OBITUARIES

Reese and Remy Caldwell; one brother, Max Dressler and his wife, Rona, and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Naomi Keller, Laura Bernstein, Earl Dressler and Priscila Baker.

As the matriarch of her family, Ileane was the glue that kept a large family and friends close and made sure family traditions continued to thrive and flourish. Mommom’s matzah ball soup and homemade pies were legendary. She got great joy from feeding and nourishing her family and friends.

The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and staff at The Miriam Hospital for their compassion, dedication and quality of care. Donations may be made to The Miriam Hospital Foundation in her memory at PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901 or at lifespan.org/ TMH-giving.

Sanford Gorodetsky, 94

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sanford Gorodetsky, of Warren, passed away on Feb. 25, 2023, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence. He was the beloved husband of Barbara Blossom for 42 years; devoted father of Evan Gorodetsky and Brian Gorodetsky; stepfather of Robin Blossom and Perry (Pam) Blossom; brother of Lenore Gorodetsky; son of the late

Louis and Sally (Rice) Gorodetsky. He was previously married to (deceased) Harriet (Lieberman) Gorodetsky.

Born in Providence, Sanford was a graduate of Classical High School, Providence College and earned a J.D. from Boston University Law School. Prior to joining the legal profession, he enlisted in the military and served active duty in the Pacific Region.

Dedicated to Providence, he served most notably as the Providence Director of Public Safety, Chief Judge for the Providence Municipal Court, and a member of the Providence City Council. He practiced law for 62 years, and was professionally recognized by the Rhode Island Bar Association.

Active in the veteran’s community, Sanford served as Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Rhode Island Chapter. He was a former secretary for the Permanent Advisory Council of the House Veteran Affairs Committee and a member for the United Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15 in Bristol and the World War II Monument Committee.

His professional confidence and affable personality contributed to success in artistic pursuits. He was a talented local singer, band musician and actor. He enjoyed performing on both stage and screen, and earned numerous acting credits in both television and film.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15, Bristol Town Hall, Bristol, R.I.

Michael Hoffer, 84 VERO BEACH, FLA. –Michael G. Hoffer of Vero Beach, formerly of Narragansett, passed away on Feb. 20, 2023.

Born in Brooklyn, New York on Jan. 5, 1939, He is survived by his wife, Donna Hoffer, his son Mark Hoffer and his wife, Ellie, of Wakefield; his son David and his wife, Seycelle, of Wakefield; his daughter Jill LePage and her husband, Peter, of West Greenwich; and stepson Jason Lowe and his wife, Katie, of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts and eight grandchildren.

Michael was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and was a member of AEPi, the Varsity Track and Field, and the Varsity Soccer teams. After graduating college he served in the US Marine Corps. He worked at Arkwright Incorporated in Fiskville. He worked his way up to vice president of purchasing before his retirement.

One of Michael's greatest joys was being involved in coaching and watching his children and grandchildren in sports and other activities. Michael was a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics, and a coach and participant with his wife, Donna, with Team in Training of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in marathons all over the world. Even in retirement, Michael stayed very active playing golf, softball, and walking with the local walking club.

Donations may be made to the American Stroke Association.

Gerald Kasten, 85 EAST GREENWICH, R.I. –Gerald (Jerry) Kasten died on Jan. 6, 2023, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence. He was the husband of Ruth (Rahm) Kasten for 30 years. Born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of the late Louis Kasten and Hannah (Mathisson) Kasten, he had lived in East Greenwich for 30 years, previously a long-time resident of Framingham, Massachusetts.

Jerry was a technical documentation manager at Digital Equipment Corporation, in Massachusetts, for many years, retiring in 1992. He continued to work as a software developer after that, and he enjoyed working independently on software development. He loved traveling overseas with his wife, Ruth, playing chess with his nephew, Glenn Kasten, and doting on his grandchildren.

He was the father of Sheryl (Kasten) Caissie and her husband, Brian Caissie, of Alva, Florida; Lawrence Kasten and his wife, Jill Kasten, of Worcester, Massachusetts; and Susan (Kasten) Abrahams and her husband, David Abrahams, of Austin, Texas. He was the stepfather of Adam Alper and his wife, Kim Sinclair, of Randolph, Massachusetts, and Jen Zinno and her husband, Matt Zinno, of Sharon, Massachusetts.

He was the brother of the late Matthew Kasten. He was the grandfather of Daniel and Sarah Caissie; Joshua, Hannah, Avery and Levi Kasten; Samuel and the late Harry Abrahams; Elizabeth, Jacob and Thomas Zinno.

Contributions may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org, or Congregation Beth David, cbdri.org.

George Morgan, 98 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Professor George W. Morgan, one of the most transformative teachers ever to serve the Brown University community, created one more poignant moment of genuine connection on Feb. 4, 2023, the final day of his long and extraordinarily well-lived life.

Beloved father of Alexandra, grandpa of Benjamin and Madelin, step-grandfather of Raymond, husband and best friend of the late Barbara (Rogers) Morgan, whose memory is indeed a blessing, George passed away peacefully with four loved ones by his side, a few months shy of his 99th birthday.

Morgan was a beloved teacher and scholar who showed how the enduring questions about the human condition had no simple answers. To borrow from the poet Rilke, one of Morgan’s favorites, George helped us all learn how to “live the questions” as we met them in our own lives and times.

Morgan helped generations of Brown students search for meaning, come to know themselves better and consider ways to work for healing and justice in the world.

Morgan pioneered interdisciplinary study at the college level and was the intellectual architect of Brown University’s globally renowned “Open Curriculum” and the inspiration for many of those students who participated in its creation. Arguably there was no single person more responsible for the rise in Brown’s popularity and growth than George Morgan.

Donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy, https://preserve.nature. org/page/80429/donate/1 or mail donation to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.

Gail

Perlow

JOHNSTON, R.I. – Gail I. Perlow, of Johnston, passed away on Jan. 29, 2023, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence.

Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Dr. Milton and Lillian (Rosenberg) Perlow, she was a lifelong resident of the city.

Gail worked at the Providence Journal for many years before retiring.

Survivors include: her sister, Mary-Ellen Leer and her significant other, John, of Stoughton, Massachusetts; two nephews, Ryan Leer and his wife, Samantha, and Jeffrey Leer and his wife, Amy; three great-nieces, Bella, Meilana and Kennedy; and one great-nephew Tatum. Contributions may be made to HopeHealth Hospice, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW120, Boston, MA 02215.

Jacob

Portnoy, 91

CRANSTON, R.I. – Jacob D. Portnoy passed away on Feb. 6, 2023, at his home in Cranston. He was the husband of Patricia (Romanoff) Portnoy for many hilarious and incredibly loving years. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Bradford M.S. and Rebecca (Tanenbaum) Portnoy.

He attended Boston University as an undergrad and received a J.D. degree from Yale. Jake had lived in Crans -