Sheldon Elster
Sheldon Elster, of Potomac, died March 28. He was 84. Elster attended Temple University and Gratz College in Philadelphia as an undergraduate. He was then ordained as a rabbi at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, where he also earned doctorates in ministry and divinity.
Elster served as a rabbi at Ohev Tzedek-Shaare Torah in Boardman, Ohio, and was a professor at Youngstown University from 1964 to 1968. He later moved to the Washington area, where he served as a rabbi at Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria.
Elster was the leader of the Washington Board of Rabbis and co-founded the Gesher Jewish Day School in Fairfax and the Keshet Child Development Center in Arlington. He was also a chaplain in the Army from 1962 to 2010, and received a Legion of Merit award as well as a Humanitarian Service Medal for his service.
Elster is survived by his wife, Shulamith Reich Elster; children, Jonathan (Gayle) Elster, Elana (Jordan Horvath) Elster and Adam (Kimberly) Elster; and grandchildren, Hannah and Madelyn Elster, Paul and Sarah Horvath and Elijah and Samara Elster.
Caryl Traten Fisher
Caryl Traten Fisher, of Washington, died April 29 following a brief struggle with leukemia. Fisher grew up in Washington and attended Calvin Coolidge Senior High School. She studied at American University and The Catholic University of America before becoming a piano teacher. Fisher taught at Georgetown University, Montgomery College and the State Department, where she founded the State of the Arts Cultural Series.
Fisher is survived by her sister Jacklyn Traten Young; daughters Erica Yanoff and Margo Fisher Newman; and grandchildren Logan and Callan Yanoff and Blair and Jesse Newman. Contributions can be made to the Caryl Traten Fisher Fund at the National Center for Children and Families to support music and art education. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.
Ronald Alan Fried
Ronald Alan Fried, of Tampa, Fla., died April 23 under hospice care after complications from surgery. He was 58. Fried grew up in Washington and Miami, Fla., and graduated from the University of Maryland. He began his career as a legislative aide to Democratic Florida Rep. Claude Pepper, then became an advocate for the hospice movement, which included leadership positions with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and VITAS Healthcare. He is survived by his daughter, Nora Rubiner Fried; brother, Brandon L. Fried; stepmother, Tina Fried Heller; and wife, Cheryl Hamilton. Contributions can be made to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Mickie Greenberg
Mickie Greenberg, of Potomac, died April 20. She was 84. Greenberg was the beloved wife of the late Ronald Greenberg and devoted companion of the late Harvey Hersh. Adored mother of Julie and Roy Eskow, Katy and Rich Greenberg, Randy and Don Greenberg, Wendi and Dave Weltz and Allison and Steven Shaffer. Loving grandmother of Becca and Shawn Eskow, Caroline and Adam Eskow, Kim and Aaron Sobel, Ronni and Sam Greenberg, Michelle and David, Daniel, Amy and Robert Greenberg, Eric and Austin Weltz and Zachary and Scott Shaffer. Adoring great-grandmother of Harrison and Joey Eskow, Jack and Charlie Eskow, Emma Sobel and Andie and Cora Greenberg. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Social Service Agency.
Carol Ann Miller
Carol Ann Miller, of Rockville, died April 20. Miller was the beloved wife of the late Michael O. Miller; devoted mother of Janine Egerman and the late Gordon Miller; cherished grandmother of Becky Miller, Ethan Miller, Erika Egerman and Mia Egerman. Contributions can be made to The Education Fund of Congregation Kol Ami of Frederick, 182 Thomas Johnson Dr. Ste. 204, Frederick, MD 21702. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.
Mel Morganstein
Mel Morganstein, of Charlotte, N.C., died April 25. He was 77.
Morganstein attended the University of Maryland and became a chemical engineer with the Department of the Army. He later retired to North Carolina. Morganstein is survived by his wife, Judith Roth Morganstein; daughter, Barrie Morganstein (Matthew Goldstein); brother, David Morganstein (Sheue Ling); and granddaughter, Lila Goldstein.
Stanley Platnik
Stanley Platnik, of Brinklow, Md., died April 29. Platnik was the beloved husband of Priscilla Platnik; devoted father of Lisa Platnik (Daren Smith) and Jennifer Norton; and loving grandfather of Curtis Norton. Contributions can be made to HART at hart90.org. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.
