EPSTEIN. Mr. Lewis Epstein died Feb. 5, 2009. He was 101.
Born in what was then Acquackanonk Township nearly a decade before portions of the township became the city of Clifton, Mr. Epstein lived there and elsewhere in the Richfield section of Clifton before moving to Verona in 1967. Along with his mother, Rosa, his father Samuel Epstein was "one the pioneer residents of the Richfield section," according to Samuel's obituary. Mr. Epstein graduated from Clifton High School, New York University, and, in 1930, the New York University Law School. He established a law practice in Paterson and then in Clifton, with many of the owners of truck farms in the area as clients. He served as master of the Acquackanonk Grange and secretary of the Clifton Planning Board. He became a homebuilder, developing sections of Clifton, Verona, Cedar Grove, Wayne and the Caldwells, and was elected president of the North Jersey Builders Association. He served on the boards of trustees of the Passaic Beth Israel Hospital and the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lillian Alexander Epstein, in 1997, and his brother, Charles Epstein.
Mr. Epstein is survived by his sister, Mildred Newman of Somerset; daughters, Susan Rich of North Caldwell and Paula Eisner of Ithaca, N.Y., their husbands, Herbert Rich and Mark Eisner; grandchildren, Jennifer Jurcik, Patricia Rich, Jason Eisner and Amy Eisner and their spouses; and eight great-grandchildren. Interment at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, Totowa. Arrangements by Jewish Memorial Chapel, Clifton.
GRUBIN. Dr. Charles "Jerry" Grubin died Jan. 26, 2009 at his home in Maplewood. He was 92.
Dr. Grubin served as a captain with the U.S. Public Health Service during World War II. He was a self-employed family practice physician in Hillside for 40 years before retiring in 1984. He was a charter member of the Hillside Lions Club, a member of the Summit Lions Club and the State of New Jersey and the Essex County medical societies. He was a regional medical consultant for the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services of New Jersey and a staff member of Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Dr. Grubin is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Anne (nee Goldstein); sons and daughters-in-law, David and Joan, Michael and Marie, and Dr. Donald and Helen; brother, Dr. Harold Grubin; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.
HEITNER.Mrs. Rose Heitner died Feb. 5, 2009 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge. She was 82.
Born in Newark, and raised in Rutherford, Mrs. Heitner was a graduate of Rutherford High School. She married Emanuel Heitner in 1950, and in 1956 moved to Jersey City, where they remained for more than 35 years. She was a credit manager for Tec Products Company in Jersey City for many years before retiring in 1995, and moving to Freehold. There, she was active in the Surrey Downs Community and was also a member of the Howell Seniors. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Emanuel (Manny) Heitner, in 1993.
Mrs. Heitner is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Mark Harris of Edison; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Sandy of Morganville, and Fred and Marie of Fords; and her adoring grandchildren, Brittany and Jaime Harris, Lauren, Daniel, Adam, Ali and Dustin Heitner. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan.
KLINE. Mr. Harris Kline died Jan. 28, 2009. He was 93.
Born and raised in Somerville, Mr. Kline lived there for more than 60 years before moving to Royal Palm Beach, Fla. in 1980. He owned and operated Woldin's Family Shoe Store in Somerville for 25 years. He was Treasurer of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, member of the Somerville Lions Club for over 35 years, and member of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed gardening and especially sports. Harris was a positive acting individual who spread his caring to all that he touched. He was extremely dedicated to his family and will be sadly missed by all. His first wife, Miriam, of 29 years, died in 1965; his brother, Sam, died in 1976.
Mr. Kline is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Julie; son, Lee Kline; step-son, Joel Applebaum and his wife, Barbara; grandchildren, Matthew and Jamie Applebaum; great-granddaughter, Joselyn; niece, Francis Kruglak; and a nephew, Stanley Kline. Interment at Temple Sholom Cemetery, Bridgewater. Arrangements by Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, Somerville.
KROUSE.Mrs. Gladys E. Krouse died Feb. 7, 2009 at the Regency Grande Nursing Home in Dover following a long illness. She was 73.
Born in Elizabeth, Gladys grew up there and had lived in Lake Hopatcong for 30 years before moving to Lafayette in 1995. Daughter of the late George and Ruth (Jewell) Lipke, she worked 30 years as a registered nurse at the former Dover General Hospital until her retirement in 1997. A former member of the Hampton Township Senior Citizens, she was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister who will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was predeceased by her husband, Emmet E., in 1998 and a brother, William Lipke.
Mrs. Krouse is survived by her sons, Steven of Newton and Mark of Slate Hill, N.Y.; daughters, Diane Woods of Lake Hopatcong and Jewell Haber of Branchville; seven grandchildren; and brother, George Lipke of Kenilworth. The family would like to extend sincere gratitude to the Regency Grands and staff for the exceptional care given throughout Mrs. Krouse's stay. Interment at the Stillwater Cemetery. Arrangements by Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, Newton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered to any animal rescue or related charity.
