OBITUARIES
Marcia Joan (Sacks) Freedman
Herbert Kohn
Marcia Joan (Sacks) Freedman passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family Aug. 21, 2020, in Sarasota, Fla., after a lengthy illness. She was born in Albany, N.Y., in 1934 to Florence and David Sacks, of blessed memory. Marcia and her husband Arnold were teenage sweethearts, enjoying a love-filled marriage that would last 66 years, until Arnold’s death last year. Her husband’s 48-year broadcast career took them from Albany to Buffalo N.Y., New Haven, Conn., and Fresno, Calif., until they retired to Sarasota in 1997. Marcia, a talented and prolific artist, established herself in the local art communities along the way. She graduated from high school at age of 16 and earned a degree in fine arts from Endicott College at just 18 years of age. She worked as a fashion illustrator for Whitney’s, Flah’s, and Jenss department stores, and as an art teacher for the Buffalo School District. She studied watercolor with acclaimed artists at the Silvermine Guild in Connecticut and the Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota. Her artwork is displayed in private homes and businesses nationwide. During a juried art competition in Connecticut in the 1980s, one of the jurors, upon seeing Marcia’s entry, began his commentary with: “this artist has a love affair with color.” Her artwork appeared in a 1995 calendar for the California Blood Bank, earning a first place ADDY award from the American Advertising Federation in California. But as passionate as she was about her art, Marcia was above all else a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. With relentless perseverance, Marcia was a three-time ovarian cancer survivor and recognized the rare opportunity she had been given to live, to paint and to enjoy her family. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Wayne and Nancy Freedman of Atlanta, and Ken and Victoria Freedman of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Joseph (Jessica), David (Brittany), Stanley, Eli, Eric (Blair), Scott, and Jennifer Freedman; greatgrandson McIntyre Abraham Freedman; and brother Stuart Sacks. A private service was to be held. The family requested donations be made to the Plymouth Harbor Foundation, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236, or to the charity of your choice.
Herbert Kohn died July 16, 2020, at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, at the age of 93. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1926. After escaping from Germany during the Holocaust, Herbert and his family came to the United States after a year in England, eventually settling in Columbus, Ga. Herbert served in the United States Army during World War II and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in agriculture majoring in dairy husbandry. He later became a certified public accountant and worked in Columbus for several years. Then he joined Cohn Communities, a major home building company in Atlanta, as chief financial officer, retiring in 1991 as president and CEO. Herbert then served as executive director of the new Urban Residential Development Corporation for the City of Atlanta promoting the availability of affordable housing for families in the low- and moderate-income range, retiring in 1998. Herbert served twice as president of Jewish Family & Career Services, an agency dedicated to providing social services. He continued to serve on the board of trustees and was a member of the Holocaust Survivors Advisory Committee for many years. He also was on the board of trustees of the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, which is the umbrella organization of Family Service agencies in North America. His passion became teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and he spoke widely over many years through the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum to public and private schools, universities and civic organizations to relay the message of “It Shall Never Happen Again.” Herbert served in many leadership roles in other local and national professional, civic, educational and charitable organizations, including involvement in their management, planning, fundraising and allocation processes. He was the recipient of a channel 11 Community Service Award in 2010 for his efforts of further teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and in 2016 received the Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award from the Anti-Defamation League. He was a member of Congregation Shearith Israel and a founding member of Congregation Beth Shalom. Herbert was a kind, loving, caring and passionate husband, father, grandfather and friend whose mission in life was “to make the world a better place.” He was a great humanitarian and will be missed by many in the community. He is predeceased by his parents Irene and Leo Kohn; brother Ernest Kohn; and his first wife Elaine Friedman Kohn. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years Frances; children Barbara Zoppo (Eugene) and Frank Kohn (Debra) of Fort Myers, Fla.; as well as Frances’s children Debra Halpern (Harold), Sheryl Brandt and Mark Goodman (Terri); and brother-in-law Joel Butler, with all of whom he was very close. He is also survived by his grandchildren Andrea Zoppo in Decatur, Ga., Damian Zoppo (Tammy) in Israel, Rachel Kohn (Joshua Dawson), and David Kohn of Orlando, Fla.; and Frances’s grandchildren Ben Halpern, Ryan Halpern (Stacy), Joshua Halpern (Gig), Brett Goodman (Rachel), Sara Leaf (Brian), Jennifer Jones (Bill), Matt Goodman; and 10 great-grandchildren. Heartfelt thanks to the staff at Belmont Village Buckhead for the care and kindness given Herbert in the time he was there. Donations may be made to the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Jewish Family & Career Services or a charity of your choice. Due to COVID-19, the funeral was limited to immediate family on July 19 in Columbus, Ga. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
85, Sarasota, Fla.
Alvin Halpern 90, Atlanta
Alvin Halpern, age 90, passed away peacefully Aug. 13, 2020. He was born at the old Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, the only child of Aaron and Mary Halpern. He attended Boys High, where he was all-state in basketball and baseball. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi. At the age of 15, Alvin met Sherry King, the love of his life, at the Progressive Club. They began dating and were married at the age of 19. They were married for 70 years and enjoyed raising their four children. He was an avid reader, a life master in bridge and passionate about his golf game. He owned several businesses in his lifetime and was proud to be partners with his sons. He and Sherry travelled extensively, loved cruising and lived in Boca Raton during the season. He was predeceased by daughter Debra Bernes (Gary.) He is survived by his wife of 70 years Sherry; daughter Gail Holzer (Gil); sons Jay (Barbara) and Marty (Lisa); grandchildren Alex (Alli) Halpern, Andy Halpern, Katie (Drew) Groner, Lance (Tammy) Levitt, Lanie (Jordan) Genee, Lewis (Rachael) Halpern, Matthew (Heather) Bernes, Melissa (Richard) Prusan, and Neil (Emily) Halpern; 12 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The William Breman Jewish Home, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
56 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES
93, Atlanta
