The Memorial Wall

Dr. Keith Davis passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Born at Clifton, NC in a cabin on the North Fork of the New River. He was the son of the late Ted Eugene Davis and Mary Flossie Roland Davis.

He attended Duke University for his BA and PhD degrees in Psychology. He taught at Princeton University, University of Colorado, Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina. At Carolina, he served as Professor, Chairman of the Department, Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and University Provost.

He was most proud of his accomplishments as teacher and researcher, with over 120 publications. He served as founding associate editor of the journal, "Personal Relationships," series editor of "Advances in Descriptive Psychology" and Executive Editor of the "Journal of Social Psychology." He was elected as a Fellow of the American Psychological Society. In 2001, he was selected to receive USC’s Educational Foundation Award for Research in Humanities and Social Sciences. After his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, he embraced his role as teacher, sharing his knowledge with anyone who was interested.

He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow, a founding member of the Society for Descriptive Psychology, a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and Chamber Pots.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Reeves Davis; four daughters, Rachel Newhouse (Jeff) of Alexandria, VA, Rebecca Davis (Francene Machetto) of Falls Church, VA, Jessica Davis (Jonathan Zilinski) of Alexandria, VA, and Kristin Davis of Los Angeles, CA; six grandchildren, Zoe Newhouse, Elias Newhouse (Simona), Will Newhouse, Jakob Zilinski, Gemma Davis, and Wilson Davis; and two great-grandchildren, Carter and Kyrese Newhouse.

The family wishes to thank Still Hopes Sanders R. Guignard Rehabilitation Suite and Solutions for Living at Home for their excellent care in his last months.

Former UMNO Information Chief Tan Sri Hussein Ahmad died of old age at his home near Kampung Lemal, here today. He was 90.

His grandson, Mohamad Radzuan Rosli, 34, when contacted, said his grandfather, better known as ‘Hussein Serama’, had been frail for a long time and suffered from Parkinson’s disease.

He died at 7 am with family members by his side, said Mohamad Radzuan, adding Hussein’s remains would be buried at the Kubur Besar Bandar Pasir Mas Muslim cemetery after the Friday prayer today.

Mohamad Radzuan said his grandfather was admitted to Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian a week ago due to shortness of breath.

Hussein left six children, over 30 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar from 1978 to 1982 and UMNO Information Chief for 14 years from 1982 to 1999.

He was also in the Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government from 1987 to 1990.

Meanwhile, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki expressed his sadness over Hussein’s death in a post on his social media page, Facebook. — BERNAMA.

Dr. David Diamond, 81, died from the progression of Parkinson's disease on September 10, 2024. David was an extremely patient father to two sons, and a psychologist who helped many people for his entire professional life. He was a dedicated advocate for peace and understanding. He loved learning new languages and was an active hiker, canoeist, and bicyclist.

He was born in Bridgeport, CT in 1942 to Roger and Marion Diamond. David grew up in Keene and Alstead, NH. When he went on to attend the University of New Hampshire, he bicycled across the width of New Hampshire from Keene to Durham in one day. In 1961, he refused to participate in a civil-defense drill which he viewed as “an exercise in the acceptance of nuclear war”. Those drills were subsequently discontinued.

After UNH, David did Peace Corps service in 1964-66 in Togo (west Africa). While in Peace Corps training, he met Sallie Munch. When teaching Math and English in Togo, David and Sallie married in 1965. After returning to the United States David studied until he had his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina.

Dave and Sallie settled in Dover, NH and had two children, Dan and Steve. David worked at Strafford Guidance Center, then later went into private practice. In so doing he helped countless people. He was an early advocate of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. 

For decades David enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities with his family and friends. In addition to regular outdoor activities, this "Outing Club" would have a large yearly gathering at Drake's Island (Wells, Maine).

