US Army veteran and longtime Denver resident Leon “Lee” Ginsberg died on April 29, 2023, at the age of 96. A service was held on May 1 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Emily Hyatt. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A Bronx, NY native, Mr. Ginsberg’s family moved to Chicago, where Mr. Ginsburg attended the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Mr. Ginsberg’s studies were interrupted by service in the US Army; he was drafted in December, 1944 at the age of 18, and was stationed in Texas and in the Philippines.
After military service, Mr. Ginsberg returned to Chicago to finish his degree, graduating in 1949.
He immediately began his career as a chemical engineer.
In 1952 Mr. Ginsberg married Ethellee Dinner, a native of Greeley. They remained a couple until Mrs. Ginsberg’s passing in September, 2019.
Mr. Ginsberg’s family moved from Chicago to Denver for his work at Lockheed Martin as a contracts engineer. He continued in this capacity until his retirement 40 years later.
“Lee was very intelligent and he had a scientist’s mind,” his family said. “He was able to discuss any topic.”
Survivors are children Diane (Chuck) Springer and Lynn (John) Keefe; brother Seymour (Sandra) Ginsberg and sister-in-law Marsha Udevitz; and grandchildren Mark Springer, Michael Springer, Ryan Keefe and Lauren Keefe.
Holocaust survivor and longtime Denver resident Jehuda Nissanov died on July 8, 2023, in Henderson, Nev. He was 99. A service was held at Mount Richmond Cemetery in Staten Island, NY, officiated by Mr. Nissanov’s son Amnon Nissan. Arrangements were made by Feldman Mortuary.
A native of Przemsyl, Poland, Mr. Nissanov fled from oppression in 1941 at the age of 17, ending up in the Soviet Union. One year later, as a member of the British Coast Guard, he made his way to Israel, where he lived on a kibbutz and joined the Israeli Defense Forces.
Mr. Nissanov’s family described his journey from Poland:
“Seeing very quickly what the Nazis were capable of when they shot hundreds of Jews in the first two weeks they occupied Poland in 1939, and witnessing the break of the Soviet Union-Germany pact in 1941, he caught a ride on a Soviet truck and escaped east,” the family said.
“At 17, Jehuda changed his name, passing as a Catholic. Eventually he joined Andres’ Army, a Polish division of the Red Army.
“In 1942 he was sent through Persia (Iran) en route to Africa. Upon arrival in Palestine, he saw signs in Hebrew and decided to desert the army and changed his name to avoid capture by the British looking for Polish deserters.”
In 1950 in Israel, Mr. Nissanov married Malca Karfunkel.
They moved to Denver in 1967 and then to Henderson, Nev. in 2011. Mrs. Karfunkel passed away in Feb., 2021.
On his arrival in Denver, Mr. Nissanov became a hospital orderly. Shortly afterward he became immersed in the commercial real estate market, which was his profession until retirement at the age of 62.
Survivors are Mr. Nissanov’s children Anat Rosenstein, Jonathan Nissanov, Amnon Nissan and Dafrah Nissanov-Zular; and 15 grandchildren.
Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Assn.
Denver native Valerie “Val” Miller passed away on May 17, 2023. She was 72. A service was held on May 19 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky and Cantor Martin Goldstein. Feldman Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Mrs. Miller, wife of the late Richard “Dick” Miller, attended Palmer Elementary, Gove Jr. High and East High School. She attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. and Metropolitan State in Denver.
An avid gardener, Mrs. Miller was known for her flower arrangements and homemaking.
“She had a sense of humor, loved music and enjoyed beautiful things,” said her son Ben Miller.
“She had discerning tastes and loved to read.”
Survivors are sons Ben Miller and Sam Miller; and siblings Wendy Forsalius and Randilyn Stroh.
Contributions may be made to BMH-BJ or The Denver Hospice.
Longtime Denver resident Sanford “Sandy” Wohl passed away on May 9, 2023. A service was held on May 11 at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Rick Brody. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A native of Brooklyn, NY, and born in 1931, Mr. Wohl attended Long Island University and received a bachelor’s degree in 1953.
One year prior, Sandy and Lois Wohl were married. They remained a couple for 70 years until Mr. Wohl’s death.
Mr. Wohl lived in the Denver area since 1977, running an electrical contracting business. He was also an avid tennis player.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Wohl lived in Louisville. His family previously lived in Aurora, Englewood and Centennial.
When asked what made Mr. Wohl special, his family responded, “his sense of humor.”
Also, according to the family, “he had a very generous spirit.”
Survivors are Mr. Wohl’s wife Lois; children Gary (Danielle) Wohl, Russell (Nancy) Wohl and Dana (Charles) Costello; grandchildren Daniel (Marisa Wallace) Wohl, Andrew Wohl, Jamie (Michael) Lund, Rochelle (Brian) Greenberg, Tanner Costello and Brenna Costello; and great-grandchildren Madison Lund and Benjamin Lund.
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