Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gottlieb, Nellie Rabinowitz May 1, 2009 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Bluemink http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008395 January 9, 2017, 4:03 am Virginian-Pilot, May 2, 2009 NORFOLK - Nellie Rabinowitz Gottlieb passed away May 1, 2009, with her loving children at her side in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Faivich (Avram Sharagh) and Bertha (Baracha) Goodfine Rabinowitz who left czarist Russia in 1910 for a sojourn in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Nellie was born May 16, 1913. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Norfolk, where her younger sister, Rosa, was born. After arriving in Norfolk, Nellie's father opened a kosher meat market in the predominately Jewish shopping area of lower Church Street and Nellie often assisted her father in his store, coming to know many members of the Jewish community in Norfolk during the 1920s. Nellie attended Norfolk public schools, was in the initial class of Ruffner Junior High School and then attended Maury High School. Nellie married Alex Gottlieb in 1931 and they had four children. She was preceded in death by her son, Melvin Sidney. She was a member of B'Nai Israel Synagogue and attended services at least weekly for more than 60 years, attending last month for the final time. In the 1940s, her father had worked to consolidate several traditional Jewish congregations into the United Orthodox Synagogue and was its founding president. Later, B'Nai Israel congregation joined the Synagogue and the name was changed. She was active in many charitable and civic organizations. When her children attended Norfolk public schools, Nellie became active in the PTA locally and nationally and was recognized by the national PTA for raising funds for the John Marshall School Library (Ghent) expansion. She was president of B'Nai Israel Sisterhood, served on the board of B'Nai B'rith Women, was a volunteer for the SPCA, served as a "Pink Lady" volunteer at DePaul Hospital and worked with numerous other charitable organizations. For more than 50 years, she was active in the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society). The late Rabbi Israel Bornstein (a close friend of Nellie's), William Einhorn and Nellie were the three initial trustees of the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater. She was active in the family supermarket business of Norfolk. When her children were grown, she attended Old Dominion University, graduating at the age of 58 in 1971, After graduation she taught elementary school and was a substitute teacher and library volunteer until she was in her mid-80s. She was able to live independently in her own home until the last week of her life. This independence was greatly aided by her caregivers (particularly Gail Armstrong) and Dr. Thomas Manser. Nellie's family wishes to thank them. She is survived by three children, Raymond Gottlieb of Virginia Beach, Henry Gottlieb of Norfolk and Anita Gottlieb of Washington, DC; her grandchildren, Andrew and Brigette Gottlieb and Julianna and Michael Friedman of Cifton, NJ; and five great-grandchildren, Isaac, Zachary, Samuel, Rina and Abigail. A funeral will be held in H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts, Norfolk Chapel, Sunday at noon with interment in B'Nai Israel Cemetery. The family will observe Shiva at Nellie's home at 943 E. Armfield Circle, No. 102, from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. Friday. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/g/gottlieb12678gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb