Ruth Jaffa Albert

DATELINE: WARWICK Jaffa-Albert, Ruth (Saltzman), 87, died on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Kent Hospital. She was born in Providence on December 10, 1933 to Sadie (Abrams) Saltzman and Sigmund Saltzman.  She graduated Hope High School in 1951 and Brandeis University in 1955. She received a Master’s Degree in elementary education from Rhode Island College in 1968. Ruth taught in the Providence Schools for over 30 years, mostly as a reading specialist, and received grants for innovative incentive-based reading initiatives.  She also served on the adjunct faculty of RI College in training teachers of reading. She resided in Tamarisk Assisted Living since 2012, where she was part of their Welcoming Committee, ran the library and volunteered with Friday night...

Donald Stanley Horowitz

DATELINE: PROVIDENCE Donald Stanley Horowitz passed away peacefully from COVID-19 at Rhode Island Hospital on February 11, 2021, a day shy of his 90th birthday. He will be remembered as a happy, sweet and loving man who was a devoted husband and father, and a doting grandfather. He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 68 years, along with his sons Bruce and his fiancé Jane, Sandy and his wife Ellen, and grandchildren Andrew and his wife Abigail, Zachary and his wife Alison, Mitchell, Bradley, and great grandson Jordan. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Shirley Kirsh. He was predeceased by his sister Lenore Howard. The son of Rachael and Jack, Donald was born on February 12, 1931 in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from Syracuse University, where he met...

Minnie Gertz

DATELINE: Warwick Gertz, Minnie, 97, died Sunday, February 14, 2021 at Tamarisk. She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond A. Gertz for 63 years. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Harry and Fanny (Blazer) Gurwitz, she had lived in Warwick for 9 years, previously living in Cranston. A published poet, Minnie was also a founder of Temple Sinai in Cranston and a graduate of URI, earning a bachelor’s degree. Devoted mother of Francine Gertz and her husband, Burt Strom, of Wakefield, RI, Bruce Gertz and his wife, Roberta, of Melrose, MA, Susan Gertz of Stamford, CT, Carol Gertz and her husband, David Blumenstock, of Westford, MA and Lucille Gertz and her late husband, Larry Pottebaum, of Maynard, MA. Dear sister of the late Beatrice, Ruth, Evelyn, Abe,...

Esther I. Yanku

DATELINE: CRANSTON Yanku, Esther I., 90, died Thursday, February 11, 2021 at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center. Born and raised in Providence, a daughter of the late David and Bertha (Shaw) Lecht. Esther was the wife of the late Leonard Yanku and a devoted mother of Robert Yanku (Lorraine) of North Kingstown, Alan Yanku (Cheri) of Lincoln, Steven Yanku (Gail) of Warwick, Lisa Maroni (David) of Cranston and the late Sharyn Wilk. She was the dear sister of the late Haskell “Phil” Lecht and adored grandmother of Saul, Jason, Michelle, Sean, Alysha, Nathan, Mikaela, Brett, Max, Eric, Georgia and Jackson. With nine great grandchildren, she was cherished by Levi, Tobias, Isiah, Drew, Ava, Mila, Braden, Molly and Anna. A longtime resident of Cranston, she worked as a...

Stephen Lehrer

DATELINE: Cranston Lehrer, Stephen, 71, died Saturday, February 13, 2021 at RI Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Freda (Stone) Lehrer of Cranston for 43 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Saul and Helen (Resnick) Lehrer, he had lived in Cranston for 43 years, previously living on the East Side of Providence.  He was a member of Temple Sinai in Cranston and Temple Emanu-El in Providence. He graduated from Hope High School in 1967, Brown University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and RIC with a Master’s degree in education. He taught for over 30 years in the Bristol and then Bristol/Warren School System as a high school math teacher and technology coordinator. He was a trainer for Teachers in Technology. Stephen worked for years at Camp JORI...