October 20, 1922 – December 19, 2013 Alan Cassman passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19th, after suffering a stroke. 91 years old, he left us exactly as he would have wanted – surrounded by his family in his Westchester home, where he had lived for over half a century. Alan spent his childhood in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he developed a life-long love of the beach and riding the waves. An excellent student and athlete, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he played varsity football and baseball. After entering the Army officer training corps during World War II, Alan trained at Fort Benning, Georgia and then was stationed in Korea. After the war, Alan attended law school at the University of Pennsylvania. During this time, he and Mary Ellen Gill became romantically involved. They married on October 15, 1948 and drove across the country to California. They landed in Los Angeles and never left. In 1951, they moved to Westchester. During the 1950’s and early 60’s Alan built a successful solo law practice. From 1965 to 1992, Alan practiced with Andrew Lachina. Despite a semi-retirement in 2003, Alan continued to practice law until his death. Alan was also devoted to a wide variety of civic activities, including the Westchester Family YMCA and the Airport Marina Counseling Service (both of which he helped to found), the Lions Club, the Community Concerts Association, and Little League. He served on numerous Boards of local charities and civic agencies. Alan’s commitment to his community and to society at large was exceeded only by his devotion to his family. Alan is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, his three children – Ken, Joan and Ted — seven grandchildren, and two great-children. A Memorial Celebration Service will be held at the Westchester Family YMCA on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The family asks that in lieu of flowers those wishing to make a contribution may donate to the Westchester Family YMCA or the Airport Marina Counseling Service in Alan’s honor. Links to those websites and more information about Alan and the Memorial Service can be found at: www.alancassman.com.Published in the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 12, 2014
DAVIDOWITZ–The Honorable Edward M., 81, retired Justice of The Supreme Court of The State of New York, passed away after a long illness on October 10, 2014. He lived a life dedicated to family, friends and the law. Ed was a graduate of the Ethical Culture School, Fieldston, Allegheny College and Cornell Law School. He also served as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He began his career in law as an Assistant District Attorney under Frank Hogan. After a brief time in private practice, Ed returned to public service as a Special Assistant Attorney General in The New York State Special Prosecutor’s Office. In 1985 he was appointed to the Bronx Supreme Court as an Acting Supreme Court Justice of the Court of Claims, and ultimately appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Upon retirement, he continued working in the Bronx Supreme Court as a Judicial Hearing Officer. He was also honored to serve as Co-chair of the New York Tribal Courts Committee whose mission is to foster an understanding and improve cooperation between the Tribal and State justice systems. Ed loved helping young Assistant District Attorneys and Defense Lawyers become the best lawyers possible. Both always wanted to try cases before him and looked forward to his willingness to mentor. His passion for law and teaching led him to co-author a book on the practice of criminal law: Foundation Evidence, Questions and Courtroom Protocols. He also wrote The Practice of Criminal Law under the CPLR and Related Civil Procedure Statutes. He was a member of the New York State and City Bar Associations. He also was a board member of Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY and a member of Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY. Ed was a kind, generous, gentle and fair person beloved by many. Family was paramount in his life, and he leaves behind a loving wife, Ellen, of fifty three years, three sons; James (Laurie), Robert (Cheryl Bennett) and John, along with five cherished grandchildren; Cleo, Jonas, Tess, Adler and Edison. Nothing gave Edward greater joy than time spent with his family. Funeral services will be held at Westchester Reform Temple on Monday, October 13, 2014, 11am at Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Leukemia Fighters c/o of Dr. Ellen K. Ritchie, 520 East 70th Street, Box 403, New York NY 10021.
Published in The New York Times on Oct. 11, 2014
Robert P. Frankel, 88, a Philadelphia lawyer, died of a progressive neurological disorder Friday, July 9, at the medical wing of Rydal Park, where he had lived for seven years. He was a longtime resident of Jenkintown. Mr. Frankel represented the fourth generation of his family to be a board member of Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, where he was president from 1973 to 1976. He also served as an executive for two hospitals.
From 1949 to 1999, Mr. Frankel was with Fox, Rothschild, O’Brien & Frankel, the Center City firm at which his father, Bernard, was a named partner. Mr. Frankel, who handled trusts and estates, became a partner in 1958. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Frankel graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1939 and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in 1942.
He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, his military assignment was to work with Boy Scouts on Guam. Mr. Frankel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1948. A spokeswoman for the Jewish Publication Society said that Mr. Frankel was a society trustee from 1971 to 1980 and again from 1984. She said Mr. Frankel was treasurer of the Publication Society from 1974 to 1976, its vice president from 1977 to 1979, and again its treasurer from 1980 to 1983.
A board member of Eagleville Hospital from 1965 to 2006, he was named its solicitor in 1966.
Mr. Frankel was a board member of Abington Memorial Hospital from 1980 to 1998. He was president from 1969 to 1972 of the Noble Improvement Association, a civic group in Abington.
With the Lawyers’ Club in Philadelphia, he was a board member in the 1970s and 1980s and a member of the Locust Club from the 1950s for more than 30 years.
