Shirley “Cookie” Gold
Shirley “Cookie” Gold, wife of the late Lester Gold and a one-of-a-kind woman, passed away Monday, March 9, 2020, in Denver. Rabbi Yaakov Meyer officiated at the March 12 service held at Aish Denver. Interment followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
“Cookie was selfless, loving, adoring, incredibly generous and never complained even as the pain increased,” the family said.
“To get a piece of Cookie was to get a piece of Heaven.”
Born in Denver, she grew up on a farm in Golden.
At the age of 14, she met the young man who would eventually become her husband, Lester Gold.
Their love story began at the Hebrew Educational Alliance on the West Side during the High Holidays and continued through Mr. Gold’s military service.
Following the war and a brief courtship, they married and were together for 70 years.
Cookie raised her three girls in true partnership with Lester and her parents Bernice and Myer Turner, who lived with the couple until their passing.
Mr. Gold passed away in 2011.
“Cookie had the most adoring family, from her kids to her grandkids and her great-grandkids,” the family said. “During the nine years that Cookie lived with daughter Ricki and son-in-law David, the phone rang incessantly — and it was usually for Cookie, rarely for Ricki.”
She was a diehard Bronco lover and supporter.
Cookie Gold is survived by her children Cheri (Stan Arky) Michaelson, Ricki (David) Rest and Debbi (Lee) Alpert; grandchildren Monica (Saul) Manley, Nina (Jacobo) Kassin, Brett (Casey) Perry, Brandon (Jackie) Perry, Mia Berlin, Risa (Ari) Silverman and Alissa (Matt) Joblon; great-grandchildren Brady, Cole and Alexandra Berlin, Ruby, Peri and Marco Silverman, Kira Manley, Chase, Cooper and Kash Perry, Preston and Brianna Perry, Ariella Kassin, Gemma and Lola Joblon; and former son-in-law Abram Michelson.
She was predeceased by her son-in-law Ken Perry.
Contributions may be made to Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Children’s Hospital of Colorado or the Colorado Hospice.
Dr. Stephen Engel
Dr. Stephen Engel, a prominent Denver surgeon, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Denver. Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky and Cantor Martin Goldstein officiated at the Feb. 20 service at BMH-BJ. Burial took place at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Dr. Engel was born in 1931 in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. When his family escaped the Holocaust, they were able to obtain passage to Mexico.
Because the US severely restricted entry to Jews during WW II, the family settled in the border town of Juarez where they lived for the next eight years.
This enabled Steve and his brother Ted (Tibor) Engel to be educated in the US until 1948, when they immigrated to El Paso, Texas.
During this period, Steve Engel learned Spanish and English in addition to his native Hungarian, and remained fluent in these languages throughout his life.
Dr. Engel, who knew he wanted to be a surgeon since childhood, excelled in his studies at the University of Texas-El Paso and was accepted to medical school after only three years.
He did his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital and completed a four-year residency in general surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Dr. Engel also served for two years as a captain in the US Army in Germany and traveled extensively all over Europe.
He settled in Denver in 1961 to pursue his career in general surgery, became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and chief of surgery at Rose Medical Center for a time.
Dr. Engel retired in 1998 but retained his love of medicine throughout his life, reading about and keeping updated on the latest advances in surgery.
He studied literature at DU for many years. Friends and family always remember him with a book in his hand.
Dr. Engel loved music and had a talent for acquiring and appreciating art. “He was a true scholar and gentleman with broad intellectual interests,” his loved ones said.
Dr. Stephen Engel is survived by his wife of 51 years Barbara Engel; children Marnie (Stephen) Hayutin, Allison (John Alongi) Engel and Dr. Richard (Dr. Lisa) Engel; grandchildren Nina and Ben Hayutin and Melissa and Matthew Engel; and his brother Dr. Tibor Engel.
Contributions may be made to The Denver Hospice, BMH-BJ and JFS.
