Max W. Fine died on April 19. He was 92.

His life’s work was to bring universal medical care to all Americans and was the last survivor of President John F. Kennedy’s Medicare Task Force.

He was born on June 1, 1926, in Nashville, Tenn. Fine began his career as a journalist at the United Nations, rising to press secretary for Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold. He answered Kennedy’s call to join his administration at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

There, a Medicare Task Force was formed and charged with drafting and implementing a new law to provide healthcare to seniors. It was the Medicare Act and became law on July 30, 1965. Within a short time, it proved to be an extraordinary success. While at HEW, Fine was also tasked with desegregating hospitals across the South.

In 1968, he was appointed executive director of the newly formed Committee for National Health Insurance, also known as the “Committee of 100,” a diverse group of unions, public health advocates, religious organizations and concerned Americans committed to extending Medicare to Americans of all ages. Fine continued to speak out for universal coverage, appearing at rallies and conferences until just months before his death.

His spouse, Naomi, died in 2014. He is survived by a daughter, Jodie Sue Fine, and a son, Robert, both of Bethesda; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to Chesapeake Bay Trust (cbtrust.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Max W. Fine appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Irwin Lester Gold, a Maryland resident for more than six decades, died on April 17. He was 91.
Irwin will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and cherished friend to many. Irwin was raised in New York City and Washington and graduated from Western High School.

Irwin attended Cornell University before graduating from the University of Maryland, where he studied chemical engineering. After proudly serving in the Air Force, Irwin owned and operated a food processing business in Brentwood, Md., named for his mother, “Ida Mae,” where he produced salads and pizzas for distribution to grocery stores throughout the region. Irwin’s career took a turn later in life when he became interested in the toy business, including distributing the Mancala game after he became intrigued with its variations among different cultures throughout the world.

Irwin leaves behind his loving wife of 42 years, Fay Gold; four children and their spouses: Allan Gold and Rosemary Olivo, Brad and Marge Gold, Rhonda Gold and Michael Small, and Jack Gold and Lauren Asplen; stepchildren, Russell Whitcup and Cary Whitcup and his wife, Julia; grandchildren, Amy, Eric, S, Leah, Ryan, Adam, Wendy, Samantha, Emery and Jackson; great-grandson, Henry; and his sister, Adele Kolinsky, and her family.

Donations can be made to Riderwood’s scholarship fund. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield  Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Irwin L. Gold appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Esther Nash, of Rockville, died on April 19. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul Nash; devoted mother of the late Helen Nash; and loving sister of the late Miriam Yaglom and the late Bella Tasma.

Esther is survived by her nephew, Maurice Yaglom, and his wife, Donna; her niece, Helaine Kranz, and her husband, Steve; her great-nieces Miriam Sas and her husband, Jared; Laura Press and her husband, Dave; Cara Carroll and her husband, Ben; and her great-nephew, David Yaglom, and his partner, Nichole Hetchkop. She is also survived by her great-great niece, Ella Press, and great-great nephews, Noah Press and Zachary Carroll.

Contributions may be made to the Jewish Social Service Agency (jssa.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Esther Nash appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Bloch, a philanthropist who contributed to Jewish causes, among others, died April 23, surrounded by his family, a memorial site said.

Bloch returned to Kansas City from World War II at 24 a decorated veteran of the Army Air Corps, having flown 32 missions as a navigator, most over Germany. He started a bookkeeping service.

A decade later, in 1955, he and his brother Richard launched a tax preparation service. It quickly grew, and by the 1970s, Henry Bloch was its face, appearing as an avuncular tax adviser in TV ads. He was so good, other companies asked him to appear in their ads.

Richard Bloch, who died in 2004, said they used the “Block” spelling for the company to make sure clients pronounced their name correctly. The brothers did not want to hear clients say they got their taxes “blotched.”

Henry Bloch founded a foundation in 2011 with his wife, Marion Helzberg Bloch, who died in 2013. It lists seven areas of focus, including “organizations that advance social and economic justice issues in the Jewish community.” Among its beneficiaries are the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

In 1990, according to The Washington Post, he became the center of a controversy when it was reported that he was denied membership in the Kansas City Country Club because he was Jewish. Tom Watson, a top pro golfer, quit the club and rejoined only when the club extended membership to Bloch.

Being the target of anti-Semitism did not dent Bloch’s humorous affect. Asked to comment on the affair, he liked to tell reporters, “It’s the first time I ever made the sports page.”

