Jo Ann Sperling
Denver native Jo Ann Sperling passed away on January 1, 2025. She was 83. A service was held on January 3 at Rose Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Emily Hyatt. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Grandson Ethan Widoff delivered a eulogy at Mrs. Sperling’s funeral.
Born on February 2, 1941, Mrs. Sperling grew up on the East Side, attending Bromwell Elementary and East High School, before attending CU.
Jo Ann met Mort Sperling when they were 14 years old, and started dating after attending a BBYO event in Estes Park. They were married on June 25, 1961, at Beth Joseph.
“She was a completely devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,” Mrs. Sperling’s family said. “She gave selflessly of herself to take great care of our family and community.
“She would do anything to help our dreams come true. She loved without reservation, and she was smart, kind, beautiful and strong.”
Survivors are Mrs. Sperling’s husband, Dr. Morton Sperling; daughters Staci (Zvi Rudawsky) and Edie (Josh) Widoff; grandchildren Alyssa (Josh) Thompson, Ethan (Liz) Widoff and Molly Widoff; and great-granddaughter Deanna Thompson.
Contributions may be made to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation.
Oded Rudawsky
Israeli native and Colorado School of Mines Professor Oded Rudawsky passed away on January 15, 2025. He was 93. A service was held on January 17 at Feldman Mortuary Chapel, with interment at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Sarah Shulman and HEA musical director Eitan Kantor. Feldman Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Mr. Rudawsky, born in Netanya, Israel, was recruited as a teenager to work with the Haganah, which fought for Jewish rights during the British Mandate for Palestine. He helped settle Holocaust survivors and fought for the establishment of Israel. Haganah integrated into the Israel Defense Forces after Israel’s independence in 1948.
“To supplement their (Oded and his wife Yedida) rent, their apartment was used as a safe house for the Israeli intelligence service,” Mr. Rudawsky’s family said. “During the night, they raised (sons) Ron and Zvi, and during the day the apartment was used to interrogate all kinds of spies.”
Mr. Rudawsky attended Hebrew University. In the late 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Rudawsky immigrated to the US, where Mr. Rudawsky attended Penn State University and received a master’s in economics. He was then recruited by the Colorado School of Mines, to help develop the school’s mineral economics department. He was once voted Professor of the Year.
At age 66, Mr. Rudawsky retired from School of Mines and joined his wife in her wholesale jewelry business. Mrs. Rudawsky passed away in 2015.
“Our father was a true gentleman,” his family said. “He rarely got angry, but when he did, you could expect a strongly worded letter. Later, that letter would become a strongly worded email.
“Oded was a guiding force to his children and grandchildren, with an amazing history as part of the Greatest Generation.”
Survivors are children Ron (Andrea Grasso) Rudawsky, Zvi (Staci) Rudawsky and Gil (Leslie) Rudawsky; brother Nitza Shy; grandchildren Lily Grasso Rudawsky, Dr. Alyssa (Josh Thompson) Rudawsky and Alex Rudawsky; and great-granddaughter Deanna.
Contributions may be made to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation.
Minna Buck
Minna Buck died on January 22, 2025. She was 96. A service was held in Denver on January 26; a celebration of life is being planned for late summer.
Mrs. Buck, born in Brooklyn, NY, on May 3, 1928, attended the University of Chicago before pursuing her law degree at the University of Chicago Law School and NYU. She was executive director of Onondaga County (NY) Legal Services, and was a family court judge at Onondaga County.
Minna and Earle Buck were married in June, 1949. They were a couple until Mr. Buck’s passing in 2001. In 2015, Mrs. Buck moved to Denver.
Her family said. “Minna was strong, determined and terrifyingly capable in her devotion to family, community, the vulnerable and the pursuit of justice.
“She was brilliant as well as wise, with a sense of humor as dry as the best champagne.
“Minna was always the smartest and most thoughtful person in the room. She knew all the lyrics, did crossword puzzles in ink, spoke in full paragraphs, and wrote wicked doggerel.
“She felt it was her obligation as a Jew to speak out and act on what she believed were reasonable positions across issues ranging from child welfare and development, interfaith dialogue to create peaceful solutions in the Middle East, community health to women’s rights.”
Survivors are children Beverly (David Sherman) Buck, Carolyn (Rob Evans) Buck-Luce and Michael (Pamela Menter) Buck; grandchildren Alexander, Jacob, Geneve Rose and Nathan; and great-grandchildren Maya, Max, Helen, Bridget, Beatrice, Arthur and Aurielle.
Contributions may be made to Rose Community Foundation’s Policy and Advocacy Fund or American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam.
Todd Waknin
Denver native Todd Waknin died on January 27, 2025, at the age of 66. A service was held on January 31 at Golden Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Mendel Sirota. Shalom Funerals made the arrangements.
Born on April 29, 1958, Mr. Waknin was educated at Laradon Hall.
“Todd was developmentally disabled and was cared for by our parents (Terri and Gerald Thaler) until they passed in 2021,” Mr. Waknin’s sister, Kelli Nicholson, said. “He lived at Someren Glen Senior Living until he was diagnosed with cancer in November, 2024.
“He was a passionate sports fan, especially football, and loved the Raiders and rooting against the Broncos.
“He was extremely good natured and loving to everyone he knew.”
Survivors are Mr. Waknin’s siblings Scott Waknin and Kelli Nicholson; and nephews Nathan Nicholson and Devin Nicholson.
Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research.
