In Memory
June 6, 2008

BABICH. Leonid Babich of New Brunswick died May 24, 2008, at Saint Peters University Hospital. He was 72.

Born in Kiev, the former Soviet Union, Mr. Babich came to the United States several years ago. He had been a plant manager for more than 40 years before coming to America.

Mr. Babich is survived by his wife, Mariya Gorodinskaya Babich; son, Ruslan, daughter, Victoria Pushkova, and sister, Hhkysa Goldstein, all of East Brunswick; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Interment at Beth Abraham Cemetery, East Brunswick. Arrangements by Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick.

BRIANT. Mr. Donald A. Briant died May 17, 2008, at Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center. He was 83.

Born in Westfield, Mr. Briant lived most of his life in Edison. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1947, and the Korean War, serving from 1950 to 1952.

Mr. Briant is survived by his wife, Esther; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Josephine, and Dennis and Kathy; daughter and son-in-law, Debra Briant-Miller and Kenneth; sister, Kathryn Kunz; brothers, Russell and Clarence; and his dear granddaughter, Rebecca Briant. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Edison. Donations in Mr. Briant's memory may be made to the American Lung Association.

CHOMSKY. Rebbitzin Lillian Chomsky, loving wife of the distinguished retired spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarey Tefiloh, Rabbi Aaron Chomsky, died May 20, 2008, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway, after a valiantly fought illness.

Rebbitzin Chomsky, a lifelong activist in yeshiva education and life member of AMIT -- a child advocacy organization for Israeli children -- was a respected teacher and practitioner of Torah values. An ardent Zionist, she, in tandem with Rabbi Chomsky, imbued her Torah and Zionist values in her children and grandson. As the loves of her life, she took endless pride in the continuance of her commitment to Orthodox Judaism, through her family. From Manhattan's Lower East Side,  as the dear daughter of the late Bessie and Max Rabinowitz, to Perth Amboy -- with impressionable stops in between -- Rebbitzin Chomsky left an indelible impression of humaneness, kindness and decency to the countless lives she touched.

Rebbitzin Chomsky is survived by her husband, Rabbi Chomsky; and children, Alizah, Zephyr, Eli and his wife, Iris, and Herschel; and grandson, Benjamin. Interment at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Fairview. Arrangements by Flynn and Son Funeral Home, Perth Amboy. Memorial contributions may be made to AMIT, 817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, or Camp HASC, 5902 14th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11219.

CUTLER. Mrs. Sadie Syd Cutler, formerly of Union, died May 23, 2008, at the Central Jersey Jewish Home for the Aged (new Regency Heritage) in Somerset. She was 95.

Until her move, Mrs. Cutler was a longtime active member of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Or in Clark. She was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women, as well as a lifetime member of Hadassah where she was previously honored as Woman of the Year for her achievements and dedication to the Jewish way of life. Sadie was a strong woman who always made the best of every situation. She maintained a very positive outlook on life and was always quick with a smile. Sadie's greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by her family and all who met her. Her first husband, David Krasner, died in 1944. Her second husband, David Cutler, died in 1972. She was also predeceased by her brothers, Herman and Julius Kay, and her sister, Florence Opperman.

Mrs. Cutler is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Martin and Paula of Manalapan, and Stephen and Phyllis of Hackettstown; daughter and son-in-law, Rona and Harold Gordon of Wayside; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Interment at Arlington Jewish Cemetery, North Arlington, on May 25, 2008. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.

GRAY. Mrs. Cheryl B. Gray died peacefully May 31, 2008, at JFK Haven Hospice in Edison. She was 50.

Born in Brooklyn, Cheryl lived in Wayne and Bedminster before moving to Branchburg in 1998. She was employed as a controller for Cozzoli Machine Co. in Somerset for more than 10 years. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 1980 with a B.S. degree in accounting and finance. Cheryl was a member of Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough. She enjoyed traveling, skiing and camping with her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter and sister, and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 23 years, Glenn C.; son, Cameron R.; parents, Arnold and Franciene Kohn; and siblings, Steven Kohn and Ellen Nissen. Arrangements by Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, Somerville. Entombment at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge. Memorial contributions can be made to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017.

FELD. Mr. Louis Feld died May 22, 2008, at home. He was 87.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Feld lived in Bridgewater before moving to Monroe five years ago. Prior to retiring in 1988, he was proprietor and pharmacist of Raritan Pharmacy, Raritan, for 35 years as well as past president of the N.J. Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the N.J. State Board of Pharmacy. He received his pharmacy degree from St. Johns University, New York. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a former congregant of Temple Beth Sholom, Bridgewater. His first wife, Dolores Sachs Feld, died in 1976. His second wife, Anna Feld, died in 1996.

Mr. Feld is survived by his sons, Warren Feld and his partner, James Jones, of Nashville, Tenn., and Andrew Feld and his wife, Carolyn Griffith, of Wilmington, Del.; daughter, Debra Skobel and her husband, Richard, of Gettysburg, Pa.; companion, Ruth Lilienfeld; and grandchildren, Dara and Austin Skobel. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.

LEVY. Mr. Laurence Levy of Edison died May 29, 2008, at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy. He was 69.

Born in New York, Mr. Levy lived in Elizabeth and Ohio before moving to Edison 35 years ago. He was a member of the Patriots Fan Club in Somerset, and was a fan of the N.Y. Yankees and N.Y. Giants.

