10 minute read
Obituaries
HARRIET GAIL DICKMAN
VIRGINIA BEACH—Harriet Gail Dickman, 82, of Virginia Beach, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 10, 2021.
She was from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and the daughter of Harold and Ray Kruger Bloom.
She was the wife of Stanwood Dickman for 60 wonderful years. Mother to Ray Alyssa Rothman, Barry Dickman, and Bruce Dickman. Sister to Joan Benas (Al Benas). She was the proud Nana of Julia, Rachel, Teddy, Sammy, and Becca.
Harriet graduated from Boston University where she received a bachelor degree in speech pathology and master’s degree in speech pathology from Montclair State University. She maintained a private speech pathology practice for almost 40 years and built an established reputation for private school speech and hearing testing across Hampton Roads.
Harriet was loved by many and she will be deeply missed. She was a shining example of courage, caring, love, optimism, and joy of life. She was a member of Temple Israel and took part in every life event with her family. Her legacies will continue through her husband, children, and grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk. The service was live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/hdoliverfuneralapts.
Memorial donations may be made to Hadassah, Temple Israel, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater or a charity of your choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.hdoliver.com.
WILLIAM HIRSCH KITTNER
NORFOLK—William Hirsch Kittner passed away peacefully at his home on September 3, 2021.
Bill was born January 19, 1930 in Weldon N.C. He was the son of the late Louis and Rose Kittner and the baby brother to Joe, Dave, Dot and Harry of blessed memories, and sister Lucille. Bill was a resident of Weldon, North Carolina for 71 years. He graduated from Weldon High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, 1951–1953. Bill joined his family’s business, L. Kittner’s Department Store in 1955, which was owned and operated by him and his brother Harry,
Bill was an active member of numerous civic organizations including the Weldon Business Bureau, Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, Roanoke Valley Red Cross, American Legion, Weldon Jaycees, and the Weldon Rotary Club. Bill was also a daily member of the Weldon Coffee Club where he and his fellow businessmen would discuss world and local events. Bill received many awards for serving his community while living in Weldon, including Small Businessman of the Year by the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Citizen of the Year, and the Diversity Advocate Award from Halifax Community College.
Bill was an integral part of Temple Emanu-El in Weldon. He served in various roles including president, lay leader, caretaker, and also performed any other duties that were necessary for the operation of the congregation. He was instrumental in helping arrange the donation of the Temple Emanu-El Torah and memorial plaques to Temple Beth Charverim, in addition to stained glass windows and other religious memorabilia to Beth Sholom Chapel and the Chapel Hill Kehillah. Upon moving to Norfolk in 2001, Bill joined Congregation Beth El. He became an active member of Brith Sholom and volunteered with Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s PAM program.
Bill was a one-of-a-kind man with a beautiful heart, a passion for life, and a wonderful sense of humor. He was respected and admired by everyone he met. Bill was a true Tarheel who stood by his team whether they won or lost. While shopping, customers would often find Bill pacing the floor while listening to Carolina sports on Saturday afternoons.
Most important to Bill was his family. He was fortunate to have a large, caring, immediate and extended family. Bill is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 64 years, Ida Kroll Kittner. He is also survived by his children: Jody and David Laibstain, Lisa and Billy Latham, Rhoda and Bill Verhosek; his grandchildren: Hillary, Claire, Julia, Edward, and Dasha; his sister: Lucille (Chippy) Frank; and his sisters-in-law: Connie Kittner and Sarah Kittner. Additionally, Bill is survived by numerous devoted nieces, nephews, and their families.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and the Freida H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care for their support and care during Bill’s illness.
Funeral Services were held at Congregation Beth El. A private burial followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Congregation Beth El, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.
FRANK SHEFFER
VIRGINIA BEACH—Frank Sheffer, 97, passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Frank was born in Lancaster, Pa. on March 10, 1924 to Emma and Isidore Sheffer. Later they moved to Suffolk, Va. He grew up as the youngest of four children. He learned bookkeeping from his uncle and later studied accounting at William and Mary extension in Norfolk. He attended Columbia University in New York to take classes in auditing. He joined the AICPA in 1950 and started a large accounting firm in Suffolk with more than 20 employees. At one time, he was the oldest practicing CPA in Virginia.
He was active in the Suffolk Rotary Club and held offices in it. He was an officer in the Suffolk synagogue, Adgudah Achim congregation, and helped with the merger with Congregation Beth El in Norfolk.
He was a resident at the Memory Center in Virginia Beach for the last eight years.
He was predeceased by his mother, Emma Sheffer; sister, Helen Weintrob; and brothers, Aubrey and Sylvan. He is survived by his nephew, Joseph Weintrob (Irene); niece, Marjorie Lieberman (Alex), and a multitude of great and grand nieces and nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service was held at Holly Lawn Cemetery in Suffolk with Rabbi Michael Panitz officiating. Condolences may be registered online at RWBakerFH.com.
