Abe Vigoda, an American actor best known for roles in “The Godfather” and the 1970s sitcom “Barney Miller,” died on Tuesday at the age of 94, after spending three decades jokingly refuting rumors of his demise. Vigoda’s daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, said her father died at her home in New Jersey. “He died in his…
Barbara Walters and George Weidenfeld. The first time I was introduced to British publisher Lord George Weidenfeld — who died at 96 on January 21, 2016 in London — was at the November 22, 1998 American Friends of Ben Gurion University in the Negev Dinner at the Hotel Pierre at which BGU president Avishay Braverman…
Rabbi Ronald Greenwald, who worked to help free Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky and others, and served as President Richard Nixon’s liaison to the Jewish community, has died. Greenwald, of Monsey, New York, died Wednesday in his sleep while on vacation in Florida. He was 82. In helping to free Sharansky, Greenwald reportedly made 25 trips…
The first time I saw Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob, at Delhi’s Judah Hyam synagogue, I had no idea who he was. But his importance was obvious by the way everyone stood tall and switched to tones of reverence at his appearance. “He is a hero, our topmost Jew!” someone whispered to me. A woman in…
I read obituaries. I like getting the whole picture about a person’s life, to be moved by other people’s passions and work. Perhaps it is the sociologist in me, inspired by Margaret Mead, who liked to be inspired by people’s real lives. Perhaps it is more compulsive, my need to know where we are headed,…
David Margulies (R) and Lois Smith. Brooklyn-born character actor David Margulies, best known for his movie role as the Ed Koch-like mayor in a ghost-besieged New York City, has died at 78. The ‘Ghostbusters’ star also appeared as Tony Soprano’s ace lawyer Neil Mink in multiple episodes of the seminal HBO series “The Sopranos.” He…
Some knew him personally or once rocked out with him. Others were just fans. And at least one was a former neighbor. From Ben Stiller to Adam Lambert and Debra Messing, Jewish celebrities took to social media Monday to mourn the loss of David Bowie. Kind of feels like we’re still hanging at the party…
Judith S. Kaye, the daughter of Jewish Polish immigrants who became New York State’s first woman chief judge, has died. She was 77. Kaye, who had cancer, died Wednesday night, said Acting New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Eugene Pigott. In a statement, Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted Kaye’s “trailblazing” legacy. “Throughout her 25-year career…
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