A RESOLUTION OF
ABRAMSON SENIOR CARE
C ommunity / deaths
DEATH NOTICES
Shirley R. Shils, z”l
Shirley joined the board in 1983 and was an active
member of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC)
community, Abramson Senior Care’s predecessor
agency. She generously gave of her time, serving as
the chair of the York House Committee and on the
Public Relations and Marketing Committee, and the
Community Services Committee. Shirley was also
a lifetime member of the Abramson Auxiliary and a
dedicated volunteer.

In addition to giving of her time, Shirley supported
Abramson Senior Care’s mission to care for those
seniors in need by graciously contributing to the
Capital Campaign and annual fundraising gala. Her
contributions have ensured that seniors throughout the
Philadelphia region will continue to get the care and
support they need.

Abramson Senior Care and our entire Jewish community
were truly fortunate to have been the beneficiary of her
time, leadership, and enduring tzedakah.

To her children Dr. Ronnie Burak (Dr. Carl Burak), Nancy
Shils and Edward Barry Shils; grandchildren; great-
grandchildren; and all who mourn her passing, the
Board of Trustees of Abramson Senior Care offer this
expression of profound sympathy. May they find solace
in the knowledge that her dedication, generosity and
good works will serve as a living tribute to her and will
benefit future generations.

Lorraine Drobny
Board Chair
Carol A. Irvine
President and CEO
Honor the memory
of your
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DEATH NOTICES
BRENNER The Board of Trustees of Abramson Senior Care record
with sorrow the passing of their esteemed colleague
and friend
whose commitment to Jewish causes and philanthropy
benefited the seniors served by Abramson Senior
Care, and who served as an example to the entire
community. DEATH NOTICES
BERKOWITZ Betty Berkowitz (nee Finberg) on February
13, 2021. Beloved wife of the late Bernard
Weintraub and the late George Berkowitz;
Loving mother of Philip (Janice) Weintraub,
Jerry (Linda) Weintraub, Beverly (Jim)
Childs, Adele (Jim) Oestreich and Daniel
Weintraub. Also survived by 17 grandchil-
dren and 30 great-grandchildren. Services
and interment were private.

GOLDSTEINS' ROSEN ERG'S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
BIRNBAUM Louis Birnbaum, passed away on February
13, 2021. He was survived by his daughter,
Dona, his two granddaughters, his great
grandson, special friends Tom and Eric,
Sweet Potato and Ginger, nieces, great
nieces, nephews, great nephews, childhood
friends, and all who loved him.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
BLACK Lee Forest Black, February 14, 2021 of Phil-
adelphia, PA; beloved and cherished hus-
band of Molly (nee Crane); dear son of
Mickey & Barbara Black; cherished son-in-
law of Robert Max Crane and Paula Crane;
devoted brother of Anna Black Morin (Eric
Morin); adored grandson of Marvin and the
late Annette Wolowitz Black and Julian & Rita
Ehrenberg; cherished uncle of Ruby and Hat-
tie Morin. Also survived by his loving aunts,
uncles, cousins and extended family and
friends. Services were private. In lieu of
flowers, contributions in his memory may be
made to the not-for-profit “ Hughie and
Selma Black Foundation,” funding organiza-
tions that provide camp experiences for chil-
dren of all socio-economic backgrounds, 123
S. Broad Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA
19109, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

May the goodness of Lee’s life be a blessing.

JOSEPH LEVINE and SONS
www.levinefuneral.com A Community
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Gerald Stanley Brenner, beloved husband of
Linda (Byer), passed away on February 11,
2021 at the age of 86. Born in Brooklyn,
Gerry was the son of Abraham and Jean
(Dembowitz), and adoring younger brother of
Melvin, who predeceased him by just fifteen
months. Gerry graduated from Samuel J.

Tilden High School and the City College of
New York before flying (for the first time in
his life) to the University of Wisconsin where
he earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry. He
met his b’shert, Linda (a seventeen-year-old
freshman), during his first week on campus.

They were married three years later, in 1959.