In 1961, The Inquirer reported that he was reelected to a three-year term as a director of the Philmont Country Club. A Philmont member from the 1940s into the 1990s, he served as both its secretary and vice president.
Besides his son, Robert P. Jr., he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Doris; sons Richard and Donald; and two grandchildren. A graveside service was held July 11. A memorial is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St.
GABEL, IVAN HERZOG, age 84, of Jenkintown, PA died on June 11, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth (Israel) Gabel, their three children Joanne Hamilton (Chris), Bruce Gabel (Susan), and Barbara Sklar
(Steven); his sister Ruth Goldstein (the late Ned); as well as 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Ivan was born on January 17, 1932 in Philadelphia, PA to Jennie (Wallerstein) Gabel and Joseph J. Gabel. He attended Friends
Central School and then Swarthmore College, graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. After college, Ivan was drafted into the US Army and he and his bride spent the first two years of their marriage in Nancy, France.
Upon their return from Europe, Ivan worked for Merit Oil Corporation for almost his entire career, culminating in the role of president and CEO from 1987 until his retirement in 2000, when the company was sold to Hess Corporation. Ivan was
an active member of the community. He was Trustee and former Board Chair of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, and Einstein Healthcare Network. He was also a lifetime Honorary Trustee of Jewish Federation and former Trustee of both Jefferson Health System and United Way. A Burial will be held at Roosevelt Cemetery, Trevose, PA at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday June 14, 2016. A Memorial Service will be held at Congregation Rodeph Shalom following Burial at 12:00 noon followed by a meal of consolation at the synagogue. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that gifts be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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| HIRSCH–Gerry Strasser, age 71, passed away peacefully at his home in Manhattan on January 22, 2013 – after more than a decade enduring the ravages of Pick’s Disease with gentleness and grace. Artist in life’s endeavors large and small, his excellence as a father to Scott, Robb and Matthew shines above all. Devoted son of the late Leonard and Mary; brother of the late Roland; grandfather of Tabatha, Holliss, Fisher, Marilla and Holden; husband to Anne Holliss Young (divorced) and Rosana Pereira Lima (divorced); loyal friend to many. Born September 27, 1941 in New York City, he attended The Dalton School, Camp Kennebec (Maine) and Riverdale Country School, where he captained the football, basketball, and baseball teams. At Wesleyan University, he received the college’s Best Athlete award as captain of the football and squash teams, was president of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, and elected to the Mystical Seven Honorary Society. A graduate of Harvard Business School, he began his career at Halle & Stieglitz – the Wall Street investment firm founded in 1889 by his great-grandfather Albert Stieglitz. While he remained an astute investor throughout his life, his private sector career focus was leadership training. He founded M.T.D. Associates, Inc., a management and financial consulting firm to leading banks and industrial companies including American Express, Chase Manhattan Bank, Conoco, DuPont, First Boston, GE, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. Long associated with Boston’s Forum Corporation, he received their award for excellence in the practice of management consulting. He dedicated much of his professional life to public service, first working on anti-poverty programs in NYC as staff assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and in the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay, and then working on U.S. foreign aid and development programs. At the State Department’s Agency for International Development, stationed in Santiago, Chile, he coordinated the Overseas Private Investment Guarantee Program; at the Peace Corps in Washington, DC, he was Chief of the Programs and Training Division for Latin America; and at the School of International Training, The Experiment in International Living in Brattleboro, VT, he was the Director of the Graduate Degree Program in International Administration. Always willing to try new things – he traveled across Europe on motorcycle, climbed the Matterhorn, campaigned for NY State Assembly, drove a yellow cab, skied, and took up golf at the age of 50. As a late blooming artist, he followed his life-long passion for abstract painting; he studied intensively at The Art Students League of New York where he was awarded a merit scholarship. With genuine warmth, respect for others, integrity, hard work and an uplifting sense of humor throughout his life, he was blessed with an inner quality that enabled him to succeed in his wide range of endeavors, foremost as father and friend. In memory of Gerry S. Hirsch, donations may be made to the University of Pennsylvania, Center for Frontotemporal Dementia at http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ftd/donations/ or The Art Students League of New York, Seeds of the League at http://theartstudentsleague.org/ExhibitionOutreach/SeedsoftheLeagueEducationalOutreach.aspx Published in The New York Times on Jan. 29, 2013 |
HIRSCH, John, age 80, of Atlanta, GA, died February 6, 2018. John was proud to be a lifelong Atlantan. He attended Northside High School and then went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree at The University of Pennsylvania. After serving in the US Army, John went on to work in real estate. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Hirsch; sons, Kenny (Marina) Hirsch and Steve (Sharon) Hirsch; daughters, Jan (Keith) Liscio and Cathy Hirsch; and grandchildren, Benjamin, Gregory, Anthony, Matthew, and Katie Hirsch and Juliana and Patrick Liscio. Please sign online guest book at www.edressler.com. Funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, February 9, 2018 at The Temple 1589 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta GA 30309. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Temple, Temple Sinai, and The William Breman Jewish Home. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 451-4999.
Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Feb. 8 to Feb. 9, 2018.