Home

ABRAMS. Mr. Irwin Y. Abrams died Jan. 13, 2010 at Mary Anne Hale Pavilion Haven Hospice, Edison. He was 83.

Born in New York City, Mr. Abrams lived most of his life in Colonia before recently moving to Edison. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a Corrections Sergeant for the Middlesex County Department of Corrections for 15 years before retiring in 1981. He was the past president and founding member of the Colonia Little League, past president of the PBA Local 152, and Silver Life Member of the N.J. State PBA. His wife, Claire, died in 1982; his granddaughter, Adrienne Hawkinson, died in 2008.

Mr. Abrams is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Bonnie of South Plainfield, and Mitchell and Karen of Hillsboro; daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Bob Smyth of Edison; grandchildren, Jeffrey Jr., Scott, and Joshua Abrams, and David Aubrey; and great-grandchildren, Zoe, Gianna, Gavin, Ty, Rylie, Delaney, Avery, and Jake. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, Metuchen. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2600 U.S. Hwy. 1, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902.

BREITKOPF. Mrs. Marilyn R. (nee Roseblum) Breitkopf died Jan. 14, 2010, at Somerset Medical Center, Somerville. She was 68.

Born in Brooklyn, Marilyn lived in North Brunswick for 40 years before moving to Hillsborough two years ago. She graduated from Queens College in New York with a bachelor's in education. She had worked for the Piscataway School System 1963-1966 before becoming the head educator at Creative Nursery School, North Brunswick, and retired after 25 years of service with the nursery school. She was a member of Congregation B'nai Tikvah, North Brunswick, and enjoyed playing mah jongg and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Breitkopf is survived by her beloved husband, Stephen H.; son and daughter-in-law, Stuart and Andrea of Fairlawn; daughter, Dara of Pine Island, N.Y.; grandchildren, Sydney and Jacob Breitkopf, and Rachel, Caleb, and Joshua Manheim; brothers and sister-in-law, David Roseblum of Plainview, Long Island, N.Y., and Ivan and Susan Roseblum of New York City. Interment at Washington Cemetery, Deans. Arrangements by Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.

CARLEBACH. Rebbetzin Tzvia Liba (Sylvia) Carlebach (nee Freed) died Jan. 12, 2010. She was 86.

Born in Canada, Sylvia assisted her late husband Rabbi Ephraim Carlebach first as the spiritual leaders in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then in Quebec City. In 1978 they were instrumental in the reestablishment of the Jewish community of the Laurentian Mountains. Together they moved to become the rabbi and rebbetzen of the House of Israel Congregation in Ste. Agathe Des Monts, a central mountain town in the Province of Quebec. They sent their children to Rabbinical College of Canada-Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch school for boys established in 1947. To make ends meet, Mrs. Carlebach was active in the textile industry, selling curtains for a living. She will be remembered as a "person with a positive attitude, loving, warm and caring," one of her grandchildren said. Most of all she was proud of her many children and grandchildren assuming positions as Chabad-Lubavitch shluchim and Jewish activists. She made a point to remember and recognize her many descendants, even great-grandchildren.

Rebbetzin Carlebach is survived by Raizel Schmukler, Los Angeles; Kuchi Kahn, London; Rabbi Alex Carlebach, Johannesburg, South Africa; Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Carlebach, New Brunswick and central New Jersey; Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Crown Heights; and Rabbi Emanuel Carlebach, Ste. Agathe, Canada. Some of her children and grandchildren serve as Chabad rabbis in Thailand, Port Washington, New York, Moscow, Paris, Kiryat Malachi, San Fernando Valley, San Diego, central New Jersey, New Mexico, Brussels, Johannesburg, and Melbourne. Interment in Montreal.

GOLDEN. Mr. Lester Golden died Jan. 18, 2010. He was 80.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Golden moved to Marlboro 25 years ago. He was a teacher, assistant principal, and principal for the New York City Board of Education for 31 years. He then worked for the Council of Supervisors and Administrators in New York for eight years, retiring in 1995. He was an active member of the Retired Supervisors Union after his retirement. He also was an active member of Greebriar at Marlboro, including leading a biweekly current events discussion group for the last 13 years.

Mr. Golden is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Thelma; daughter, Dr. Roni Golden of Freehold; sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Ellie of Morganville, and Richard and Robin of Larchmont, N.Y.; sisters, Violet Geller and Lillian Pfeffer, both of Delray Beach, Fla.; and eight grandchildren. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.

GOLDFINGER. Mrs. Thelma Schulman Goldfinger died peacefully Jan. 14, 2010, surrounded by her husband and sons.