Melvin Beitscher
Melvin Beitscher, a United Airlines pilot, entrepreneur and former Denverite, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Newport Beach, Calif. Rabbi Elli Spitz officiated at the March 2 service and burial in Newport Beach. Pacific View Mortuary and Memorial Park made the arrangements.
“Melvin lived a long and very full life —pilot, entrepreneur, vicarious reader, outstanding athlete, navigator, adventurer and volunteer,” his family said.
“He was a lifelong learner, always curious and interested in expanding his world through travel, education and religion . . .”
Mr. Beitscher was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Manhattan, NY.
He attended Brooklyn Tech High School and earned an Associate in Arts degree from Orange Coastline College post-retirement, in 1985.
Mr. Beitscher, a pilot and trainer stationed at Lowry AFB in WW II, was in the US Air Force Reserves for 30 years. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1972.
He married Carol Siegel on May 13, 1971. The couple raised their family in Denver.
A pilot for the United Airlines hub in Denver, he later became owner and president of the Denver-based Star for Parts, the largest vacuum wholesale company in North America.
The couple retired to Newport Beach in 1980.
Mr. Beitscher, who was passionate about flying, traveled the world with his wife Carol.
“Some of his most joyful moments were skiing, swimming and visiting his grandchildren,” the family said.
“He embraced change, like when he became one of the first people to own a Mac computer and taught his children how to use it.
“Melvin embraced life to the fullest, and he will be missed.”
Melvin Beitscher is survived by his wife of 49 years Carol Beitscher of Newport Beach; children William Beitscher, Carolyn Baughman, Stephanie Gibbons, Sheri (Michael) Jacobs and Felicia Siegel; grandchildren Tiffany, Lyndsey, Jordan, Hannah, Cooper, Heather and Julia; and great-granddaughter Sawyer.
He was predeceased by his son Jeffrey Siegel in 2008.
Contributions may be made to the charity of choice.
Rose Pluss
Rose Pluss, 96, a loving wife and mother, passed away Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Denver. Rabbis Salomon Gruenwald and Steven Foster officiated at the March 2 service held at the HEA. Interment followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Rose was born Nov. 25, 1923, to Sam and Esther Schmerman. Raised in Hobbs, NM, she graduated high school and moved with her family to Denver.
She earned a BA at DU.
Rose married Julius Pluss, whom she met shortly after moving to Denver, in January, 1944. They were married for 76 years.
“Rose was a fabulous bridge player, loved mah jongg and played a lot of Pan,” her family said. “She had wonderful card sense.”
An exceptional cook, seamstress and knitter, she traveled extensively with family and friends.
Rose Pluss is survived by her husband Julius Pluss; children Dr. Richard (Annette) Pluss, Jane E (Stanton) Rosenbaum and Dr. William (Susan) Pluss; grandchildren Matthew (Colette) Pluss, Dana (Brian) Parks, Danielle and Ari Rosenbaum, AJ (Savannah Kilner) Pluss and Drew Pluss; and seven great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to JFS, The Denver Hospice or charity of choice.
Suzanne Trautwein
Suzanne Elizabeth Trautwein, 67, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in Fort Collins, Colo. A memorial service was held for Mrs. Trautwein on March 4 at Windsong Estate.
“Suzanne was a wonderful sister, wife, mother, Gramsie and friend,” the family said.
Suzanne Wolfstone was born on April 13, 1951, to Patricia and Stanley Wolfstone and grew up in Mercer Island, Wash.
She married Blair J. Trautwein on July 13, 1974. They met at CU, where they both received their undergraduate degrees.
Mrs. Trautwein was a preschool teacher, special education teacher, an avid volunteer and enthusiastic member of her sorority Delta Gamma’s alumni group.
A sustaining member of the Junior League of Fort Collins, she adored her book club.
Suzanne Trautwein is survived by her husband Blair Trautwein; daughter and son-in-law Mary and Matt; granddaughter Leonora; her son John; and sister Karen and her family Marc, Alex, Annika and Maddie.
Contributions may be made in her honor to the ADL, Temple Or Hadash, Project Smile or the Anchor Center for Blind Children.
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