OBITUARIES

his memory to the American Heart Association or your favorite charity.

Sherwin Goodblatt, 87 COHASSET, MASS. –Longtime health-care executive and educator

Sherwin Z. Goodblatt, of Cohasset, died July 12, 2023, at South Shore Hospital. He was the husband of Lois J. Goodblatt for 35 years

During a lengthy corporate career that ended with his retirement in 1985, Sherwin served as administrator of Deborah Hospital, in Brown Mills, New Jersey; first executive director of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, in Boston; executive director of the Rhode Island Group Health Association; and chief executive officer of both Westwood (Mass.) Lodge and Pembroke (Mass.) hospitals. He developed new hospital facilities at his positions in New Jersey, Boston and Pembroke. After retirement, he served as a consultant to several hospitals throughout the U.S.

Sherwin served as a faculty member at Rutgers University, where he was honored by the university as outstanding faculty member, and at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Teacher’s College and Graduate School of Business. He also spent 20 years as an adjunct professor of health services administration at

Providence College.

He was a founding board member of the Burlington County (N.J.) Community College and its nursing program, and a board member for the New Jersey Hospital Association. Goodblatt also was a member of many national, state and local health-care organizations.

In 1994, Sherwin received the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, where he served on the Board of Overseers for more than 25 years. He was appointed to the Board of Overseers of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in 2017 and continued as an active member.

Sherwin was interested in antiques, especially clocks and pocket watches. He enjoyed traveling, and he visited 48 states, missing only North Dakota and Hawaii. He particularly enjoyed Capitol buildings. He traveled extensively through Canada, visiting all but one of the provinces/territories, and many foreign countries. He enjoyed crossword and similar puzzles, the stock market and classical music.

Born Nov. 22, 1935, Sherwin was the only child of the late Sarah and Alex Goodblatt, of Providence. His early years were spent in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and Providence, where he graduated from Hope High School. After graduating from Providence College, he received a graduate degree in health care administration from Georgia

State University and Columbia University. He served his residency in hospital administration at Maimonides Medical Center, in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to his wife, Sherwin is survived by two step-children, Diane Seymour, of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and Robert Astin and his longtime partner, Alicia Geller, of Falmouth, Massachusetts; two grandsons, Joshua Astin and his wife, Catherine, and Ryan Astin and his wife, Jenn; two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Cameron, with a third great-grandchild on the way; as well as cousin and best friend, Ronald Z. Kaplan, of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is also survived by two children from an earlier marriage.

Sherwin was a longtime friend and supporter of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Mailman School at Columbia and the Providence Hebrew Day School, which honored him with a dinner for his distinguished service to the school.

Contributions can be made to Providence Hebrew Day School, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906.

Joyce Hurvitz, 96 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Joyce Rady Hurvitz was born in Bristol, Virginia in 1927. Her family soon moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she grew up and attended Vanderbilt University. Joyce met her future husband, Arthur Hurvitz of New York, on a fortuitous visit: Arthur’s brother had married Joyce’s cousin, and Arthur joined his brother on a trip to see his in-laws in Chattanooga. There, Joyce and Arthur met and fell into a deep love which lasted every day of their 71-year marriage until Arthur died in 2020.

After a brief stint in Atlanta, the couple moved to Rhode Island where Joyce lived in Rhode Island for 72 of her 96 years. But she never lost the charming southern drawl she developed growing up in Tennessee.

Her southern charm was accompanied by a deep thoughtfulness, quick-witted sense of humor, immense care for her community, and true joie de vivre. Her contagious laugh made her a delight to be with in any setting, and she always had a kind word to say about everyone.

She was an accomplished cook and baker, with a specialty in all things chocolate. She excelled at tennis and bridge though she was not competitive. She and Arthur loved ballroom dancing.

Together, Joyce and Arthur were active philanthropists in Rhode Island. Their causes included The Miriam Hospital, the Jewish Seniors Agency, the Jewish Federation of RI, The Jewish Family Service, Planned Parenthood of RI, Pawtucket Boy’s Club, and Cumberland-Lincoln Boy’s Club. Joyce also chaired fundraisers for Butler on the Green as well as neighborhood fund drives for the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

The family matriarch, Joyce supported Arthur throughout his career, and for decades presided over weekly family dinners where she consistently set an example of generosity, humility and joy.

Joyce died at home on July 27, 2023 in Providence. She is survived by her brother, Howard Rady of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Karen Hurvitz of Concord, Massaachusetts, and Ellen Hurvitz of Needham, Massachusetts; four grandchildren Mark Strasnick, Alix Strasnick, Daniel Berke, and Michael Berke; and two great-grandchildren Jacob Strasnick and Julian Strasnick. The family would like to acknowledge the devoted care given to both Joyce and Arthur by Dennene Merola, Nikki Olivier, Pam Remka, Ivonne Visco and Linda St Laurent.

Donations may go to the Hurvitz Nursing Scholarship Endowed Fund, c/o Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, or https://giving.lifespan.org/ The-Miriam/Give-Now

Annette Pomerantz, 93 WARWICK, R.I. – Annette “Honey”

Pomerantz died on July 26, 2023, at the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice

Center in Providence. She was the wife of Morton J. Pomerantz for 63 years. Born in Providence, Honey was the daughter of the late Meyer and Fannie (Shulman) Silverman. Honey and Mort raised their family in Cranston before moving to Warwick. Most recently

Honey lived at Tamarisk Assisted Living where she enjoyed painting, reading, playing bingo and mahjong. For over 30 years, she was a devoted elementary school teacher with the Cranston School Department. Honey was a lifetime member of Hadassah and a member of Temple Sinai.

A mother of four, she is survived by her children Lynne Pomerantz, of Warwick, Paul Pomerantz and his wife, Judith, of Sharon, Massachusetts, and Jill Goodman of West Warwick. She was the grandmother of Lindsay and her husband Jason, Reuben and Nathan. She was predeceased by her son, Sheldon Pomerantz, and her brother, Everett Silverman. Contributions may be made to West Bay RI, 158 Knight Street, Warwick, RI 02886.

Deborah Roberts, 73 WARWICK, R.I. – Deborah, F. Roberts died July 17, 2023, at The Cedars RI, in Cranston. She was the wife of the late Stanley Alan Roberts for 45 years. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Norman M. Kahn and Leona (Kahn) Spilka. She had lived in Warwick for 47 years, previously living in Providence.

She was a proud and dedicated elementary school teacher with the Providence School Department until her retirement in 2001. Deborah was a longtime member of Temple Sinai, and a member of its Sisterhood. She enjoyed bowling and crafting, but treasured the time spent with her loved ones more than anything.

She was the mother of Rachael Kaplan and her husband, Benjamin, of Cranston, and David Roberts and his wife, Molly Bremen, of Urbandale, Iowa. She was the “Sweetheart” of Madelyn, Henry, Simon and Max. She was a sister-in-law of Francey Nathan, of Warwick, and Linda Forman, of Lenox, Massachusetts. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Robert Kahn.

Contributions may be made to Temple Sinai, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston, RI 02920 or to the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center of Providence, Attn: Philanthropy, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.