OBITUARIES CECELIA HIGGER VIRGINIA BEACH—Cecelia Higger, 95, a resident at Beth Sholom Terrace, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2021 in Virginia Beach. Cecelia was born in Havana, Cuba to Ida Miller and Sam Rebe. At age 19, Cecelia immigrated to America with her parents and baby sister, Sarita (Sachs). They were reunited with older sister, Rosy (Wrobel) and multiple cousins, aunts, and uncles. Cecelia was always very family oriented and the glue that bonded her family. She was always the life of the party. Cecelia always had a strong work ethic. She sold real estate, owned and operated Higger’s Market in Portsmouth, managed apartment complexes, and helped her beloved husband of 60 years, Sonny, in his coin and gun shop. Cecelia lived the last seven years of her life at Beth Sholom. She enjoyed socializing, pottery, painting, and her dream was to start a stock club for the Terrace residents. Cecelia’s sense of humor, devotion, temperament and personality won the hearts and devotion of all who knew and loved her. Cecelia is survived by her daughters, Rochelle Pollack, and her husband, Si, Harriett Hickman and her husband, Clayton, and Marsha Block (Howie), a brother-in-law, Daniel Higger and his wife, Francis, and a brother-in-law, Bert Sachs (Sarita). Cecelia is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Shaun and Kathleen Kravitz, Lisa Kravitz, Scott Block, Jared Hickman, Allison and Shaun Lloyd, Joy Tomlinson and Jerry and BG Pollack, and three great-grandchildren, Sydney Tomlinson, Vanessa Tomlinson and Adelyn Lloyd, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. A funeral service was conducted graveside at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Donations may be made to Beth Sholom of Eastern Virginia, 6401 Auburn Drive, Va. Beach, Va. 23464. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. STEVEN LIEBERMAN NORFOLK—Steven Lieberman, 75, passed away May 27, 2021 at Norfolk Heart Hospital. Steve was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 6, 1946 to Richard and Esther
Margolies Lieberman. He moved, with his family, to Roanoke, Va. and several years later to Richmond, Va. He graduated from Douglas Freeman High School, VCU, and Washington College of Law. Steve served as City Attorney of Portsmouth, Va. before entering private practice. Steve loved playing golf, having had three holes in one, all at his favorite course, Cypress Point, in Virginia Beach. He played with friends in the “Lieberman Group” for many years. Steve loved the New York Giants football team and the San Francisco Giants baseball team. He boasted that he was born on the same day as his idol, Willie. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sherry Blum Lieberman. Son, Brian Lieberman, daughter Lisa Thatch, husband John Thatch and his special loves that call him Pop, Ashlyn Lieberman, Evan Lieberman, Tyler Thatch, Hunter Thatch, Tara Thatch, and Duane Lieberman. His sister, Marilyn Eber, South Bend, Indiana who shared his birthday, May 6, sister and brother-in-law, Linda Green and Ernie Smith, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, loving nieces, cousins, aunts and friends. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
IRENE IDA BANKS MAZEL VIRGINIA BEACH—Irene Ida Banks Mazel, 90, passed away on May 9, 2021. She was born to William and Lottie Banks, one of seven children. She graduated high school at 16 and worked for United Insurance Company from age 17 to 31. She liked to say “I had 47 men under me” to describe her responsibilities. Irene was active in many local organizations, serving as president of the PTA at the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater and president of the Sisterhood at B’nai Israel Congregation many times. Irene personally cared for her husband, Willie, for the last 10 years of his life. She was a selfless mother who cared greatly for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Irene was preceded in death by her husband and youngest son, Joel. She is survived by her sons Mark (Hindi) Mazel and David (Jodi) Mazel, a brother
22 | JEWISH NEWS | June 14, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
Howard Banks, a sister Trudy (Behrooz) Dayanim, and many nieces and nephews. She has nine grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Her family thanks The Terrace at Beth Sholom and Freda Gordon Hospice for their care and B’nai Israel Congregation for its love and kindnesses throughout her life. A graveside service was held at B’nai Israel Cemetery in Norfolk. Memorial donations may be made to B’nai Israel Congregation.
KITTY FRIEDENBACH SAKS VIRGINIA BEACH—Kitty Friedenbach Saks, 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 9, 2021 with her family by her side. Kitty lived an extraordinary life, challenged with hardship, struggle, and uncertainty as a young girl, and later as a young adult, blessed with redemption, a loving family, adoring friends and community. Kitty was a survivor of the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust while living in Austria and later Belgium. Many daring border crossings with her parents to flee to safety through the wilderness in the darkness of night ultimately failed. She was later separated from her family and lived through the war years as a hidden Jewish child under an assumed name and identity in multiple Catholic Convents and orphanages. Her will to survive was driven by a strong personal resolve and sheer determination, empowered by her deep rooted Jewish identity. As a young girl in the convents, she would recite the Shema every evening, a traditional prayer and personal declaration of faith and affirmation of Judaism. Sponsored by relatives in Norfolk, Va., Kitty and her parents were able to immigrate to the United States following the war. She met her future husband, Abbott, at a B’nai Israel Synagogue social event when she was 17. Kitty and Abbott shared a deep bond, an enduring commitment to each other, and a loving marriage that spanned over 64 years. Kitty was small in stature, but was large in life, multifaceted, and engaging. She was a wonderful daughter, mother, and grandmother, a terrific cook, and
loved to entertain. She oversaw the family clothing business, volunteered for many organizations and causes, and was an animal lover. In her later years, she embraced a personal mission to support continued education and discussion of The Holocaust. She presented her story at multiple local schools and organizations in the hope that future generations may be enlightened and spared of the hate, evil, and injustices she had witnessed and endured. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Tonie S. Wilkins and her husband, Frank of Virginia Beach; her son, David Saks and his wife, MaryLou of Delray Beach, Fla.; and two grandsons, Elliot A. Saks and Adam L. Saks. Kitty will forever be remembered by all fortunate to have known her, for her quick wit and feisty personality that would magically illuminate and enliven any room. She leaves a legacy filled with eternal hope and boundless courage, an inspiration forever, to all who read and learn of her life story. A private family graveside service was conducted in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Contributions to the donor’s favorite charity. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
HARRY SANDLER VIRGINIA BEACH, VA—Harry Sandler, son of the late Leo Max Sandler and Eva Sherman Sandler, died peacefully in Virginia Beach the morning of May 26, 2021 at the age of 95. He was predeceased by his brother Samuel and Sam’s wife, Reba. Harry was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 29, 1926. He attended Norfolk Public Schools. Harry served in the U.S. Army during the World War II. He was very honored to have served his country. He was a member of Temple Israel in Norfolk, as well as Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach. Harry was proud of his Jewish heritage. Harry was co-owner of L.M. Sandler & Sons, the family food business along with his brother. He was instrumental in the growth of Sandler Foods and was known
