Aaron “Red” Finkel, who volunteered to become one of Israel’s first fighter pilots during the War of Independence, died on Feb. 23 in Woodland Hills at the age of 86.
Born in Brooklyn, Finkel served as a U.S. Air Force captain in the China-Burma Theater during World War II.
When the newly born State of Israel desperately needed fighter planes and pilots in 1948, Finkel ferried a single-seater plane from Czechoslovakia to Israel and there joined the fabled 101 Squadron, the genesis of the Israeli air force. Many of his former comrades eulogized Finkel during services at the Eden Memorial Park Chapel on Feb. 28.
A real estate broker in civilian life, Finkel is survived by Claire, his wife of 25 years; son, Joshua; stepsons, Stephen and Andrew Shapiro; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to the United Jewish Communities (www.ujc.org) or the Jewish Agency for Israel (www.jewishagency.org). — Tom Tugend, Contributing Editor
Rosalind Koss Allen died Jan. 25 at 88. She is survived by her son, Danny; brothers, Martin (Evelyn) Koss and Alex (Nancy) Koss; other relatives. Hillside
Barbara Alaynick died Feb. 23 at 54. She is survived by her sons, Jeremy (Christine) and Bryan; parents, Herbert and Betty Brown; sister, Debra (John) Edelston; brother, David Brown; and sister, Janet (Howard) Lutwak. Mount Sinai
Doreen Amberger died Feb. 26 at 74. She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Roman) Agiert; son, Bruce; five grandchildren; and father, Emil (Frieda) Schwartz. Mount Sinai
Yaacov Aronwicz died Feb. 26 at 81. He is survived by his wife, Josephine; daughters, Elana Zivida, Deena Jonas and Aviva; and eight grandchildren. Mount Sinai, Arizona
Beatrice Aronowitz died Feb. 22 at 87. She is survived by her daughter, Anne Kaplan. Chevra Kadisha
Alice Barnett died Feb. 24 at 84. She is survived by her daughter, Marcia Orland. Groman
Paul Eliot Besbris died Feb. 23 at 52. He is survived by his mother, Esther; brother, Howard (Evelyn); sister, Ava (Robert Strober); nephew, Daniel; and niece, Davorah Strober. Mount Sinai
Richard Centman died Feb. 14 at 59. He is survived by his cousin, Joel. Chevra Kadisha
Fay Domroy died Feb. 25 at 88. She is survived by her niece, Rita Tateel. Chevra Kadisha
ROSE EINSIEDLER died Feb. 21 at 82. She is survived by her husband, David; children, Adele (Ray) Natter, Joe (Barbara) Ben-David and Paul (Georgina); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Phyllis Eisenberg died Feb. 23 at 77. She is survived by her husband, Hershey; daughters, Marci (Tom) Pantiliat, Julie (Neil) Seflinger and Linda; three grandchildren; and sisters, Natalie Scotton and Charlotte Fleishman. Mount Sinai
Salima Ezer died Feb. 10 at 90. She is survived by her son, Saied. Chevra Kadisha
William Fogelman died Feb. 21 at 87. He is survived by his wife, Sophie; sons, Dr. Roy (Barbara) and Gerald (Janet); two grandchildren; sister, Janet (Seymour) Gottlieb; and brother, Leo. Malinow and Silverman
Hilla Louise Futterman died Feb. 21 at 68. She is survived by her friend, Laura Graff; and others. Chevra Kadisha
Rosa Gershengorn died Feb. 23 at 93. She is survived by her daughter, Izeta Gruzman. Chevra Kadisha
Abe Goldzweig died Feb. 24 at 77. He is survived by his wife, Lea; sons, Jeff (Judy) and Mark (Caroline); and by four grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Harry “Pat” Gordon died Feb. 10 at 91. He is survived by his wife, Belle; children, Diane Colman, Joan and Richard; granddaughters, Dina and Debbie Colman; and sister, Natalie Roseman. Mount Sinai
FRANCES GROSS died Feb. 21 at 85. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Herb) Eder; sons, Barry (Dianne) and Ron (Tamara); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Hillside
Aharon Hakham died Feb. 15 at 88. He is survived by his daughter, Marcelle Tehrani. Chevra Kadisha
