In Memory
Feb. 29, 2008

BADER. Mrs. Audrey Bader died Jan. 30, 2008, at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack. She was 84.

Born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., Mrs. Bader lived in the Matawan/Aberdeen area for 45 years. She was predeceased in 2005 Her loving husband of 52 years, Victor, died in 2005.

Mrs. Bader is survived by her daughters, Gail of New York, N.Y., Wendy of Washington, D.C., and Lisa of Matawan; brother, Frederick Robbins of Las Vegas, Nev.; and grandchildren, Gia and Gabriel. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Donations in Mrs. Bader's name may be made to Temple Shaaray Tefila-Wallerstein Fund, 250 E. 79th St., New York, N.Y. 10021.

BARD. Mrs. Ruth Bard of Toms River died Jan. 22, 2008, at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. She was 84.

Born in Manchester, England, Mrs. Bard lived in Canada before coming to the United States in the early 1960s. She lived in Hazlet before moving to the Greenbriar Woodlands section of Toms River 15 years ago. She was an executive assistant with law firms in the Hazlet area, and was active in Hadassah and the Drama club at Greenbriar. She was also a former member of the Sisterhood at Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen.

Mrs. Bard is survived by her husband, Eugene; son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Lori of Bethesda, Md.; and granddaughters, Adie and Eva. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Lakewood. Memorial onations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

BASEN. Mrs. Frances R. Basen of Manchester died Feb. 20, 2008, at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood. She was 81.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Basen lived in Wayne before moving to Manchester five years ago. She was a member of Hadassah and the Women's Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans in Manchester. Her husband, Seymour, died in 2004. She was also predeceased by her sister, Bernice Germain.

Mrs. Basen is survived by her sons, Scott and his fiancÈe, Jodi Stein, and Ross and his wife, Carrie, all of Freehold; brothers, Phil Rubin and Jerome Rubin; sisters, Ileane Lockwood and Evelyn Blankenstein; and grandchildren, Matthew and Abigail. Interment at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook. Arrangements by Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold.

GARR. Mrs. Clara Garr of Wall, formerly of Long Branch, died Feb. 19, 2008. She was 86.

Born in Vineland, Mrs. Garr was raised in New York City. She lived in Long Branch for more than 50 years. The youngest of eight children, she excelled in school and skipped two grades, graduating from Brooklyn College at age 20 with a double major, math and biology. Clara scored exceptionally high on a government test and was offered a job at Fort Monmouth in 1942 to become one of the first female scientists there. She worked at Fort Monmouth as a meteorologist during World War II. At that time, weather reports were prepared by the military, and classified so that enemies in Europe would not be aware of American weather conditions. Clara worked in finance and accounting, and taught math at Red Bank High School before retiring from Fort Monmouth in 1983. She was a very good-natured person and was always making gifts of food or crafts for her friends and family. She was a very kind person who was always helping others. She went out of her way to prepare and deliver meals for friends and family members who were sick. She enjoyed traveling and taking day trips with her senior group. She was a congregant of Congregation Brothers of Israel, Elberon, and a member of its Sisterhood. She was a past officer of the National Council of Jewish Women, Long Branch Chapter, and a past officer of the senior group at the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center, Deal. Clara was a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Her husband, Milton, died in 1990. Clara was also predeceased by all her siblings: sisters, Esther Subotky, Rebecca Bruskin, and Sarah Kadin; brothers, Israel Hochberg, Nathan Hochberg, Manny Hochberg, and Abe Hochberg; and sister-in-law, Jean Schuminsky.

Mrs. Garr is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Jay Spertus of Ocean; daughter, Anita Garr of Long Branch; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Ocean.

GERSHMAN. Mr. Morton B. Gershman died Feb. 15, 2008, having fought heroic medical battles since November of 2007.

