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June 22, 2006

Professor Joseph Dorfman, Acclaimed Pianist and Composer, Dies During Concert at 65
Professor Joseph Dorfman, concert pianist, composer and Shostakovich scholar at Buchman-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University, died during a June 7 concert celebrating the centennial of Dimitri Shostakovich. Dorfman was 65.

Internationally acclaimed for his compositional work and a sought-after lecturer on 20th century music, Dorfman was on sabbatical in Southern California under the aegis of the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity (CJCC). He was featured in several Southland concerts and was a guest lecturer at the University of Judaism.

The first half of the June 7 Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles (JMCLA) community concert, “Shostakovich at 100,” concluded with Dorfman’s performance of his own “Trio, in Memoriam Dimitri Shostakovich (1976).”

“Professor Dorfman was radiant during the intermission … discussing music performance, and relishing a wonderful evening of musical celebration dedicated to Shostakovich,” said Dr. Richard A. Braun, founder of JMCLA. “It was as he was chatting with friends and family that he collapsed.”

Dorfman was born in 1940 in Odessa, Ukraine, and studied at the P. Stolyarsky School of Music, at the Odessa Conservatory and the Gnessin Institute of Musical Education in Moscow, where he received his doctorate in 1971. During the 1960s, Dorfman was among the first musicians in the Soviet Union to perform and lecture on Western contemporary music.

Dorfman has been living in Israel since 1973. He has been the music director of the “20th Century Music” concert series, secretary of the Israeli Composers League and initiator of an independent composers group, Acoustic 7-11, which pioneered the music of foreign avant-garde in Israel.

He is survived by his wife, Lily; daughter, Sonia (Jacob) Lustig; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will take place in Tel Aviv and a memorial concert will be held at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino on July 5.

The Professor Joseph Dorfman Memorial Fund is being established at the CJCC to support young composers and their compositions. Contributions can be sent to: Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles, 16161 Ventura Blvd. ‘621, Encino, CA 91436.

Jerry Yoram Bender died May 31 at 63. He is survived by his daughters; Tali (Major), Orly (Kevin) and Limore; son, Jonathan; four grandchildren; and brothers, Avi and Yosi. Ramat Hasharon, Israel

ANNE BERMACK died May 24 at 85. She is survived by her brother, Jack (Shelia). Hillside

Irving Brukman died May 25 at 85. He is survived by his sons, Lance (Barbara) and Scott; daughters, Lisa (Dan) Rosenwasser and Andrea (Tom) Redecker; sister, Barbara (Jack) Blum; six grandchildren; and brother, Jack (Beverly). Malinow and Silverman

PEARL DORIS COLE died May 31 at 88. She is survived by her daughters, Beverly Levinson and Adele Friedman; granddaughter Anna and Sarah Levinson; and two great-grandchildren. Hillside

LENORA DOME died May 26 at 86. She is survived by her son, Errol Stillman; daughters, Joyce (Carl) Fredhome and Hannah Stillman, six grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Hillside

May Edelman died June 1 at 87. Malinow and Silverman

SPENCER GILBERT died May 19 at 32. He is survived by his parents, Paula Marks and Richard (Ann); companion, Rama Shamir; brothers, Ben and Freddy Marks and David; sister, Sophie Marks; and grandmother, Sally Phillips. Hillside

ALAN GLEITSMAN died May 19 at 76. He is survived by his partner, Cheri Rosche; daughters, Joan Huber, Judy (Jim) Kaplan and Lisa McCloskey; son, Rick; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Hillside

Yury Greblya died May 27 at 82. He is survived by his daughters, Alla (Zinovy) Lekht and Victoria (Lev Sadovnik) Greblya; and four grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman

David Grossman died May 24 at 52. He is survived by his daughter, Marisa; and brother, Alan. Chevra Kadisha

ANNE HOFFMAN died May 24 at 95. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Richard (Malen) and Dr. Thomas (Linda); four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Hillside