NORMAN JACOBS died Feb. 22 at 73. He is survived by his wife, Joni; sons, Richard, Steven and Robert; and daughters, Paige and Ashley. Hillside
Iris Levitan died Jan. 2 at 80. She is survived by her friends and caretakers. Chevra Kadisha
Moises Lipczenko died Feb. 24 at 93. He is survived by his wife, Fabiola; and daughter, Tanya Cerza. Malinow and Silverman
Bert James Mallinger died Feb. 23 at 75. He is survived by his wife, Ermiene; son, Lev; daughter, Mollie Helfand; seven grandchildren; and sister, Ethel Ann Delawie. Groman
JEROME MARTIN MEISNER died Feb. 23 at 64. He is survived by his wife, Eileen; and mother, Rose. Hillside
Raymond Norton died Feb. 26 at 85. He is survived by his wife, Rita; and daughter, Marcy. Mount Sinai
Edda Potok died Feb. 23 at 82. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Weinberg; son, Michael (Carol); five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai
Abraham Regenbogen died Feb. 22. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Vicki (Harvey) Epstein and Joan; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Yetta Kurz. Mount Sinai
Brian Seth Rosenberg died Feb. 21 at 43. He is survived by his wife, Charisse; mother, Lenore; and brother, Joel Rosenberg. Groman
Martin Rubinstein died Feb. 25 at 72. He is survived by his wife, Florette; son, Mark (Debbie); daughters, Gail Browdy and Beth (Howard) Bidna; five grandchildren; and brother, Bernie Rubinstein. Groman
Seymour Rubenstein died Feb. 26 at 67. He is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughter, Marla (Paul) Stasik; sons, Marc (Julie) and Craig; and brothers, Louis (Linda) and Norman (Helen). Malinow and Silverman
Natalie Rudoy died Feb. 23 at 83. She is survived by her husband, Harold; and son, David. Mount Sinai
SAMUEL SACKS died Feb. 23 at 97. He is survived by his wife, Hannah; daughters, Judith, Natalie, Susan and Sheri; son, Larry; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Hillside
Maurice Schriqui died Feb. 26 at 82. He is survived by his sister, Renee Cohen; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; and great-nephews. Mount Sinai
Muriel Berman Seymour died Feb. 24 at 83. She is survived by her son, Judge David; granddaughter, Madison; and sister, Laura (Fred) Pearl. Mount Sinai
MINNA FRANCES SHANEDLING SILVERGLADE died Feb. 25 at 96. She is survived by her daughters, Judith Kulick, Debra Wright and Sigrid Belinkoff; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Hillside
Mildred Slott died Feb. 24 at 87. She is survived by her son, Robert; and niece, Cyndi Bjornstad. Groman
Samuel Solway died Feb. 26 at 81. He is survived by his wife, Doris; sons, Steven, Mel (Roseann) and Robert (Carole); six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and brothers, Jerry and Dr. Jack (Evelyn). Mount Sinai
SYLVIA SUBIN died Feb. 21 at 95. She is survived by her son, Mickey Rose; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Harry Weiss. Hillside
Charles Uzan died Feb. 18 at 76. He is survived by his wife, Josette; sons, Daniel (Luzma), Menachem (Devorah) and Allon (Monica); eight grandchildren; brothers, Henry, Chaim and Moshe; and sister, Miriam. Chevra Kadisha
Jacqueline Valency died Feb. 21 at 63. She is survived by her husband, Albert; sons, Craig and Darret (Lisa); daughter Michelle, two grandchildren; and siblings, Yvette (Leon) Peris, Eli Abesdris, Michelle (Francine) and Solomon. Mount Sinai
Esther Wachtel died Feb. 26 at 93. She is survived by her son, Stephen. Malinow and Silverman
Todd Wallace died Feb. 5 at 44. He is survived by his mother, Miriam Bachsihan; and brother, Jesse Bachsihan. Chevra Kadisha
Crystal Williams died Feb. 23 at 61. She is survived by her husband, David; and two sons. Malinow and Silverman
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