Born in Newark, Morton served in World War II at Fort Niagara, N.Y., where he met his wife, Augusta. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1948 and became a CPA. He practiced this profession for 50 years until his retirement in 2001. He was a past president of Temple Beth-El Mekor Chaim and remained a board of trustee member and lifetime congregant in Cranford. He was president of Temple Beth-Els Mens Club and Bowling League chairman. One of his passions was arranging for weekends away in the Catskills that brought many families together for winter activities. Morton bowled on two leagues, one of which was an interfaith league. With a lifetime average of 180, he was Union County Bowling Champion in the 1970s. He was an active member of the NJCPA society and was on the Board of Trustees of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. He loved to travel and visited many foreign destinations with his favorite traveling companion, his wife of 62 years. His hobby and passion changed to golf in the late 1970s. He was a member of Forsgate Country Club until his move to Florida in 2001. Once in Florida, he became the senior champion at Bonaventure Country Club. He also enjoyed his regular poker nights with his group in Florida.

Morton is survived by his wife, Augusta (Isenberg); son and daughter-in-law, David and Barbara; daughters and sons-in-law, Elayne and Brian Dagelewicz, and Annette and Greg Sarrazine, of Cranford; and eight grandchildren. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Memorial donations may be made to Temple Beth El Mekor Chaim for the MBG Handicap Accessibility Improvement Fund.

GROSSMAN. Mr. Leo Grossman of Surrey Downs, Howell, died Jan. 30, 2008, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold. He was 88.

Born in Lynn, Mass., Leo, after World War II, came to Newark and later settled in Colonia, where he ran his own Barney's Army/Navy store on Main Street in Orange for 35 years. Upon his retirement in 1984, he came to Howell. During World War II, Leo served in the Army in the European Theater and was awarded a Purple Heart. He was a founder and charter member of Temple Beth Am, and charter member of the B'nai B'rith Lodge, both in Colonia, and past chancellor commander of the Rahway Knights of Pythias Lodge 16. In Surrey Downs, he was known as an avid golfer and bowler.

Leo is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Rosalind Barnett Grossman; son and daughter-in-law, Michael Philip and Holly of Duluth, Minn.; daughters and sons-in-law, Brooke and Jim Coneys of Jersey City, and Rachel Grossman and Paul Erlbaum of East Montpelier, Vt.; brother, Harold of Philadelphia; and grandchildren, Leah, Ari, Anna, and Aaron. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Belkoff-Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Lakewood. Memorial donations may be made to the United Jewish Communities of Metro West NJ, 901 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981, or to the B'nai B'rith Foundation of U.S., 2020 Case St. NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006.

KESSLER. Mrs. Miriam Kessler, of A Country Place, Lakewood, died, Feb. 22, 2008, at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. She was 83.

Born in Brooklyn, Mrs. Kessler lived in Latham, N.Y., before moving to Lakewood 40 years ago. She worked for many years as a legal secretary and also later as a realtor before retiring 20 years ago. An active member of her community, she participated in many activities at A Country Place. Her son, Richard, died in 1999.

Mrs. Kessler is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Gale and Charles Levinson of Lakewood, and Karen and Russell Hancock of Manahawkin; daughter-in-law, Marsha Joselow-Kessler of Brookline, Mass.; brother, Irving Engel of Monroe, N.C.; grandchildren, Deborah, David, Eli, Ariel, Terri, and Shannon; and great-grandchildren, Sarah, Allison, and Erica. Interment at Toms River Jewish Cemetery, Toms River. Arrangements by Belkoff-Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Lakewood. Memorial donations may be made to the Richard Kessler Lymphoma Research Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445, Attn: Contributions.

KOCH. Mrs. Anita Koch of Iselin died Feb. 24, 2008, at the JFK Medical Center, Edison. She was 86.

Born in Brooklyn, Anita lived in Woodbridge and Perth Amboy before moving to Iselin. She attended Brooklyn College, where she majored in English. She held the position of vocational and career counselor for Contemporaries Job Agency in Iselin for 10 years before retiring in 1987. Active in community life, she served as president of the PTA for Public School 1 in Perth Amboy and was a den mother with the Cub Scouts and a troop leader for the Brownies and Girl Scouts. Additionally, she was a mentor in the Woodbridge school system, a mediator for Citizens Disputes and Resolutions, a volunteer for the Woodbridge High School Band Boosters, and served as a member of the board of trustees of the Woodbridge Township Libraries for eight years. She was also was vice president of the Sisterhood of Congregation Adath Israel and a member of Hadassah. Her husband, Martin S., whom she married in 1955, died in 2003. Her sister, Lenore Kurzman, died in 2001.

