The Jewish Observer
News from Middle Tennessee's Jewish Community | Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024
The Jewish Observer

Obituaries November 2023

Condolences to the family of Isabelle Lewis Cohen, who died at home on August 28. She was the daughter of Morris and Molly Lewis from El Dorado, Ark. 

Isabelle met the love of her life, Murray Cohen, by chance at a wedding. Not long after, Isabelle and Murray were married. They opened Murray's House of Fashion in Green Hills and stayed in business (at the same location) for 35 years. They were true partners in every sense. 

Isabelle was the family matriarch and a calm and guiding force. She was smart, sweet, practical and stylisha true lady. 

She is survived by her daughters, Lauri Goldstein (David) and Jina Cohen (Sam Moore); grandchildren, Rachel McPherson (Joe) and Max Goldstein; sister-in-law Sylvia Weinberger; nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. 

Isabelle's family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to all of her caregivers for their love and kindness and care. 

Contributions in Isabelle's memory may be made to The Temple. 

 

Condolences to the family of Shirley Cohen Greenberg, 95, of Nashville, who died on August 28. She was born in Montreal, Canada on October 28, 1927, to Morris and Eva Cohen. 

Shirley was a longtime resident of Nashville and a great supporter of the Nashville Jewish community. She was loved by all who knew her for her infectious smile and generous spirit. 

Shirley was predeceased by her two loving husbands, J. B. Cohen and Max Greenberg. 

Survivors include her four children: Larry Cohen, Kathy Cohen (Ronnie), Michael Cohen (Jan), Alan Cohen (Arlene Gold), and grandchildren: Time, Ben, Eric, Marcie and Heather. 

 

Condolences to the family of Gus David Kuhn, III, 73, who died on September 7, from complications of Parkinsons Disease. Gus was born on June 14, 1950, in Nashville, the second son of three sons of the late Barbara Jacobs Kuhn and Gus D. Kuhn, Jr. 

Gus attended public schools in Nashville before entering Montgomery Bell Academy. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College, where he graduated with the first class of men admitted to the school. 

Following college, Gus studied grand-scale puppetry and toured the world with the Bread and Puppet Theatre, then lived and studied in Japan before returning to the United States and beginning a career as an artisan His wooden toys, marketed as Lone Goose Toys, were works of joy and his whimsical finger puppets found homes in offices and homes around the globe. 

Gus began his 41-year marriage to his beloved Elaine Raphael Kuhn in 1982. They settled briefly in Minneapolis, where they lived over their craft store, Southern Comforts. Minnesota winters brought them back to Nashville in 1985. 

Gus had a keen eye for the art, not only of his fellow crafters, but also fellow visual artists. Over the years, Gus and Elaine collected many soulful contemporary abstract paintings and other works of art. 

He shared his parentsand grandparentspassionate commitment to Reform Judaism and his congregation, Temple Ohabai Shalom, where he served as president from 2006-2008. He was also active in the Reform Jewish movement nationally, serving on the board of the Union for Reform Judaism and as president of the URJ Midwest Council. 

While Gus was proud to be part of a family with a long Nashville history, he planted deep roots in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Gus started attending summer camp at Camp Horseshoe when he was 10 years old and his heart never left. He and Elaine made a second home in Minong, Wis., where Gus spent as much time as he possibly could. 

In addition to Elaine, Gus leaves behind his true pride and joys, his two children and their spouses, whom he loved as his own: daughter, Gina Kuhn-Deutscher (Gabriel Deutscher) of Berlin, Germany; and son David Kuhn (Melanie Kuhn) of Brooklyn. He will be deeply missed and always loved by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Rabbi William and Emily Kuhn of Philadelphia, and Irwin and Diane Kuhn of Nashville, as well as his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and close friends. 

His many caregivers, who allowed Gus to maintain the best possible quality of life as long as possible, deserve a lasting debt of gratitude. Most particularly, our love to Bradley Mckenzie, Gusconstant, who, among many other things, took Gus on his final trip to the North Woods. 

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Contributions in Guss memory may be made to The Kuhn Social Action Fund at the Temple Congregation Ohabai Shalom; 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37215; or the Parkinsons Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Ste 800, Miami, FL 33131, or the charity of your choice 

 

Condolences to the family of Jeffrey David Sterne, 33, who died after a more than three year battle with kidney cancer. He was the beloved son of Mark and Cari Sterne and older brother to Ryan, Michael, and Michaels wife, Michelle.  

Jeff recently achieved his dream job as an Enforcement Officer at the U.S. Treasury and demonstrated tremendous passion for music, guitars and government policy. He possessed a wealth of knowledge for his interests and could speak passionately about almost any topic related to music, politics or history.  

Jeff was extremely compassionate, with an uncanny ability to see multiple perspectives and find common ground. He was incredibly kind and treated every person with care.  

Jeff was the first grandchild of his four loving grandparents, Martin and Shelley Shore of Del Ray Beach, Fla., and Judilee Tash Sterne and the late Harold Sterne of Sarasota, Fa.; the oldest nephew of five loving aunts and uncles, role model to nine cousins, and proud dog-father to Loki.  

Throughout Jeffs battle, he remained incredibly giving, and no matter the challenges he faced, his wishes were to support the fight against Kidney Cancer. Donations can be made in his memory to Kidney Cancer research at https://kidneycan.org/donate-n...