MINTZ. Mrs. Esther H. Mintz (nee Jaffe) died Feb. 2, 2009. She was 91.
Born in Bayonne, Mrs. Mintz was a lifelong resident. She was a member of the Bayonne Chapter of the American Jewish Congress. She was predeceased by her husband, Benjamin.
Mrs. Mintz is survived by her daughters, Dorothy S.Wilson of Freehold, and Carol B. Bederka of Pompton Lakes; sister, Lillian Nathan of Bayonne; grandchildren, Michelle Wilson Wong, Eadie Wilson Beeler and Michael Bederka; and great-granddaughter, Lydia Wong. Interment at Washington Cemetery, Deans. Arrangements by Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn.
OIFER. Mr. Szaia Oifer died Jan. 4, 2009, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was 90.
Born in Poland, Mr. Oifer lived in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Marlboro before moving to East Brunswick three years ago. He was a Holocaust survivor. Prior to retiring 25 years ago, he was a carpenter in the construction industry.
Mr. Oifer is survived by his wife of 63 years, Paula; son, Benjamin Oifer and his wife Dalia of Oxford, Conn.; daughter, Norma Teicher and her husband Fred of East Brunswick; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.
SOOKERMAN. Mr. Abraham J. Sookerman died Feb. 1, 2009, at the Medical Center in Princeton. He was 90.
Born in the Bronx, Mr. Sookerman lived in Bayside, N.Y. until moving to Monroe 33 years ago. Before retiring, he was a furrier, and owned Arm and Goodman, Inc., Manhattan, for 40 years. He was a World War II Army veteran. His wife, Florence, died in 2007.
Mr. Sookerman is survived by his daughter, Nina Stanton of Medford Lakes; sons and daughter-in-law, Brian and Linda of Monroe, and Richard of Huntington Station, N.Y.; sisters, Frances Schleifer of Yonkers, N.Y., and Ann Adler of San Francisco; grandchildren, John Sookerman, Lori Parnas, Tracy Samson, and Eric and Lisa Sookerman-Sanicola; and great-grandchildren, Sydney and Corey Sookerman, Jackie Henry, Jessica, Alexander, Jaime Parnas, and Aubrey Rose Sanicola. Interment at Beth Moses Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.
TUBMAN. Mr. Lawrence Tubman died Feb. 9, 2009 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was 80.
Born in the Bronx, Mr. Tubman lived in Parsippany before moving to Monroe 16 years ago. Before retiring in 1993, he was a Certified Public Accountant for Levin Management, South Plainfield, after a career in public accounting in New York City. He was an Army veteran of the Koren War.
Mr. Tubman is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce Levin Tubman; sons and daughters-in-law, Irwin Tubman and Lisa Maglone of East Brunswick, and Richard and Donna Tubman of Somerset; sister Minnie Silberman of Dover; and grandchildren, Heather, Brian, Michael and Matthew. Interment at Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, N.Y. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.
VALENCI. Mr. Charles Valenci died Feb. 4, 2009 at home. He was 84.
Born in Manhattan, Mr. Valenci lived in Brooklyn before moving to Monroe 28 years ago. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Valenci is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth Soltz Valenci; sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Jay and Edwina of Trappe, Pa., and Dr. Richard and Mindy of Bala Cynwyd, Pa.; sisters, Rose Steiner of Boca Raton, Fla., and Sylvia Bander of Boynton Beach, Fla.; and grandchildren, Jordan, Emily, Max and Andrew Valenci. Interment at Washington Cemetery, South Brunswick. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, Ease Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1600 Route 22 East, Union, N.J. 07083, or Deborah Heart and Lung Association, 200 Trenton Rd., Browns Mills, N.J. 08015.
ZYSMAN. Mrs. Eva Zysman (nee Kronenberg) died Feb. 2, 2009 at home. She was 81.
Born in Lodz, Poland, Mrs. Zysman was a Holocaust survivor, then settled in Newark and lived in Hillside before moving to Union in 1979. She was a supervisor with the state of New Jersey Disability Examiners for 33 years before retiring in 1992. In retirement, she was active in Jewish affairs and was a public speaker on Holocaust awareness. Eva was an avid writer of short stories. She was a member of the Jewish Community Center of MetroWest, Hadassah and Cafe Europa and earned an B.A. and an M.A. from Rutgers University. She was predeceased by her son, Dr. Andrew Zysman and her sister, Lillian Ross.
Mrs. Zysman is survived by her husband, Michael; son, Dr. Jules Zysman and his wife, Dr. Nadette Jacob; a sister, Helen Borenstein; and grandchildren, Emily and Claire Jacob-Zysman and Dr. Alicia Zysman-Cromwell and her husband, Matthew Cromwell. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.