Gary Levine
Longtime Denver resident and banker Gary Levine passed away on Oct. 20, 2023, at the age of 71. A service was held on Oct. 23 at Temple Emanuel, with interment at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Joseph Black and Rabbi Steven Foster. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A New York native, Mr. Levine was born on August 31, 1952. He attended Eastern Montana College, where he met his wife Connie. They were married for 49 years at the time of Mr. Levine’s death.
Following college in Montana, Mr. Levine moved to Denver to attend DU, where he graduated with a business degree. Upon graduation, Mr. Levine worked at OmniBank and KeyBank.
In 1997, Mr. Levine became CEO of Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corp. In 2016 he became chairman of the board, until his retirement in 2021.
“Gary was passionate about his family, golf and philanthropy,” his family said. “Gary will be remembered for his warm and genuine smile, his dry sense of humor, his generosity and hard work ethic.”
Survivors are Mr. Levine’s wife Connie; children Amy (Justin) Land and Whitney (Joe) Radzis; and grandchildren Carson and Hayden Land and Skylar and River Radzis.
Contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel or UC Health Foundation.
Ronald Schiff
Denver native and devoted supporter of Jewish causes, Ronald “Ronnie” Schiff died on Oct. 21, 2023, five days after his 88th birthday. A service was held on Oct. 23 at Rose Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Yaakov Meyer and Cantor Marty Goldstein. Arrangements were handled by Feldman Mortuary.
Born on Aug. 26, 1935, Mr. Schiff grew up on Denver’s West Side and attended Cheltenham Elementary, Lake Junior High School and North High School. On June 15, 1958, Ronnie and Sandra Schiff were married at Beth Joseph.
After joining the Colorado Air National Guard, Mr. Schiff began his career at Safeway stores, where he ran their bakery and merchandise distribution. He then went on to start Wholesale Specialties, one of the most successful plumbing supply businesses in the country.
“Ronnie laid the foundation for a great family,” his family said. “He created and grew a great business and was very philanthropic.
“He would help anyone with his time and advice, and you would never hear him brag, or say a bad thing about others.
“For all his successes he was incredibly quiet, gentle, generous and unassuming.”
Survivors are Mr. Schiff’s wife Sandra; children Frank (Andrea) Schiff, Bobby (Toni) Schiff and Bryan (Susan) Schiff; and grandchildren Zachary (Alexa) Schiff, Samantha, Danny, Rebecca, Corey, Stephanie, Jeremy and Rachel.
Contributions can be made to Hadassah of Denver, Yeshiva Toras Chaim, the Denver Kollel, BMH-BJ congregation or Aish of the Rockies.
Allan Lackner
Denver native and longtime community volunteer Allan Lackner passed away on Oct. 18, 2023. He was 90. A service was held on Oct. 24 at Temple Emanuel, with interment at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Joseph Black. Feldman Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Born on Aug. 12, 1933, Mr. Lackner graduated from East High School in 1951 and CU Boulder in 1955. That same year, Mr. Lackner married Sandra Antonoff; they were a couple until Mrs. Lackner’s death in 1975. In 1977, Mr. Lackner married Susan Lazar; they were married for 46 years at the time of Mr. Lackner’s death.
Mr. Lackner spent most of his professional career as an independent insurance agent. After retiring from the insurance business, Mr. Lackner became a public school substitute teacher and was an administrator of BMH-BJ. He also taught classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at DU.
Mr. Lackner was also active in the ALS Assn., the Colorado Coalition of Genocide Awareness and Action, the JCC and American Medical Center.
On May 24, 2012, Mayor Michael Hancock proclaimed the day “Mr. Al Lackner Day” in recognition of his community service. He also received the Minoru Yasul Community Volunteer Award in May, 2012.
“Al was a man of many interests,” his family said. “He was a voracious reader on many subjects, loved jazz piano, photography, music and movies.
“He loved life and lived it to the fullest but was happiest presiding over a big table of laughing children and grandchildren at a family gathering.
“Al loved sports and cheering on Denver sports teams in particular, but loved baseball the most and held a special place in his heart for his beloved Detroit Tigers.”
Survivors are Mr. Lackner’s wife Susan; children Bob (Patricia) Lackner, Jeffrey (Ann Marie Carosella) Lackner, Zach (Sarah) Lazar and Stacey (Sean) Watson; and grandchildren Jacob Lackner, Rebekah Lackner, Rachel Lackner, Elizabeth Lackner, Ben Lackner and Finn Watson.
Contributions may be made to the ALS Assn. or Temple Emanuel.
George Tatz
US Army veteran and restaurateur George Tatz died on Oct. 20, 2023, at the age of 86. A service was held on October 23 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Steven Foster. Arrangements were made by Feldman Mortuary.
Mr. Tatz was born in Brooklyn, NY, on January 18, 1937. He attended a vocational trade school in New York to learn restaurant, food and business management. From 1956 to 1958 Mr. Tatz served in the US Army in Japan, then became an army reservist.
In 1985, George and Macky Tatz were married in Clark, NJ. Mr. Tatz’s passing was one day after their 38th wedding anniversary.
Mr. and Mrs. Tatz moved to Denver in 1993 to become partners in the restaurant Breakfast Inn-Dinner Too on Evans. Mr. Tatz then taught restaurant management, safety and sanitation at the Colorado School of Arts’ culinary division.
“George was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, father-in-law and Zaidy,” his family said. “He loved to make people laugh with jokes and funny songs.
“George also had bragging rights as the second-best Monopoly player in the world at Grossingers, New York, in 1973.”
Survivors are Mr. Tatz’s wife Macky; children Robin (Todd) Forney, Sheri (Michael) Barry, Larry (Kim) Tatz; stepchildren Mindy (John) Miller and Michael (Marla) Katz; grandchildren Alyssa Forney, Lillian Forney, Michelle Forney, Matt Tatz, Jackie Tatz, Harry Miller, Aiden Miller, Abby Katz and Chelsea Katz; and great-grandchild Finn Barnett.
Contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Assn. and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
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