Born in New Jersey, Thelma spent her entire life living in the Garden State in Irvington, Hillside, West Orange, Basking Ridge, and, most recently, West Windsor. A member of both West Orange's Congregation AABJ&D and East Windsor's Beth El Synagogue, she was also a founder of Congregation B'nai Israel of Basking Ridge, now a thriving community of more than 250 families. In the summers, she was a fixture on the Jersey Shore in Belmar and later in Long Branch. She loved the sun-kissed ocean and soft sand. Other than being a housewife during her sons' formative years, she spent her career as a nurse in the hospital, in her sons' school system, in an oncology practice -- a life spent taking care of others with compassion and devotion.

Mrs. Goldfinger is survived by her husband of 54 years, Dick; sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff, Jim and Lori, and Joel and Jacqueline; seven grandchildren; and sisters, Beatrice Blau and Getrude Brenner. Interment at King Solomon Cemetery, Clifton. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to Beth El Synagogue, 50 Maple Stream Rd., East Windsor, N.J. 08550.

SHAPIRO. Dr. Arthur Shapiro died suddenly Dec. 7, 2010 in Tucson, Ariz. He was 71.

Born in Brooklyn, Dr. Shapiro earned his bachelor's from Rider University, his master's from the College of New Jersey, and his doctorate from Rutgers University. He lived in Roosevelt for much of his life, where he served on the Borough Council, the volunteer fire department, and most recently as the town historian for this unique community. A tireless academic, author, and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, he was a special educator on the local, county, and state levels for more than 40 years. He was full professor emeritus at Kean University and an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University. For 18 years he held many positions within the N.J. Department of Education, including supervisor of child study in Burlington County, regional coordinator of special education and pupil personnel services for the southern half of N.J., state coordinator of intermediate units and private schools for the handicapped/sheltered workshops (clinics and agencies), coordinator of professional training and development in special education. In addition, he was full-time faculty member at William Paterson University and an adjunct faculty member of Monmouth University, the College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Georgian Court University, Rider University, the N.J. State Prison at Trenton, and the Youth Reception and Correction Center at Yardville. He also served as consultant to agencies around the country, such as the New York Board of Regents, the education departments in four states, the National Organization on Disability, and the National Easter Seals Society. He also served as expert witness for the N.J. Department of the Public Advocate's Division on Developmental Disabilities and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.

His book, "Everybody Belongs: Changing Negative Attitudes toward Classmates with Disabilities" (Routledge Falmer, England, 1999), received Choice's Outstanding Academic Title Award from the Association of College and Research Librarians, and was selected for inclusion in Exceptional Parent Magazine's library as well a feature of the Network of Educators on the Americas' Teaching for Change catalogue. He was on the editorial board of a number of educational publications. He appeared on dozens of television programs in the New York/New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area as well as in scores of newspapers and magazines. He was a member of the Society of Southwestern Authors, the Tucson Jewish History Museum, and several other professional organizations. He had developed a Powerpoint presentation about Roosevelt, which he gave in more than 150 venues over the past decade. His hobby was collecting saxophone memorabilia and music. Plans to release Dr. Shapiro's new book in early 2010 will go forward, according to his family. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry Shapiro and Eva Cole Shapiro; sister, Marilyn Weener Schetina; and brother, Sumner Weener.

Art, or Hotta as he was known, is survived by his wife, Elly (Spitzer) Shapiro of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter and son-in-law, Mindy Shapiro and Matthew Ashby; son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Rochelle; grandchildren, Nathan and Evan Ashby of Acton, Mass., and Yitzchak, Shoshana, Danny and Meira Shapiro of New Hempstead, N.Y.

ROSEN. Mr. Samuel Rosen died, Jan. 10, 2010, at Arnold Walter Nursing Home, Holmdel. He was 103.

From Eastern Europe to America, Sam brought the old 19th century values to the new world of America, and instilled this in his family. God Bless! Rest in peace. He owned a produce company out of Union County. He was predeceased by his wife, Goldie, in 1977; and Betty Wahl in 1992.

Mr. Rosen is survived by his son, Dr. Neil Rosen of Holmdel; daughter, Helene Schwartz of Brick; grandsons, Marc and Greg Rosen, and Steven, David, and Andrew; and great-grandson, Ziggy Schwartz. Arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Ocean.

ZELKIND. Mrs. Helen Zelkind died Jan. 11, 2010. She was 91.

Born in Brooklyn, Helen lived in Jersey City for most of her life. She was the retired manager of her late husband Saul's real estate management company.

Arrangements by Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation B'Nai Jacob, 176 West Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07305.