“Our Dad was passionate about his family and his community, and he will long be remembered for his benevolence, humility and fortitude,” the family said on its memorial site.

Bloch is survived by four children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

—JTA News and Features

The post Henry Bloch, founder of H and R Block and philanthropist, dies at 96 appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Florence Feinberg, of Rockville, died on Apr. 28. She was the beloved wife of the late Harry Feinberg; devoted mother of Michael Robin Feinberg and Carole Kutner (Alex); loving grandmother of Keven, Michelle and Joshua; and cherished great-grandmother of Conner, Sarah, Kylie, Evan and Rachel. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Florence Feinberg appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Jack Fensterstock, of Bethesda, died on Apr. 25. He is survived by his wife, Mary Janet Normandy; his children, Seth Fensterstock (Katherine), Karen Normandy-Fensterstock and Andrew Normandy-Fensterstock (Katherine); and his grandchildrenk Luke and Carter Fensterstock.

Contributions may be made to Suburban Hospital (donate.suburbanhospital.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Jack Fensterstock appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Steven Lipsius. Photo Provided

Dr. Steven Lipsius, of Bethesda, died on Apr. 24.

He is survived by Paula, his beloved wife of nearly 58 years; his devoted children, Amy and her husband, Jay Halpern; Elizabeth and her husband, Donald Peck; and Adam and his wife, Linda Appel Lipsius; and by his five cherished grandchildren, Kyle, Stephanie and Luke Halpern, and Dorothy and Eli Lipsius. Dr. Lipsius is also survived by his sister, Phyllis Lipsius Young.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Lipsius has lived in the Washington area since 1971, when he joined the full-time faculty of The George Washington University

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He remained on the clinical faculty and in private practice until shortly before his death. He was an Army Special Forces physician in Vietnam.

Contributions may be made to George Washington University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (smhs.gwu.edu/psychiatry/) or The Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Steven Lipsius appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Irvin Peiser, of Rockville, died on Apr. 21. He was the beloved husband of the late Anne Peiser; devoted father of Steve Peiser (Marla) and Lori Kaufman (Scott); loving grandfather of Andrew, Joshua, Ben (Ashley), Rachel, Aaron and the late Eric Pores; and cherished great-grandfather to Lucca. Donations can be made to Montgomery Hospice. Services... Read More

The post Irvin Peiser appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Joel Simon, of Sandy Spring, died on Apr. 19. Joel is survived by his brother, Walter (Bonnie Forman); his aunts, Hilda Cohen and Lynn Michaels; his nieces and nephew; great-nieces and great-nephews and a great-great nephew. Contributions may be made to the Almas Shriners Transportation Fund (almasshriners.org/donate) or a charity of choice. Services entrusted to... Read More

The post Joel Simon appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Judith S. Wax, of Silver Spring, died on Apr. 22. She was the beloved wife of the late Aaron Wax; devoted mother of Marcy Armstrong (Michael), Barbara Wargo and Ralph Wax (Teresa); and cherished grandmother of Rachel Wax, Matthew Wax and Sarah Wargo. Contributions may be made to the Riderwood Benevolent Care Fund (ericksonliving.com). Services... Read More

The post Judith S. Wax appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Betty Arshawsky, of Silver Spring, died on Apr. 30. She was 94. She was the beloved wife of Frank Arshawsky, who passed in 2013. She is survived by her brother, Frank Pastor; her son, Brian Arshawsy; and her daughter, Fredyne Arshawsky.

The post Betty Arshawsky appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Paula Horowitz, of Rockville, died on Apr. 10. She was 91. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in social work from Catholic University. She headed the Adult Services Unit at Prince George’s County Department of Social Services after many years in their Child Protective Services
Division.

She is predeceased by her husband, Elias Horowitz. She is survived by her children, Matthew Horowitz (Michele) and Carolyn Horowitz Amacher; sister, Renie Oken; and grandchildren, Eric Horowitz, Lisa Horowitz, Ezra Amacher and Samuel Amacher.

The post Paula Horowitz appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Shirley Kaplan, of Bethesda, died on May 3. She was 85.

Shirley married Don “Poppop” Kaplan in 1953 and they remained a devoted partnership for 65 years. Known as “Bubbie” by her grandchildren, Shirley was kindhearted, family oriented and a generous soul. She hosted seders and Jewish holidays at her house for many years, cooking brisket and matzah ball soup for weeks in advance.

