obituaries Ronald Steven Jacobson Virginia Beach—Ronald Steven Jacobson, 71, of the 200 block of 70th Street in Virginia Beach died May 11, 2018 in his home. Born in Newport News, Virginia, he was the son of the late Joe Jacobson and Margot Moritz Jacobson. Mr. Jacobson retired from the United States Coast Guard. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Marilyn V. Jacobson, a daughter, Margo Jacobson of Virginia Beach, a son Jason Jacobson and his wife Michelle of Leesburg, Virginia, and his grandson Evan Jacobson. Mr. Jacobson is also survived by a sister Susan Karlip and her husband Elliott of Marietta, Georgia as well as many cousins, extended family, and friends. A graveside service was conducted at Forest Lawn Cemetery by Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz and Cantor Wendi Fried. Mr. Jacobson was a caring family man and a wonderful husband and father, he will be sorely missed. Memorial donations may be made to the S.P.C.A. or to a charity of choice. Lyla Rubin Longman Virginia Beach—Lyla Rubin Longman passed away unexpectedly May 10, 2018. She was born to Harry Rubin and Rebecca Rothstein Rubin in Norfolk, Va. She attended Taylor Elementary, Blair Jr., and Maury High School. She graduated from William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and teaching. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bruce Longman. They were married
61 years after becoming high school sweethearts. She had five children, 15 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and all of the “family” that made their way under her tent throughout the years. She loved deeply and showed that love through acts of kindness and generosity that are beyond measure. She taught her children, grandchildren, and anyone else who might be watching, a quiet and selfless way to navigate this world in a meaningful way that makes a lasting impression on others. She looked for the good in others and found it. She gave her time, her love, her attention, and her support to her family, friends, and strangers alike. She had a remarkable 61 years of marriage, friendship, and total adoration with her husband, Bruce, raising five children, running his dental practice, and managing all of the details of their life together. They traveled together throughout the world, participated as members in Brith Sholom and Ohef Sholom Temple, and enjoyed socializing with friends and family. She is also survived by her children, Robert (Becky Beddard), Susan (Johnny Parker), Elana (Dov Frand), Amy (Mark Wolf), and Bari (Donald Eanes), and their children and grandchildren. A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. Sydelle Roistacher Virginia Beach—Sydelle Roistacher
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36 | Jewish News | May 28, 2018 | jewishnewsva.org
(Gurspan) was born September 4, 1935 in New York, N.Y. to two loving parents, Herman and Rose (Entelis) Gurspan. An inspirational and beautiful person, Sydelle enjoyed life to the fullest. She had a tremendous work ethic, working as a bookkeeper, real estate agent, and insurance broker, all while raising two successful children, Randi and Ronnie. When trying times came her way, she persevered and continued to see all of life’s sweetest blessings with a positive outlook. Sydelle was always the life of the party with her incredible sense of humor. She never ceased to make others feel welcome and appreciated. She was sincere when she shared her wisdom, but always sprinkled it with a little humor and love, oftentimes making a moment of truth feel more like a moment to treasure. Sydelle loved her Chinese food, visiting grandkids in their college towns, and going shopping for anything and everything. But the only thing she loved more than life itself was her family that she shared it with. Sydelle accomplished many things in life, but her role as a wife, sister, mother, and grandmother was a remarkable testament to her character. Sydelle’s love knew no bounds – she cared deeply about others and encapsulated the very essence of the phrase “I love you.” Her wisdom, emotional strength, ability to forgive, charming personality, and positive attitude laid the foundation for her family for generations to come. But, the more incredible a person is, the harder it is to say goodbye. Her legacy will live on, but there will never again be another Sydelle Roistacher. Her soul was truly a gift from God. “Delly,” a nickname her friends and family called her, touched the lives of many people. Her family will continue to appreciate life and others by carrying on through her imparted wisdom. Sydelle rejoins her family, including her mother Rose and father Herman, her loving husband of 30 years Norman, her brother Theodore (Teddy) and others who left this Earth before her. Sydelle always knew that her legacy will endure and flourish through her family. Those who will carry on cherishing her memory include her daughter
Randi Strelitz, son-in-law EJ Strelitz, grandchildren Nathan, Jacob, and Jessica; her son Ronald Roistacher (Ronnie), daughter-in-law Bari Roistacher, grandson Noah; her partner Harold Bate, daughter-in-laws Beth and Jennifer, sonin-law Larry, and grandchildren Spencer, Justin, Trevor and Jordan.
Rabbi Aaron Panken remembered as joyful leader who embodied the ‘best of the Reform movement’ Josefin Dolsten
NEW YORK (JTA)—Rabbi Andrea Weiss, an associate professor of Bible at the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and its incoming provost, remembers the joy that Rabbi Aaron Panken brought to his work. Weiss recalls how Panken would pop into his colleagues’ offices asking if they were having fun. “He had this very serious position as president of a very large institution, and he approached it with such joy and with kind of a boyish enthusiasm. He really loved his work,” she says. Friends and colleagues of Panken, the president of HUC who died Saturday, May 5 in a plane crash, remembers him as a strong leader who was passionate about Israel and, above all, loved what he did as the leader of the Reform movement’s flagship seminary and its campuses in New York, Jerusalem, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles. Jean Bloch Rosensaft, the school’s assistant vice president for communications and public affairs, says Panken embodied “the best of the Reform movement.” “The college was his whole life. He was a real product of the Reform movement, and he was proud of it,” Rosensaft says. Panken, who had led HUC since 2014, was killed while piloting a small aircraft near Wawayanda, New York, near the New Jersey border. A passenger, Frank Reiss, a flight instructor, was injured in the crash, whose cause is unclear pending investigation by the Federal