Mrs. Koch is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Nancy of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Steven Geltzeiler of Westfield; sister, Mildred Bee of Delray Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Billy and Alexa Geltzeiler and Gregory and Leanne Koch; and many nieces and nephews. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Flynn and Son Funeral Home, Fords. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Birthright Israel or the American Lung Association.

KUTCHER. Mr. George Kutcher of Whiting died Feb. 3, 2008, at Community Medical Center in Toms River. He was 90.

Born in New York City, George lived in Bayside, Queens, before retiring in Crestwood Village, Whiting, in 2001. He served in the Army for four years during World War II. For 46 he was a jeweler in his store, Kutcher Brothers, at 82 Bowery, New York City. He was a member of B'nai B'rith and the Knights of Pythias, both in Queens.

Mr. Kutcher is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Ruth (Mason); daughter and son-in-law, Rochelle and Robert M. Cenite of Whiting; sister, Zena Rosenberg of North Andover, Mass.; granddaughters, Lisa Greenstein and Erica Casillo; step-grandson, Robert Cenite, Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Amanda, Brooke, Frank, Sabrina and Dominique. Interment at Beth Olam Cemetery, Lakewood. Arrangements by Belkoff Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Lakewood. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Greater N.J. Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, N.J. 07834.

MERMELL. Mr. Stanley P. Mermell of Monroe died Feb. 15, 2008, in The Elms, Cranbury. He was 86.

Mr. Mermell lived in Baldwin, N.Y., before moving to Monroe 12 years ago. Before retiring, he was an accountant/comptroller for Rockaway Metal Products, where he worked for 19 years. He was a graduate of City College of New York, and received his M.B.A. from Hofstra University. He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, and belonged to the Jewish War Veterans. A member of the Jewish Congregation of Concordia, Monroe, he was also a former member of the South Baldwin Jewish Center. He served as a committeeman for the Boy Scouts of America Troop 62, and also belonged to B'nai B'rith, the City College Alumni Association and Jewish Family Services.

Mr. Mermell is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen; son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Edith of Chelmsford, Mass.; daughter, Barbara Lois Mermell of Kingston, N.Y.; sister, Joan Lewack of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and grandchildren, Haskel Zeke and William Zachary Mermell. Interment at New Montefiore Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.

ROSEN. Mr. Leonard H. Rosen of Ocean died Feb. 7, 2008, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. He was 83.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Rosen lived in Bradley Beach for 30 years before moving to Ocean 40 years ago. He was an electronic engineer at Fort Monmouth as both an employee and supervisor for 40 years before retiring in 1989. He was a former member of Temple Beth Torah, Ocean, past member of JWV Post 125, Asbury Park, an active member of the Ruth Hyman JCC, Deal, and a member of B'nai B'rith.

Mr. Rosen is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Dorel Rosen of Lakewood; daughter-in-law, Lori Rosen of Toms River; sister, Jeanette Gelfound of Somerset; and grandchildren, Moises, Ezra, Aaron, Naomi, and Lindzey. Interment at King Solomon Cemetery, Clifton. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Ocean.

ROTH. Mrs. Eveline Erica Roth, a longtime Clark resident and a lifetime member of Temple Beth Or/Beth Torah there, died of cancer Feb. 22, 2008, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City, following a three-month illness. She was 78.

Born in Nuremberg, Germany, during the pre-World War II Nazi period, Mrs. Roth and her family fled Germany and moved to Brooklyn, where she and her brother, the late Leo Gattel, attended public schools. She would later graduate from City College of New York as a mathematics major. She had a long working career while raising her family, highlighted by her employment at H. Schultz & Sons in Union, as an assistant controller for 27 years. She also took an active role in managing the life of her son, Leonard, a Williams Syndrome adult in a government-assisted group home in Summit. In recent years, she was active in Temple Beth Or/Beth Torah Sisterhood programs, bingo and other fund-raising events. Married on April 3, 1955, she and her husband, Morris, would raise four children, and have two grandchildren. They were wed for 52 years at her death.