Shirley was born on March 26, 1934, in Wilmington, Del. She worked for several years as an administrative assistant in the orthodontic practice of Drs. Kaplan and Chasen. Don and Shirley were avid travelers and truly enjoyed the wonders of the world. Shirley loved to volunteer in her daughter Dara’s elementary school classroom, helping to
teach the students.

She is survived by her husband, Don; her children, Pamela Ilene Klein (Terry Hipkins), Dara Joy Kaplan (Scott Monfils) and Neil Alan Kaplan (Faith Kaplan); her grandchildren, Justin Klein, Todd Klein, Alyson Klein, Marlena and Hannah Chertock; and great-grandchildren, Elise and Blaire Klein. She was the sister of the late Marvin Denenburg.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The post Shirley Kaplan appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Geraldine Merican Polinger Photo provided

Geraldine Merican Polinger, born in Baltimore in 1922, died on May 4. It was her 97th birthday.

She joins her beloved husband of 66 years, Howard Polinger, who died in 2007. As philanthropists, Geraldine and Howard supported both secular and Jewish causes in the Washington metropolitan area and Palm Beach, Fla., both as individuals and through the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation.

The Excellence in Arts and Humanities Award from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County in 2005 celebrated their numerous contributions to cultural arts. They sponsored the Artists of Excellence Concert Series at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington since the early 1970s, bringing to Washington such rising artists as Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman and Yo-Yo Ma.

Geraldine’s chairmanship of the JCC Music Committee culminated with the Woman of Valor Award. Her family foundation established the ongoing popular region-wide Jewish Music Festival at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center 20 years ago. A college music major and dance enthusiast, Geraldine was keen to endow scholarship programs at her alma maters: in dance at Goucher College and in piano at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins.

The couple also helped to make the arts more accessible to youth, supporting programs at THEARC in Southeast D.C. Howard and Geraldine were founding members of the Kravis Center in Palm Beach and substantial donors to the Strathmore Center and Round House Theatre in Bethesda.

Geraldine served on the Board of the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County for several years and she and her husband were recognized in 2007 for their long-term support of that institution. Within the Jewish community, Geraldine and her husband were
committed to supporting diverse needs of people, agencies and communities.

Geraldine served on the board of the Jewish Social Service Agency, where she and her husband endowed the agency’s adolescent treatment program and later were recognized for their outstanding leadership in social welfare with the Joseph Ottenstein Award. The couple additionally endowed a medical equipment fund at Hebrew Home, established a residence for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and served as a key contributor to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

In her earlier years, Geraldine was an activist and advocate for social causes. As a young woman in the 1940s, she participated in marches and boycotts addressing racial discrimination, served as spokeswoman for a newly created government labor union and helped pioneer the groundwork that ultimately founded the Americans for Democratic Action.

Social consciousness, humility and generosity continued to be her guiding values. She tutored children in reading and over her lifetime was a gracious benefactor to a full array of local charities. She was an avid reader and enjoyed singing in her synagogue choir. An only child herself, she took joy in loving her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Geraldine will be lovingly remembered in the hearts of her four children, Arnold (Diane) Polinger, Jan (Richard) Chavis, Lorre Polinger (Donald Wertlieb and David (Amy) Polinger; and her nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Sean), Renee (Andy), Joshua (Rebecca), Julie (Zach), Mollie (Evan), Steven, Miriam (Ernest), Becka (Keller) and Charlie. She also leaves behind 17 great-grandchildren.

Donations may be made to Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington — Polinger Concert Series, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington — targeted to vulnerable populations, or Southern Poverty Law Center

The post Philanthropist Geraldine Merican Polinger supported secular and Jewish causes appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Peggy Lipton in 1968. Wikimedia Commons

Actress Peggy Lipton, who represented network television’s version of the quintessential ’60s flower child as the star of the crime drama “The Mod Squad,” has died. She was 72.

Her death from cancer was announced Saturday by Kidada and Rashida Jones, her daughters from her marriage to composer and music producer Quincy Jones.

On “The Mod Squad,” which ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973, she played Julie Barnes, one of a trio of young counterculture types who are enlisted as undercover cops after their own brushes with the law. It was one of the earliest primetime series to deal with the burning social issues of the day,
including abortion, racism, the anti-war movement and police brutality.