David was a passionate proponent of peace and social justice issues. He was a member of "Beyond War" for many years. He was a founding member of and main organizer for "Seacoast Peace Response" for over a decade. David helped organize peace vigils on Friday evenings in Portsmouth and Saturday mornings in Dover. He wrote many letters to the editor and op-eds on war and peace issues. He was one of the “Newington 5” who were arrested for civil disobedience in 2002 in an attempt to stop the U.S. from attacking Iraq over their alleged "weapons of mass destruction" program. The electronic newsletter he sent connected hundreds to the issues at hand. He traveled to participate in important protests, including in Washington, New York, Georgia, and Quebec.

David loved languages and was constantly studying to add to that body of knowledge. He liked being able to communicate with diverse peoples. He enjoyed travel, including in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.

He is survived by his sons, Daniel and Steven Diamond, and his grandson Ian Diamond.

Marek Breiger was born in Urbana, Illinois on July 12, 1951 and died in Seattle, Washington on September 10, 2024. He grew up in Stockton, California where his parents moved in 1956 from Chicago.

He was devoted to his family and proud of his Jewish heritage. He had a love of literature, great sense of humor and a keen appreciation of life.

He was accepted into the prestigious writing program at San Francisco State University where he earned a Master's degree in creative writing. He went on to write for a number of publications, including, Jewish Currents, California English and he published a book about California writers entitled, “The City and the Fields”. His work was included in a number of anthologies including, “Updating the Literary West”.

He was an inspiring teacher and he taught for over 20 years AP English at Irvington High School in Fremont, California.

He fought a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. His last 2 years were spent in Seattle where his brother David was his tireless advocate overseeing his care.

He is preceded in death by his beloved father, Boris and sister, Mimi. He is survived by his mother, Florence, brother David, sister-in-law Amy and nephews Josh and Micah.

Bob Mann, a criminal defense attorney known for defending some of Rhode Island's most notorious criminals, has died.

Roger Williams University School of Law Dean Andrew Horwitz told NBC 10 News thatMann was in hospice care fighting Parkinson’s disease and that Mann died Monday night.

Mann took on some of the most high-profile cases in Rhode Island.

Horwitz said Mann fought a “courageous battle” and that he displayed courage throughout his career.

Joel Sherman, the longtime owner of the Nat Sherman store in New York City, died yesterday after a long battle with Parkinson’s. He was 85 years old. 

Sherman was born on August 2, 1939, and he spent decades in the family tobacco business. His first job was cleaning the original Nat Sherman store on 1400 Broadway when he was 10 years old. Sherman began working full time in 1963 at Nat Sherman, a company founded by his father Nat in 1930. When he was in high school, Joel came up with a business plan to move his father’s store to a much higher-end location, on Fifth Avenue. The store was moved several times over the years, and the final location was on 42nd Street near Grand Central Terminal. 

Joel left the business for about 12 years, in 1978, shifting to run a business called Concord Shear. He came back to Nat Sherman after his father’s death in 1990, and was joined in the family business by his children Bill, Larry and Michele.

Nat Sherman was far more than a retailer, and developed its own line of Nat Sherman cigars. (For a time before the Cuban embargo, it was the exclusive supplier of Cuba’s Bolivar brand for the United States.) It also had several lines of cigarettes. In 2017, it drew the interest of cigarette giant Altria Group Inc., which acquired Sherman Holdings Inc. and the entire portfolio of Nat Sherman branded high-end cigarettes and premium cigars. 

On September 16, 2020, Nat Sherman closed its store, known as The Townhouse. Today, no more cigars are sold under the Nat Sherman name, although the blends live on under a new name, Ferio Tego. 

“Few people have the opportunity to make such a lasting impact on so many people’s lives,” said Michael Herklots, who worked for Sherman for many years. As one of the owners of Ferio Tego, he is now the custodian of the old Nat Sherman brands, if not in name, then certainly in spirit.

Our world burns less bright and is less kind today. Leonard Packel, 89, of Philadelphia and Wynnewood, died peacefully on September 9, 2024.

Born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1935, to Benjamin and Frances Packel, Len graduated from West Philadelphia High School where he won a medal for best student-athlete of his class of 1953. He earned the Philadelphia Board of Education scholarship and attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he was in the fraternity Tau Epsilon Phi and forged friendships that lasted his entire life, graduating in 1957. Next, Len earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Harvard Law School in 1960.