Mr. Levy is survived by his wife, Patricia (nee Gatski); daughter, Lynn Deborah Levy, of New York; and brother, Howard of Wilmington, N.C. He also leaves behind to cherish his memory his two beloved bulldogs, Winston and Gordy. Interment at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Arrangements by Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Inc., Edison.

LEWIS. Mrs. Esther Lewis (nee Birnbaum) of Monroe died May 28, 2008, at home. She was 97.

Born in Newark, Mrs. Lewis lived in Union before moving to Monroe more than 20 years ago. She was a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Union, Brandeis Women of Monroe, the Council of Jewish Women and the Clearbrook Bridge Club. She was predeceased by her husbands, Bernard Lewis and Edward Petchesky.

Mrs. Lewis is survived by her daughters, Judy Unger, Linda Wiener and Francine Kartzman; son, Steven; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Interment at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Donations in her memory may be made to the Foundation for Diabetes Research, 513 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Suite 220, Livingston, N.J. 07039.

LINDER. Mr. Jerome Linder died May 22, 2008, at his home.

Born in the Bronx, Mr. Linder also lived in Queens and Niagara Falls before living in Westfield for 42 years. He graduated from City College of New York and received his M.S. from Brooklyn College. He served during World War II as an Army radio operator, later turning this into a hobby as an avid ham radio operator. He was a scientist at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, Exxon, Hooker Chemical and Endo Pharmaceuticals, where he received more than 100 U.S. and foreign patents for chemical research and development. He was an active member of Temple Emanu-El of Westfield, where he was Men's Club president, and a member of the temple's board of trustees and the Renaissance Group. He was also active in B'nai B'rith.

Jerome is survived by his loving wife, Violet; children, Deborah Linder, Martin Linder and Colleen Irwin, Stewart and Judith Linder; and grandchildren, Jesse, Micaela, Emily and Jessica. Arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.

MALKIN. Mrs. Sharon Malkin (nee Gallof) of Edison died May 23, 2008, at home. She was 62.

Born in Newark, Mrs. Malkin lived in Edison for many years. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Kean University. She was a longtime member of Temple Emanu-El, Edison, where she served as co-president of Sisterhood. She was also a member of Hadassah and Flo Okin Cancer Relief. She taught at the 13th Avenue School, Newark, retiring from there after 25 years of service. She was a reading specialist at the East Mountain School, Belle Mead.

Mrs. Malkin is survived by her husband, Avram; children, Shifra and Barak; sister, Rochelle Schwartz; and mother-in-law, Thelma Malkin. Interment at Cedar Park Cemetery, Emerson. Arrangements by Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Inc., Edison.

SOLOWEY. Mrs. Felicia (Federman) Solowey of Monroe died May 30, 2008, at Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick. She was 91.

Born in the Bronx, Mrs. Solowey moved to New Brunswick in 1918, then to Highland Park in 1920. She lived in the Leisure Village section of Monroe for more than 25 years before moving to the Ponds section of Monroe eight months ago. She was a member of the Highland Park Conservative Temple/Congregation Anshe Emeth, the Leisure Village Jewish Club, Hadassah, and O.R.T. An outdoor person, she enjoyed traveling, gardening, and bicycle riding. Her beloved husband of 65 years, William, died in 2003; her son, Gary, died in 1987.

Mrs. Solowey is survived by her son, Donald of Kearny; sister, Muriel Federman Levine of Highland Park; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Interment at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin. Arrangements by Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick.

SPITZER. Mr. Louis Spitzer died May 31, 2008, at Care One, East Brunswick. He was 89.

Born in Hungary, Mr. Spitzer lived in New Brunswick before moving to East Brunswick 54 years ago. Prior to retiring in 1983 he was a salesman for H.J Heinz, Pittsburgh, Pa. for 28 years. He was a charter member of the East Brunswick Jewish Center and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the East Brunswick Jewish Community Center.

Mr. Spitzer is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ethel Katz Spitzer; son, Daniel of East Brunswick; daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Marc Lichtenstein of Bexley, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law, Hannah and Abraham Feigenbaum of Highland Park; and granddaughter, Lisa Lichtenstein. Interment at Washington Cemetery, South Brunswick. Arrangements by Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick.

STERN. Mrs. Mollie Stern (nee Schwartz) of Somerset died May 30, 2008, at the Regency Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Somerset. She was 96.  

Born in Newark, Mrs. Stern lived in Carteret and Miami Beach, Fla., before moving to Somerset three years ago to the Martin and Edith Stein Assisted Residence.  She graduated from Rider College and was a business teacher at Carteret High School for more than 30 years, retiring in 1964.  Her husband, Harold, died in 1982.

Mrs. Stern is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Rosalynda and Barry Black of East Brunswick; grandchildren Jeremy and his wife, Jennifer, Jonathan and his wife, Jill, and Justin; and great-grandchildren, Shira, Talia, Eliana, and Luke. Interment at Lakeside Memorial Park, Miami.

WICHANSKY. Mrs. Sadye Wichansky died May 22, 2008, at Winchester Gardens in Maplewood.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Wichansky lived most of her life in Elizabeth before moving to Maplewood 10 years ago. She was a member of Congregation Bais Yitzchok Chevra Thillim in Elizabeth. She did volunteer work at Winchester Gardens in Maplewood, where "Sadye's Patio" was dedicated in her honor. She served as a campaign volunteer for many years with Mayor Dunn's office in Elizabeth. She was an active member of the YM and YWHA of Union. She was predeceased by her husband, Benjamin.