Mrs. Roth is survived by two other sons, Michael of Springfield and Aaron of Clark; daughter, Vickie Roth-Gilbert of New York City; sister-in-law, Fay Lowing of Aventura, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Jane Hilf Roth of Springfield; son-in-law, Barry Gilbert of New York City; and grandchildren, Julia Roth and Drew Miles Gilbert. Interment at Cedar Park Cemetery, Paramus. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Metastatic Cancer Research, c/o Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, New York, N.Y.

SCHWARTZ. Mr. Ira Schwartz of Jackson died Jan. 21, 2008, at home. He was 48.

Born in Newark, Mr. Schwartz was raised in Edison, where he lived most of his life before moving to Jackson four years ago. His hobby was horses, in which he took great pride. He owned and raced trotters throughout the United States. He was predeceased by his parents, Max and Blanche Schwartz.

Mr. Schwartz is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Susan Schwartz of Toms River; sisters and brother-in-law, Ann Towers of Fort Lee, and Charna Schwartz and Richard Haucke of Kalamazoo, Mich.; nieces, Lauren and Chandra; nephews, David and Aaron; and four great-nieces and nephews. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels.

SILVERT. Mr. Brian Silvert of Freehold died Jan. 25, 2008, in New York City. He was 31,

Born in Point Pleasant, Brian was a lifelong resident of Freehold. He attended the Solomon Schechter School, Marlboro, from kindergarten to the 7th grade. He graduated from Freehold Township High School, where he was a member of the soccer team and captain of the tennis team. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and he earned a master of business administration from the University of California in Los Angeles. He was a member of Mensa International. Brian was a vice president for CIT Investment Bank in New York City. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and friend. His paternal grandfather, Harry Silvert, died in 2004.

Brian is survived by his mother, Ann Silvert and Alan Schlesinger; his father, Glenn Silvert and his fiancee Cheryl Grzyd; sister and brother-in-law, Allison and Owen O'Neill; paternal grandmother, Evelyn Silvert; maternal grandfather, Stanley Kokin and his wife Vicky; and maternal grandmother, Leona Cohen. Interment at Hebrew Benefit Society Cemetery, Freehold. Arrangements by Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the Freehold Chabad House.

SMITH. Mr. Charles Smitty Smith died Feb. 15, 2008, in the University Medical Center at Princeton. He was 84.

Born in Perth Amboy, Mr. Smith grew up in Newark, attended Weequahic High School and lived in Scotch Plains for 30 years before recently moving to Monroe. He was the proprietor of Smith Automotive before retiring. He was an Army medic during World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Cecile Camp Smith; daughters and son-in-law, Ronnie and Drew Staffenberg of West Windsor, and Marci Smith (Pavoni), formerly of Scotch Plains, now Matawan; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Claire Smith of Longboat Key, Fla.; grandchildren, Hillary and Naomi Boorstein, and Matthew and Andrew Pavoni; and devoted aunt, Freda Mayers. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Orlands Ewing Memorial Chapel, Ewing.

YARROW. Mrs. Selma R. (Davis) Yarrow died Feb. 12, 2008, at Attleboro Nursing Center in Langhorne, Pa. She was 91.

Born and raised in Jersey City, Mrs Yarrow lived in Springfield for 20 years, moving to Clearbrook, Monroe in 1977, and finally to Langhorne, Pa. in 2006. She was a legal secretary for several law firms and former judges, most recently working for Bogatz & Shore in Hightstown for 10 years, until her retirement in 2000. She was active in Deborah, the Link of the Golden Chain, and Acting Up, a Monroe community theater group. She loved traveling, playing Mah Jongg and attending theater. Selma was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and was an inspiration to her family through her courage, integrity and humor. Her first husband, Benjamin H. Edelstein, died in 1960. Her second husband, Benjamin Yarrow, died in 1979.

Mrs. Yarrow is survived by her daughter, Edith Greenberg of Denville; son and daughter-in-law, Nathan M. and Diane of Yardley, Pa.; grandchildren, Jodi Iannuzzi, Michael Greenberg, Lauren Templeton, and David Edelstein; and great-grandchildren, Charles and Henry Iannuzzi, Allison and Katelyn Templeton, and Grace and Jackson Edelstein. Arrangements by M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Monroe. Memorial contributions may be made to Deborah Hospital, 200 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.