In his third year of law school, on December 4, 1959, he went on his first date with Susan Finesilver from the Bronx who was a junior studying at nearby Brandeis University. In May of 1960, after finishing all his law school exams, he took Sue to the Massachusetts seaside town of Rockport. While having lunch overlooking the ocean, a ringless Len surprised Sue by asking, “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” Sue asked back, “But do you love me?” Len wisely retorted, “Of course I do!” After serving six months of mandatory service in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Eustis, Virginia, Len and Sue married on July 27, 1961, at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City and were married for 61 years until Sue’s tragic death in November 2022. 

Len had several legal jobs in Philadelphia and Harrisburg for the next decade, including serving as Chief of the Trial Division of the Philadelphia Public Defender and Chief of the Office of Criminal Law in the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. It was not until 1973 that he found his dream job of teaching at Villanova Law School. Len truly loved teaching. He was beloved by both students and colleagues. Professor Packel was highly appreciated for his patience, kindness, sense of humor, and generosity of time. He had an open-door office policy and reveled at the many moments when students would pop in for help and advice. Sue and Len were avid travelers to Europe and there was rarely a city when a former student wouldn’t call out, “Professor Packel!” He loved those impromptu meetups and so did Sue, who glowed with pride for her beloved “Lennie”. Even though he officially retired in 2006 after 33 years of serving on the faculty, he continued to teach one class, Trial Practice, for another 6 years. One of his greatest professional achievements is the book, Pennsylvania Evidence, which he co-wrote with his colleague, Professor Anne Poulin. This tome became the gold standard resource for all evidentiary topics across the Commonwealth. 

Len had a rich social life, which started with frequent dates with Sue, who he adored for her intelligence, sense of humor, and spunk. They had many friends from various parts of their lives, often getting together for book club, movie club, and dinners out at various restaurants on the Main Line and in Philadelphia. As a father, we deeply appreciate how he coached many of our teams in the Penn Valley Little League. We appreciate the wonderful summers at Pinemere Camp and Long Beach Island. But most importantly, we appreciate his kindness, patience, his singing silly limericks, his wonderful story-telling, and his love for us, and for our mom. 

Leonard was a devoted and generous husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his sons David and Daniel, his daughter-in-law Eve, grandchildren Maya Policare and Nathaniel Packel, sister Sally Levin, and nephews Richard Levin, Steven Packel, and Stanford Packel.

College Park Elementary School teacher Buzz Amble was so beloved that 12 years after his 2001 retirement — and an “Aloha party” attended by hundreds of staff and students from across decades — friends hosted another get-together in his honor.

They simply wanted to see how he was doing and reminisce once more about their shared time together, so in 2013 they organized a huge surprise party at the Costa Mesa campus where he’d taught fifth grade for the better part of 30 years.

“He was the most popular teacher ever. He was just there for everybody,” recalled longtime friend and former College Park librarian Gay Royer. “All children were special to him. I can’t tell you how many kids became teachers because of him.”

Amble, who lived in Costa Mesa with his wife, Bird, a retired kindergarten teacher, died Sept. 7 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80 years old.

Speaking with the Pilot, students recalled Amble as an unforgettable influence, gifted at reaching students on a level that made them feel heard, seen and respected, no matter where they came from or whatever their struggles.

“He was able to find a piece of me that I didn’t know I had and bring it to light,” said Bryan Rice, 43, who teaches economics and math at Tustin High School. “It helped me find myself at a very young age. I always thought Mr. Amble was special to me, because I was special to him.”

“He inspired me to believe in myself in a way no adult was able to do before him,” said Roberto Jara, a fifth-grader in 1973-74 whom Amble jokingly called Roburpo. “From him I inherited a love for learning, reading, history, rock music, caring for the environment and how to enjoy life. He was certainly a light unlike any other person I have ever known.”

Born on May 30, 1944, in Grand Rapids, Minn. to dairy farmers from Wisconsin, George David Amble grew up in idyllic surroundings, scouting around the headwaters of the Mississippi River and fishing after school like a modern day Huckleberry Finn, according to an obituary compiled by Royer’s daughter, Love Hertel.