HARVEY WARREN STEEN
VIRGINIA BEACH—Harvey Warren Steen, 90, passed away on August 30, 2021 after a brief illness.
He was born on January 2, 1931 in Bronx, N.Y. to the late Emanuel and Mary (Schmookler) Steen. His family moved to River Edge, N.J. where he excelled as a student and graduated high school with a ROTC scholarship. He attended Cornell University and joined the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, graduating with a five-year degree in chemical engineering. He also played in Cornell’s Big Red marching band. Harvey soon married his red-haired beloved, Phyllis Wallach, on June 1, 1952, and the couple moved to Biloxi, Miss. to begin his military service. He was stationed in Japan with the United States Air Force where he served as a lieutenant in the communications unit, providing ground support to paratroopers on air-sea rescue missions during the Korean Conflict. After completing his service at the rank of captain, he returned to New Jersey to begin his career in the young field of plastics, helping to develop new products and serving as technical director for major companies in Ohio and Massachusetts. After their children had left home, he and Phyllis moved to Virginia Beach where he became vice president of a business brokerage firm, from which he later retired.
Harvey had a lifelong love of music. In addition to playing trombone, he had a beautiful singing voice and loved to play records reflecting his broad musical tastes. He would often play trombone duets with his wife and daughter on piano, and performed with various groups culminating with the local Tidewater Community Band. He also served as president of Temple Emanuel, in Lowell, Mass. Harvey discovered tennis in his 40s and continued playing until a bad knee stopped him in his 80s. He enjoyed watching televised sports and amusing others with his quirky sense of humor. He was able to fix almost anything and was often called upon to keep household appliances and
OBITUARIES
toys operational. Harvey had an inquisitive, incisive mind and used his Tivo to compile programs reflecting a wide range of interests.
Harvey was preceded in death by his parents; his younger sister, Myrna Steen (age 1); his cousin, Lawrence Levine; and his sister-in-law, Doris (Wallach) Gutentag. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis (Wallach) Steen; their three children and spouses: John and D. Elizabeth (Steen) Meyers; Alan Smith and Patricia Steen; Jonathan and Carole Steen; his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Donna Steen; his brother-in-law, Jack Gutentag; his cousins, Damien and Carol Steen; and his six grandchildren: Nicholas West; Tory Zakarian; and Solomon, Edmund, Timothy, and Emily Steen.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation Society of Virginia. Condolences and memories may be posted to www.vacremationsociety.com.
ANNE LYNN FLEDER VERNER
BOCA RATON, FLA.—Anne Lynn Fleder Verner passed away on August 30, 2021 after a hard fought four-month battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Anne was 61 years old.
Anne was a brilliant, hilariously funny, wonderful and beautiful woman who was married to her best friend, soul mate, and life love, Andrew Verner. They met freshman year at Emory University and became close friends, later best friends, but were not romantic until their second year at University of Miami Law School. They were married and madly in love every day for over 33 years.
Andrew survives her with their sheepdog Ferris Bueller in Boca Raton, Fla. Anne is also survived by her adopted in-law family Irene, Dan, Meryle, June, Aaron, Melissa, Benny, Adam, Cassandra, Joshua, Athena, Kaia, Ayla, Indie, Jules, Jennifer and Pat. She is also survived by her Aunt Ellen and her brother Gary, Zoe, Xander and Jasmin.
Anne always lit up the room and no matter the mood, the party started when Anne arrived. Anne touched so many lives, had so many friends and was loved by so many. Anne will be missed by everyone so much.
SHEILA BROMBERG, JEWISH HARPIST WHO WAS FIRST WOMAN TO PLAY ON A BEATLES ALBUM
(JTA)—Sheila Bromberg kept busy as an in-demand harpist in London in the 1960s, but when she got a request for a gig at EMI’s Abbey Road studio, 9 pm to midnight, she felt she couldn’t turn it down: She was, after all, a single mother.
Yet it wasn’t until the Jewish harpist heard a male with a Liverpudlian accent behind her that she realized she was about to make history.
“Well, what you got on the dots?” she recalled Paul McCartney asking her that night early in 1967. McCartney, who could not read music, wanted to hear her play the score he had dictated to Mike Leander, a music arranger.
Bromberg, who died at 92 on Aug. 17 at a hospice in Aylesbury, England, was about to become the first woman to perform on a Beatles album. She played the harp accompaniment on She’s Leaving Home, the agonizing snapshot of the void between parents and a daughter, on the Beatles’ music-changing album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
When the album came out, she realized McCartney had gone with her first take, but dubbed it so it had a doubling effect. “That’s what he was after,” she recalled herself thinking. “Yes! Clever!”
Bromberg was born in London. Her paternal grandfather was a noted Jewish musician in Ukraine before fleeing because of pogroms, and her father and son also were orchestral musicians.
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
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