Dr. Beth Samuels, Torah and Math Scholar, Dies at 31
Nearly 1,000 people attended the funeral of Dr. Beth Sharon Samuels, a 31-year-old mother of two who lost a two-year battle with cancer Jan. 5.Samuels, who was raised in Los Angeles, was an assistant professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley and a teacher of Torah in Palo Alto, where she lived.
As a graduate of a three-year program in Bible and Talmud at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in New York, she traveled around the country as a scholar-in-residence, including a five-shul circuit in Los Angeles on a Shavuot night a few years ago. Rabbi David Silber, dean of Drisha, officiated at the funeral, at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills.
Samuels’ husband, Dr. Ari Tuchman, spoke of the deep and holy love they shared, and of the radiant beauty, sweetness and spark Beth carried. He spoke of how even during her illness she never missed the nightly Shema dance with her daughters, Danelle, 4, and Natalia, 2, and mustered her strength to sit on the floor for tea parties. He spoke of her varied interests: aside from being a Torah scholar, she had a doctorate in mathematics from Yale; was an auxiliary police officer in Manhattan; enjoyed biking, hiking and rafting; and was known as someone who helped others in quiet acts of chesed, kindness.
Samuels, an alumna of YULA High School and Columbia University, was a proponent of Orthodox women’s participation in the ritual and intellectual life of the Jewish community. She led women’s prayer groups and Purim megillah readings, and just a few months before she died, was the keynote speaker at a Los Angeles conference on girls’ education at Modern Orthodox schools.
Elana Samuels, Beth’s mother, delivered a poised and poetic eulogy, remembering Beth at the different stages of her life, from a sparkly blue-eyed toddler with curly blond pigtails, to a loyal friend and passionate student. She recalled the devotion Beth showed to her sister and two brothers, and she marveled at the love Beth shared with her husband and daughters.
Samuels is survived by her husband, Ari; daughters, Danelle and Natalia; parents, Zach and Elana; siblings, Rana (Yanay), Stuart (Ilanit) and Larry; and grandparents Serita and Aaron Kolom, and Blanche.
A shloshim memorial service will take place at Beth Jacob Congregation, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. Contributions in her memory can be sent to Drisha Institute, 37 W. 65th Street, fifth floor, New York, N.Y. 10023, www.drisha.org.
— Julie Gruenbaum Fax, Education Editor
Daniel Finegood, ‘Hollyweed’ Sign Creator, Dies at 51
Daniel Finegood died Jan. 22 at 51. He enjoyed a long career in the furniture industry but was perhaps best known for changing the Hollywood sign to “Hollyweed” in 1976.
He was an avid art lover who took pride in his extensive and unique collection of neon signs. He loved to ski and play racquetball. Young-at-heart, he was an animal lover and a long-time member of the Oakwood School Board. He was known for the constant twinkle in his eyes and the way his eyebrows would dance when he was joking.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Bonnie; children, Matt and Natalie; mother Rae; and sister, Freddi Sue (Ethan Horowitz).
Services were held Jan. 25 at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks & Mortuaries in Los Angeles.
Donations can be made in his memory to The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, 9201 Sunset Blvd., ‘300, West Hollywood, CA 90069.
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Esther Adler died Jan. 8 at 80. She is survived by her sons, Steve, Barry, Howard (Cathy); daughter, Risa (Michael) Lester; and six grandchildren. Hillside
Debora Alstater died Dec. 23 at 96. She is survived by her husband, Joseph; daughter, Rita (Marvin) March; and granddaughter, Dania Sacks March (Dave Yanofsky). Sholom Chapels
Laurence Michael Altneu died Jan. 1 at 45. He is survived by his wife, Dana; sons, Adam and Justin; parents, Shirley and Irwin; sisters, Lori (Russell) Tice and Joan (Harry) Cottam; brother, Brian; father-in-law, Ira (Debbie); and mother-in-law, Ara Victor. Malinow and Silverman
Sallie (Schnee) Anenberg died Jan. 11 at 81. She is survived by her son, Dana (Martha); daughter, Sharon; grandchildren, Bryan and Alyssa; sister, Frances Brown; and brother, Theodore Schnee. Hillside
Tamar Becker died Jan. 12 at 80. She is survived by her daughter, Ornah (Marc Robbins); son, Doron (Rita); four grandchildren; and sister, Shulamit Ben-Neriah. Hillside
Ida Bornstein died Jan. 10 at 86. She is survived by her daughter, Gail (Ronnie) Salem; and sons, Alan and Robert. Malinow and Silverman
William Fishkin died Jan. 8 at 80. He is survived by his sister Jill Richmond; nephew; and companion, Celia. Hillside
Mimi Gendel Jan. 11 at 81. She is survied by her son, Gary; daughter, Dale; sister, Lee Sahlein; and two grandchildren. Hillside
Anita Goldstein died Jan. 12 at 86. She is survived by her son, Ronald (Akiko); and grandchildren, Amy and Ken. Mount Sinai
Walter Grossfeld died Jan. 10 at 87. He is survived by his wife, Janet. Malinow and Silverman
Dr. Arthur Eugene Heslov died Jan. 12 at 73. He is survived by his wife, Kerrie; sons, Steven, Michael (Lynne) and Grant (Lysa); and four grandchildren. Hillside
Louis Klubeck died Jan. 10 at 94. He is survived by his daughter, Iris (Jason) Lampel; son, Jack (Shelly); four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman
Howard Kunin died Jan. 1 at 75. He is survived by his wife, Claire; sons, Gary, Jeff (Audrey), Randy (June) and Bill; three grandchildren; brother, Larry (Sue); sister, Lorraine (Bob) Dennis; sisters-in-law, Elaine (Hy) Cohen and Shirley Lee; and brother-in-law, Jim (Yasuyo) Segal. Mount Sinai
David Lane died Jan. 10 at 93. He is survived by his sons, Charles (Diana), Ronald and John; and six grandchildren. Mount Sinai
David Lowen died Jan. 10 at 81. He is survived by his wife, Hanna; and son, Mark (Rita). Mount Sinai
