On March 7, Kalman Zitwer of Rockville, died peacefully. Beloved husband of Irene Zitwer, loving father of Joette (Alkire) Zitwer, Roberta Donnay and Jared Dov Zitwer. He was born in New York City on July 10, 1921. A veteran of WWII, Mr. Zitwer was a liberator in Austria and received a Purple Heart. He worked as a printer at the GPO in Washington, D.C., for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, Elise and Diana. Services were held in the chapel at Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney.
So, here’s a man among men who accomplished amazing things in his life, from teaching Hebrew for 67 years, talmud for a few less years, to writing Purim shpiels and plays; yet, he was supremely friendly to whomever he met and was a mensch. I miss him terribly, even though he lived to be 92-2/3rds. He just didn’t have fun anymore at the nursing home, and I take my share of responsibility for that, being that I didn’t visit in person from mid-July last year for reasons that are too complex for me to fully understand. Rest in peace, my abba.