during World War II. Mr. Watkin was a former member of the Jewish Congregation of Clearbrook, Monroe, as well as Temple Sholom, Bridgewater. He was also active in the administration of Temple Beth Israel, Somerville, and B’nai B’rith. His wife, Diana Ganis Watkin, died in 2003.

Mr. Watkin is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Henry and Diane of New York City and William and Alexandra of Glencoe, Ill.; brother, Philip of Florida; and granddaughters, Laura and Rachel Watkin. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick. Interment at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin. Memorial contributions may be made to any macular degeneration-related charity.