JOSEPH H. APTER, died Dec. 7, 2009. Beloved husband of Jodi B. Apter; loving father of Brandon (Tanja) Apter, Brett Apter and Blaine Apter; dear son of Marcella and the late Allan Apter; beloved brother of Sally (Fred) Schereen and Linda (Jeff) Mates; dear son-in-law of Allan and Carlotta Goldberg; beloved brother-in-law of Joel (Cathy) Goldberg; dear uncle, cousin and friend to many. Joey had many friends who loved him and who, along with his family, are saddened by his early passing. Contributions to National Foundation for Alternative Medicine, 1325 G. Street N.W., Ste #500, Washington, D.C. 20005 or Habitat for Humanity, 3763 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, 63108. Rindskopf-Roth

RUBEN EPSTEIN, died Dec. 6, 2009. Beloved husband of Adele and the late Vera Epstein; dear father of Stuart (Toby) Epstein, Dennis (Linda Brewer) Epstein of Corvallis, Ore. And Alan (Shawn) Epstein; dear grandfather of Beth, Jessalyn, Mark, Vanessa, Hannah and Lauren Epstein; dear brother of the late Jack (the late Lottie) Epstein and the late Martin (the late Eva) Epstein; dear uncle, cousin and friend. Mr. Epstein was a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona and a past president of the B’nai Amoona Men’s Club. Contributions to the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer, 2155 Woodson Road, St. Louis, 63114, www.stlmensgroup.org, or call Margie Price at 314-428-3331, or to charity of donor’s choice. Berger Memorial

HARVEY L. FRANZEL, 85, died November 26, 2009 in Norwalk, Conn. Mr. Franzel was born in St. Louis to the late Abraham and Mary Franzel. He graduated from Washington University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1943. Mr. Franzel was a veteran of World War II, serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He married Melba Silberman, his high school sweetheart, in 1946 and they were blessed with 56 years of marriage. Harvey and family settled in St. Louis and moved to Westport, Conn. in 1958. He was happy, caring and vigorous to the end. Widower of Melba; partner of Alberta Eiseman; father of Steve (Karen) and Jeff (Joanne) and the late Donna Franzel; grandfather of Daniel and Jason Franzel and David and Jon Franzel; brother of Melvin (Joan) Franzel, and sister-in-law Julie (Joseph) Iken. Contributions to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Washington University in St. Louis, earmarked for the Donna Franzel Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Ms. Libby Gutberlet, Scholarship Coordinator, School of Engineering & Applied Science, Washington University, Campus Box 1202, St. Louis, 63130-4899.

JOSEPH GROSS, of Belleville, Ill. died Dec. 11, 2009. Beloved husband of Jean Brody Gross; dear father of Nathan (Lynn) Gross of Bloomington, Ill., Stanley (Cheryl) Gross of Buffalo Grove, Ill. and Meyer Gross of Renton, Wash.; dear grandfather of Aaron, David, Jeffrey and Brian Gross; brother of the late Bessie (the late Ben) Berger; dear brother-in-law of the late Earl Brody and the late George (the late Joy) Brody; dear uncle and friend. Mr. Gross was a member of Bais Abraham Congregation. Contributions to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, 10950 Schuetz Road, St. Louis, 63146, or to charity of donor’s choice. Berger Memorial

CAROL MAY HART, died Dec. 6, 2009. Beloved widow of David Lee Hart; dear mother of Dale (Larry) Magariel, Linda (Dwight) Kim, Scott (Nancy Archer) Hart and Todd (Julia) Hart; loving grandmother of Cullen (Kerry) Magariel, Abby (Charlie) Evans, Jerad and Ryan Laverty, Danielle, Jake and Lily Hart; dear sister of Gary Laycob; beloved sister-in-law of Max (Ryna) Hart and Jay Dee (Lori) Hart; dear aunt, cousin and friend. Carol brought love and laughter to everyone around her. Contributions to St. Louis Children’s Hospital or to United Hebrew Congregation. Rindskopf-Roth

HYMAN NOVACK, died Dec. 4, 2009. Beloved husband of Anita Novack; dear father of William (Janis) Novack, Stephen (Ilene) Novack and Barbara (Gregory) Sestric; dear brother of Mollie (the late Ansel) Miller, the late Morris (the late Betty) Novack and the late Sid (the late Virginia) Novack; Dear grandfather of Gregory (Tasia) Novack, Daniel Novack, Douglas (Julie) Novack, Melissa (Matthew) Friedman, Scott Novack, Caroline Novack, Stephanie Sestric and Andrew Sestric; dear great-grandfather of Jacob Novack, Ella Novack and Jordan Novack, Anabella Friedman, Payton Friedman and Dillon Friedman; dear uncle, great uncle, cousin and friend. Contributions to charity of donor’s choice. Berger Memorial

MARIE (MICKEY) SILBERGELD, died December 9, 2009 from complications of melanoma. Daughter of the late Israel and the late Sarah Grabieh Scheinbaum of Cincinnati, Ohio; former wife of the late Irvin Silbergeld; mother of the late Harlan and the late Barry Silbergeld; twin sister of Phyllis (Rod) Gabler of Bandon, Ore. and sister of the late Reva (David) Prince, the late Toby Blum, the late Gil Schoenbaum, Mimi Meltzer of Peoria, Ariz. and Al Shawn of Peoria, Ariz.; cousin of Jessica Friedlander of St. Louis; survived also by numerous nephews, nieces and other cousins. She was born on July 30, 1937 in Cincinnati and graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1959, majoring in American History. She attended the Habonim Workshop in Israel from 1955-1956. Mickey was active in the Jewish community her entire life. Mickey faced many challenges in her life with courage and determination. She will be missed by all who knew her. The family is deeply appreciative of the care provided by the staff of Delmar Gardens West, Division 200 and Pathways Community Hospice. Contributions to a charity of your choice.

TAMI STEIN, died Dec. 4, 2009. Beloved wife of Bernard W. Stein; dear mother of Scott (Jane) Stein; dear grandmother of Zack and Allie Stein; dear sister of the late Edward (the late Annette) Rudman, the late Jeanette (the late Alvin) Goldfarb and the late Alice (the late Jerome) Kramer; dear aunt, cousin and friend. Contributions to Livestrong – Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 6003, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6603. Berger Memorial

STEVEN B. WOLFE, died Dec. 2, 2009. Beloved father of Jeremy Wolfe and Michael Wolfe; dear brother of Howard (Heather Steckel) Wolfe, Arlene Wolfe and Susan (Andrew) Akers; dear nephew, uncle, cousin and friend. Contributions to a charity of donor’s choice. Berger Memorial