Amble was bestowed with the nickname “Buzz” by his older sister who, unable to call him baby brother, would say “baby buzzer,” said Bird Amble, his wife of 46 years.

More interested in sports and extracurricular activities as a student than in the academic standards, Amble sought a teaching credential through Minnesota’s Bemidji State University, where he discovered his calling.

“I found out I loved it,” he told the Daily Pilot in 2001. “I loved children. And I just came out [to California from Minnesota] for a year in 1964.”

He and a friend wanted to see the Pacific Ocean but ended up in the town of Wasco, northwest of Bakersfield, where Amble taught the children of migrant farm workers.

“Kids and parents came to his apartment to learn spelling,” Bird Amble recalled. “When it came time for the district spelling bee, the kids were there, all dressed up. And they beat everybody in the whole district, including the GATE kids.

“And Buzz always remembered the winning word by the winning child,” she continued. “He made school fun, and the kids never forgot it.”

Kirk Baumeister, 64, remembered being a student in the class next door to Amble’s in the early 1970s and quickly befriending the teacher, who coached the basketball team and tagged him as captain.

“I tell people I was kind of a jerk in elementary school, but he saw leadership qualities in me,” recalled Bauermeister, who retired from Newport-Mesa Unified School District after 26 years as a teacher and administrator. “Having somebody outside of your family see those qualities in you means a lot.”

Bauermeister now teaches an introduction to education class at Vanguard University, where he asks prospective teachers to envision the qualities of their favorite teachers.

“For me, that teacher was Buzz Amble,” he said Tuesday. “He and Birdie didn’t have their own kids — that’s what all their students were [for them].”

Quick with a joke and known for displaying maps all over the walls and tending to a zoo of classroom pets, Amble famously read “Where the Red Fern Grows” with students every year, gifting copies as classroom prizes to top students.

Rice said Mr. Amble is a big part of why he’s a teacher today.

“The humility I try to have with my kids, the shrugging off a bad day, ‘we’ll get it tomorrow’ mentality — I want to be that type of teacher,” he said. “Because in the world we’re living in, we need more Mr. Ambles.”

The retired teacher was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 and stayed physically fit as long as he could, said Bird, who was his caregiver and “loved every minute of it.”

“It meant the world to me to honor him that way because he was my person,” she said. “We were like best friends forever. We just had the best time everywhere.”

Gerald Dale Harding (75), of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully Friday, September 6, 2024, at home with his loving wife, Kris, by his side. Despite an almost 20-year battle with Parkinson's Disease, he never lost his sense of humor and gentle heart, finding ways to connect with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren even when words became hard to find. Fondly known to friends and family by his middle name, Dale was born on November 30, 1948. He grew up in a house built by his father on Sycamore St. in Baton Rouge and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Istrouma High School in 1966 and was a Nawaganti Indian dancer there. During the Vietnam War, Dale joined the Naval Reserve and served as a Hospital Corpsman stationed in Japan. There he made the trek to the top of Mt. Fuji. After returning, Dale resumed working for Exxon, completing two apprenticeships. Startingat the Refinery and then later at the Chemical plant as an analyzer technician, Dale's career with Exxon spanned over 35 years. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed fishing with his brothers, and backpacking in the Collegiate Peaks backcountry in Colorado with friends and family. As a self-taught guitarist, Dale found music a source of expression. Church, his faith, and the community that came with attending St. John's UMC were important parts of Dale's life for many years. He served on the trustees' committee for many years, was in the praise band, sang in the choir, both services every Sunday, and especially loved to sing in the sunrise service on Easter. He accompanied the St. John's youth group on the Appalachian Service Project several times and always found meaning and joy in the experience. He was a simple, straightforward man with a big heart who will be missed by all who knew him. Dale's loving spirit is carried on by his wife of 50 years, Kristen, his two daughters, Jennifer Harding (Ben Owens) and Meghan (Chris) Audler, and three grandchildren, Wyatt Audler, Hayes Audler, and Atticus Owens. Dale leaves behind two brothers, Cliff (Connie) Harding; their daughters Alicia (James) Jarreau and Cathy (Todd) Jackson, and David Harding; his children Ryan Harding, Erin Harding (Candace O'Brien), and Mattie Harding and their mother Debbie Stout-Harding. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Martha Jean Harding. The family extends special appreciation to his caregivers, Nakesha, Sime, and Demetric, for their patience, compassion, and good humor, as well as to the Hospice of Baton Rouge staff. 