SAUL JACKMAN died May 23 at 81. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons, Howard and Glenn; brother, Milton; and sister-in-law, Donna Robitaille. Hillside

Audrey Kahn died June 1 at 84. She is survived by her son Richard (Jamie). Malinow and Silverman

LENORE MARIE KATZ died May 21 at 86. She is survived by her daughters, Beverlee Cutler (Stuart) and Kayla Brodkin (Drew); son, Michael (Michelle); and six grandchildren. Hillside

JOAN KELLEY died May 28 at 68. She is survived by her son, Jim Kaplan; daughter, Wendy Monte; sister, Linda Glickman; brother, Richard Arkin; and five grandchildren. Hillside

BESS KIRSHBAUM died May 24 at 94. She is survived by her son, Dr. Don (Linda Rogers); daughter, Ellen (Norman) Schlosberg; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Hillside

FREDA RAPOPORT KLEINMAN died May 23 at 88. She is survived by her husband, Abram; son, Mark (Tanya); daughter, Margarita; and grandson, Ethan. Hillside

Kenneth Lettvin died May 31 at 80. He is survived by his aunt, Florence Weinstein. Malinow and Silverman

ARTHUR AARON LEVINE died May 30 at 86. He is survived by his son, David; daughter, Jodi (Charlie) Mitchell; and companion, Sylvia Trust. Hillside

JAMES MAHER died May 28 at 87. He is survived by his son, Jeffrey (Stacey); companion, Candace Baker; and Baker’s children, Javance and Mieshia. Hillside

Gertrude Marcus died May 30 at 102. She is survived by her sons, Burton and Dolph. Malinow and Silverman

CALVIN LEWIS METZ died May 22 at 91. He is survived by his wife, Pauline; son, Jerry (Cynthia); and daughters, Julie, Judy and Janice.

Sophie Moses died May 4 at 102. She is survived by her sons, Maurice (Pearl), Raymond (Gloria) and Jack (Anita); daughters, Myra, Molly and Rene (Lou); 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Chevra Kadisha

Archie Peck died May 27 at 91. He is survived by his son, Frank; daughter, Audrey; brother, Nathan; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Chevra Kadisha

SHIRLEY PERCHUK died May 23 at 79. She is survived by her son, Elliott; daughter Roberta Leek; three grandchildren; and brother, Charles Weiss. Hillside

Heshie Reich died May 9 at 69. He is survived by his wife, Azy; son, Ken, daughter, Gila; brother, Moish; and six grandchildren. Chevra Kadisha

ALAN REINSTEIN died May 22 at 66. He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Jeff; daughters,, Emily and Elizabeth; and two grandchildren. Hillside

MARJORIE HILP RHODES died May 25 at 82. She is survived by her sons, Robert and Ted; four grandchildren; and sister, Barbara Smith . Hillside

Leo Savy died May 28 at 76. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa; brother, Jacob; and two grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman

ESTHER WISEMAN SCHULMAN died May 24 at 96. She is survived by her son, Richard (Marcia); daughter, Roberta (Marvin) Holland; eight grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren. Hillside

GERTRUDE SELDIN SCHWIMMER died May 26 at 89. She is survived by her sons, Martin and Phillip; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Maury; and sister, Shula Silverman. Hillside

Freda Siegel died May 28 at 96. She is survived by her sons, Robert (Jacqueline) and Bill; daughter, Rita (Art) Goldstone; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

DR. HARRY SILVER died May 24 at 88. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; son Gerald (Maia); daughter, Gail Ann Haley (Barney); daughter-in-law, Kathy; stepchildren, Linda (Howard) Klein and Jo Ann Pierce; four grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two stepgreat-grandsons; nieces; and nephews. Hillside

SARA SONNENSCHEIN died March 8 at 82. She is survived by her husband, Max. Mount Sinai

RUTH TARTAK died May 29 at 85. She is survived by her sons, Lyle and Barry; and grandson, Scott Werner. Hillside

 

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