JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Fashion world ‘fixture’ Zelda Kaplan dies at 95

By Alan D. Abbey · February 21, 2012

New York fashion world “fixture” Zelda Kaplan died Feb. 15 at 95 after collapsing while attending a runway show during the city’s annual Fashion Week. The New York Times said Kaplan “exited this world much as she had lived in it for the last four decades or so of her 95 years - as an inimitable fixture on fashion’s front lines and an inveterate clubgoer in Manhattan.”

Hebron massacre survivor Yaakov Castel dies

By Alan D. Abbey · February 19, 2012

Yaakov Castel, described as one of the last remaining survivors of the massacre of Jews in Hebron in 1929, died Feb. 16. His age was not available.

Journalist Jeffrey Zaslow dies in car crash at 53

By Alan D. Abbey · February 13, 2012

Journalist Jeffrey Zaslow, whose “beat” as a Wall Street Journal reporter, columnist, and author was the way regular people navigate the transitions and stages of their lives, died Feb. 10 at 53 in a car accident on a snowy road in northern Michigan on his way home from speaking about his newest book, “The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters,” about the clientele of a bridal store.

Soft-core filmmaker Zalman King dies at 70 (or maybe 69)

By Alan D. Abbey · February 9, 2012

Note: Some of the material in this article - and certainly many of the links to videos or photographs associated with filmmaker Zalman King - may very well be NSFW. This probably would have amused Zalman King. So, proceed with caution.

Commercial “soft-core” filmmaker and one-time actor Zalman King, called variously an “erotic cinema maestro,” a “brilliant and noble soul,“ and much in between died Feb. 3 at 70 (although some reports had him at age 69, which made some writers quite happy).

King wrote, directed, or produced commercial but overtly erotic films, including as “9½ Weeks,” “Wild Orchid,” and “Delta of Venus,” and TV films and series (all on cable), including “Red Shoe Diaries,” such as “Chromiumblue.com,” and “Body Language.” His work was lauded by websites devoted to “B” movies and cult films, while his mainstream reputation was somewhat less exalted.

Roman Halter, Shoah survivor, artist, dies at 84

By Alan D. Abbey · February 8, 2012

Roman Halter, who turned his experiences during the Holocaust as a slave laborer, death camp survivor and death march escapee into searing art, died in London on Jan. 30 at 85.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of England’s Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “He was a man who survived unimaginable experiences and who will be remembered by all of us at HET for his great intellect, talent , dignity and, above all, his warmth. He will be hugely missed.”

Jane Ising, 110, editor Harry Coen, 67, actor Ben Gazzara, 81 - not Jewish, but…

By Alan D. Abbey · February 6, 2012

In case you had seen headlines and were wondering, the subjects of this item, supercentenarian Jane Ising, 110, British editor Harry Coen, 67, and actor Ben Gazzara, 81, all of whom died in the last week, were not Jewish. But their stories are worth noting.

Oklahoma oil exec and philanthropist Jack Zarrow dies at 86

By Alan D. Abbey · February 6, 2012

Jack Zarrow, a Tulsa, Okla., oil and gas supply company CEO and philanthropist whose foundation supported education, mental health and Jewish charities, died on Feb. 2 at 86.

"Jack Zarrow was one of the kindest, warmest individuals I have ever met, and the legacy of his work and generosity will touch the Tulsa community for many years to come," said Mike Brose, executive director of Tulsa Mental Health Association. Zarrow "wanted everyone in Tulsa to have a safe, warm, decent place to live and for everyone in our community to have access to high-quality educational opportunities, combined with good health and mental health care."

Bill Mardo, sportswriter who pushed for integrating baseball, dies at 89

By Alan D. Abbey · February 2, 2012

Bill Mardo, a longtime sportswriter for "The Daily Worker" and one of the leading voices for integrating baseball in the 1940s, died Jan. 20 at 89.

Mardo's efforts, along with other Jewish colleagues at the Communist newspaper, wrote columns and articles over a course of years that many have credited with creating the moral case for opening Major League baseball to African Americans. In the new book, Out of Left Field: Jews and Black Baseball, Temple University's Rebecca T. Alpert wrote that the campaign to convince Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey to integrate the team was initiated by Mardo. In a review of the book, Edward Shapiro wrote:

Ayelet Galena, 2-year-old whose plight moved thousands, dies

By Alan D. Abbey · February 1, 2012

This is almost too sad to report, but her short life and tragic end have been public: Ayelet Galena, who had suffered from a rare bone disease, died Jan. 31.

Galena's parents, Seth and Hindy Poupko Galena, worked through their own emotions and raised funds and awareness about Ayelet's illness on a blog. Gabrielle Birkner of the Forward wrote a warm and understanding piece that expounded on the little girl's "public" plight:

Vade Bolton, ‘Volunteers for israel’ head, dies at 72

By Alan D. Abbey · January 31, 2012

Vade Bolton, president of the board of Volunteers for Israel died Dec. 26, 2011, at 72 after complications from knee surgery.