Fred Rosenfeld, 79, of Ardmore, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 5, 2024. He was the loving husband of Wendy (Feierman) for 56 years; loving father of Rachel (Henry) Schaumburger and Joshua (Linn Kao) Rosenfeld; cherished grandfather of Nathan, Elena, Natalie, Sage, Brayden and Luna; and dear brother of Arthur (Ana Teixido) Rosenfeld. 

He was born in Philadelphia, son of the late Paul and Ethel (Wilen) Rosenfeld. He spent his happy childhood playing with friends in the streets of Wynnefield. He graduated from his mother’s alma mater, Overbrook High School, and then earned his bachelor’s degree in Health & Physical Education at Temple University, where he also earned his masters degree. 

He was a Philadelphian through and through and spent his entire teaching career in the public school system. He started teaching at Fitzsimons Junior High and then spent the next 24 years at Overbrook. His last 11 years as a teacher were at his father’s alma mater, Central High School. He loved teaching and was known for asking his students to think deeply – to learn not just about subject content but also about themselves. Former students recall him as playing a pivotal role in their lives.

Fred found his greatest passion outside the classroom as a track and field and cross country coach. Known as “Mr. Rose” by his athletes, Fred was a heralded coach who, in his long career, won an astounding 51 Philadelphia Public League Championships (40 as a head coach and 11 as a co-head coach or assistant coach). His teams at “The Brook” and Central High School won a total of 17 public league track and field and 23 cross country titles. Additionally, he coached four championship seasons of cross country at Akiba Hebrew (now Barrack) Academy. He also spent one year as a coach at Textile College (now Philadelphia University).

Fred was recognized many times for his coaching achievements. He was honored as the Pennsylvania Track Coach of the Year in 1989, 1998 and 2004. In 1991, he was named an Honorary Referee for the Penn Relays, and he coached in the 1993 Maccabiah Games in Israel. For years he served as boys coach for the Pennsylvania Cross Country All Star teams at the Mideast Championships. Fred was one of the creators of the Overbrook High School Athletic Alumni Association (OHSAA) and was honored to lead the induction of the first class in 1991, which included Wilt Chamberlain. He himself was inducted into several halls of fame, including OHSAA, the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the Belmont Plateau Cross Country Hall of Fame. 

At Overbrook, he cemented his legacy, coaching an unprecedented 14 consecutive Public League Track Championships from 1972 to 1985. In Cross Country, his 1979 team won the last-ever City Championship, while his 1988 team recorded the only perfect score in Public League Championship history. Fred mentored a large group of outstanding athletes, including a few Olympians. Many went on to run in college and became coaches themselves. Fred motivated his athletes through a combination of high expectations and an endless stream of humor. Over the years, he stayed in regular contact with his former runners, who often shared with him the tremendous impact that he had on their lives. Several of them were by his side in his last days.

Not one to relax – ever – Fred spent his summers at overnight camps in leadership roles. He and his beloved wife, Wendy, a.k.a. Canteen Lady, spent two decades at Camp Nock-A-Mixon with their children, where he served as boys head counselor and athletic director. There, he was known for his energy, charisma and countless stories. He was co-founder and co-director of Briarwood Running Camp for 25 years. 

After retirement, Fred stayed active by serving as a PIAA Cross Country and Track and Field official, and as an official at the Penn Relays. He volunteered with Students Run Philly Style and helped to establish the Penn Running Club. He was a key member of the committee that created the Academy at Palumbo, located in South Philadelphia. Also in retirement, he took up golf and was an avid cyclist.

One of Fred and Wendy’s greatest joys was spending time with their children and grandchildren. He brought his boundless energy and athleticism to this role, so that his grandchildren always looked forward to a fun time with their silly, loving and proud grandpop.