Lipton later starred in the role of Double R Diner owner Norma Jennings on the cult 1990s TV series “Twin Peaks,” and appeared in its 2017 revival. As a singer, she had hits with “Stoney End” in 1968 and “Lu” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” in 1970.

Born in New York in 1946, she was raised in Woodmere, one of the iconic Five Towns of Long Island that drew a large Jewish population in the years after World War II. In her 2005 memoir, “Breathing Out,” she wrote that her grandparents on both sides had immigrated from Russia. Her father, Harold Lipton, was a corporate lawyer; her mother, Rita Benson, was an artist.

As a biracial couple, Lipton and Jones often faced “ugly” reactions, she said. Lipton once recalled that the girls and their stepsister all “loved” attending synagogue and Passover seders, but “felt conspicuously black and out of place in Jewish Sunday School where there seemed to be only little fair-skinned white girls.”

Nonetheless, Rashida Jones declared at age 10, “I want to become the first female, Jewish, black President of the United States.”

As the Hollywood “It” girl of her era, Lipton was linked with various celebrity men, including Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, The Who drummer Keith Moon and actor Terrence Stamp. After returning
to the business after her marriage to Jones ended, she came to be regarded as a generous and helpful mentor to younger actors, especially those who became successful, as she did, at a young age.

—JTA News and Features

The post Peggy Lipton, star of TV’s ‘The Mod Squad,’ dies at 72 appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Deena Lisbeth Kaplan died of cancer on May 2. She was the beloved wife of Jerome A. Kaplan; devoted mother of Karen Kaplan, Jessica Kaplan (Joe Youcha) and Carolyn Bernstein (Steve Bernstein); loving sister of Mark Berliant; cherished grandmother of Abby Kaplan, Sam Werner, Ben Werner, Anna Werner, Emma Youcha, Zack Youcha, Henry Bernstein, Jack Bernstein and Will Bernstein; and great-grandmother of Isabella Werner.

Contributions may be made to the Bender JCC Senior Art Show. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Deena Lisbeth Kaplan appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Ruth Koenigsberg, of Washington and Montgomery County, died on May 6. She was a mentor, friend, teacher, coach administrator, world traveler, photographer and passionate lover of life.

After graduating from American University and North Carolina State, Ruth’s positions in Montgomery County Public Schools transitioned from teacher, coach, athletic coordinator, ending as assistant principal and principal at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Following retirement, Ruth mentored aspiring administrators. She was a team player, recognizing and inspiring the best in her family, friends and colleagues and they, in response, remained close and supportive of Ruth and one another.

She is survived by her brother, Mark, her niece, Lisa, and wife, Christa.

Donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org). Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Ruth Ellen Koenigsberg appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Allen J. Krasner, of Rockville, died on Apr. 30. He was the beloved husband of Roberta Krasner; devoted father of Michael Krasner (Anna), Julie McCormack (Tom) and Stephen Krasner (Shay); loving brother of Beth Lanzi and Carin Babcock (Chris); and cherished grandfather of Joseph, Isabel, Colin, Maren, Noah, Penelope, Erin, Kaley and Grace.

Contributions may be made to Washington Hebrew Congregation.

Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Allen J. Krasner appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Hyla-Ruth Neaman of Silver Spring, died on May 2. She was the beloved wife of the late Bernard Neaman; devoted mother of Ira (Judith) and Joel (Susan); sister of the late William Cornfield and Cerita Cornfield; cherished grandmother of Jaime (Aaron), Marisa (Alex), Alexis, Brian (Nicole), Lauren (Michael); and proud great-grandmother to Bailey, Lucas and Owen. She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Mary Cornfield.

Donations can be made to Charles E. Smith Senior Living, Alzheimer’s Association, or Progress Club Foundation. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Hyla-Ruth Neaman appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.

Tillie R. Singer, of Silver Spring, died on May 7. She was 103. She was the beloved wife of the late S. Stanton Singer; mother of Howard Singer (Valerie) and Barbara Singer Felzenberg; grandmother of Stacey Viera (Luis), Melissa Felzenberg, Rachel Singer and Jonathan Singer (Allison); and great-grandmother of Myer and Dagny Viera and Gwendolyn and William Singer.

Contributions may be made to the Jewish Social Service Agency.  Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.

The post Tillie R. Singer appeared first on Washington Jewish Week.