Gerry and Linda settled first in Plainfield, New
Jersey, later moving to Plymouth Meeting,
where they resided for nearly fifty years. They
have belonged to Tiferet Israel Synagogue in
Norristown, and subsequently Tiferet Bet Is-
rael Synagogue in Blue Bell, since moving to
the area in 1971. Gerry’s career, which was
also clearly his hobby, spanned nearly sixty
years. He retired from Merck and Company
as Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Re-
search after 33 years, and began a second
career as a consultant and expert witness to
the pharmaceutical industry for another 24
years. When he wasn’t doing the work he
loved so passionately, he could be found on
the racquetball court, in the garden, working
on a home improvement project, or traveling
with his beloved Linda. Gerry was full of grat-
itude for all of his blessings, and was always
eager to give of himself to others. Whether in
service to his synagogue or other charitable
organizations or serving as an advocate to
those who had difficulty advocating for them-
selves, he did the work quietly and without
fanfare, but always to the utmost of his abilit-
ies. Gerry’s greatest joy, in addition to his be-
loved Linda, was his brood of children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is
loved and missed by his children, Jeffrey
(Tamar) Brenner, Beth (Dan) Heyman and
Susan (Gidon) Yitzhak; his grandchildren, Av-
raham, Rachael, Asher, Shayna and Chaya
Brenner, Bennett (Sara), Noah (Craig Arno)
and Aaron Heyman, Brit (Elad) Siman Tov, Li-
ad, Merav, Sarah and Ovadiah Yitzhak; and
great-grandchildren, Dakota, Randy and Am-
ber Kraus and Yaakov and Avital Siman Tov.

The family respectfully suggests memorial
donations be directed to Tiferet Bet Israel,
University of Wisconsin Hillel, or the Gerald
Brenner Science Scholarship at City College
of New York.

CHASE Linda M Chase (nee Goodman) of Cherry Hill,
New Jersey and Marco Island, Florida
passed away on February 13. She is survived
by her loving husband of 57 years, Paul, her
children, Jodi (Tim) Heilizer, Jeff (Cathy)
Chase and Mark (Alyssa) Chase, along with
her niece Stacy Greenspan and nephew
Steven (Jamie) Greenspan. Her grandchil-
dren Alec, Jake, Nick, Ellie, Matthew, Ethan,
Ilana, Maya, Jada, Travis, David, Samantha,
Jason, Stephanie, Katy and Ani will miss her
dearly. Linda grew up in Bala Cynwyd on
Maple Ave, graduated from Lower Merion
High School, then Penn State (We are…)
with a degree in education. She was a lifelong
camp person first at Indian Trails then
Seneca Lake and finally serving as the Girls
Head Counselor at Camp Kweebec for 25
years where she made an indelible mark and
enriched numerous lives. She will be re-
membered for her compassion, kindness,
spirit, positive energy, patience and gener-
ous heart. She always put others needs
ahead of her own and helped those she knew
find their best selves. She made lifelong
friends wherever she went forging genuine
connections. She was preceded in death by
her loving sister Ina and parents Rose and
Joseph Goodman. In accordance with her
love of children donations can be made in her
name to The Guadalupe Center (www.guada-
lupecenter.org) where she volunteered.

CASPER Howard Morton Casper, 90, passed away on
February 11, 2021 from COVID-19. He is sur-
vived by his wife, Nancy, daughter Susan
Brenman, granddaughter, Emily, and grand-
son, 'Jule.' Howard was born in Philadelphia
on March 16, 1930 to Sadie and Martin
Casper. His older brother Lee passed away in
2016. Howard moved to Newark, NJ when he
was a young boy, but returned to Phil-
adelphia after graduating from Weequahic
High School in 1948. He was in his Coast
Guard uniform when he first met his bride-to-
be, Nancy, at Horn & Hardarts in Bala Cyn-
wyd. They shared 63 years traveling the
world, collecting art, and surrounding them-
selves with cherished friends and family. The
Casper Art Collection can be found at
Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA. As a
builder, Howard and his partner Harold
Sukonik built more than 5,000 homes in
Northeast Philadelphia. An exceptionally gen-
erous man, Howard wished to make life a
little easier for all whom he encountered.

Contributions, if desired, may be sent to
either the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation or
Lankenau Medical Center Foundation at the
following address: Main Line Health Develop-
ment 240 North Radnor Chester Road Suite
340 Radnor, PA 19087. Please be sure to in-
dicate, either in the Memo field of the check
or on an accompanying note, that your gift is
In Memory of Howard Casper Memorial con-
tributions can also be made via Main Line
Health’s website for Bryn Mawr Hospital
Foundation or Lankenau Medical Center
Foundation: BMH: https://www.mainlinehealth.org/ways-
to-give/bryn-mawr-hospital- foundation/make-a-gift-online
LMC: https://www.mainlinehealth.org/ways-
to-give/lankenau-medical-center- foundation/make-a-gift-online
JOSEPH LEVINE and SONS
www.levinefuneral.com DIAS
Howard R. Dias, CPA. February 15, 2021.

Cherished husband of Barbara Dias (nee
Goldberg). Loving father of Danielle and
Zachary Dias. Dear brother-in-law of Bruce
(Kathy) Goldberg, Howard Goldberg, and
Linda Goldberg. Contributions in his memory
may be made to the Levi Bible Academy,
www.jewishbucks.com GOLDSTEINS' ROSENBERG'S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
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FEBRUARY 25, 2021
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