Brandeis Magazine

Kathie Abrams, P’16, retired from teaching elementary art last summer and is enjoying having time to read, swim, see art, take walks, draw, do yoga and travel with her husband. Her youngest daughter, who is carrying on the family’s teaching tradition, was certified as a high-school math teacher this spring. Debra Caplan’s business, LineScapes, based in Peterborough, New Hampshire, creates pen-and-ink drawings of iconic buildings, cultural treasures and scenes of everyday life in Peterborough and beyond. It also offers custom prints for individuals and realtors. The business was inspired by Debra’s research at Brandeis into Louis Prang, the father of lithography and a promoter of affordable art through lithographic prints. Steven Goldberg was awarded a Master of Arts in history at Brooklyn College, 45 years after he earned his undergraduate degree at Brandeis. He retired three years ago. Mitch Goldman and his wife, Lisa, sold their Newton, Massachusetts, architecture firm in May 2019. Mitch finally has the time to cross off items on the to-do lists for his homes, cook, walk the dog, travel and exercise. The couple keeps up with Brandeis by attending local events and supporting the Rose Art Museum. Jane Goldman Ostrowsky, P’06, P’13, and husband Mark have a thriving real estate business at Coldwell Banker in Newton Centre, Massachusetts; compete in tennis; and take ski and beach vacations. They are proud of their three children: Jonathan ’13, who graduated from UCLA School of Law and will work at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.; Sharon, a special-education teacher in New York City; and David ’06, who will celebrate the publication of his second sports book this year. Jane invites fellow Brandeisians to visit her and Mark. Meryl Newman-Cedar and husband Phil welcomed their first granddaughter; they already have two grandsons. The couple attended the wedding of Maggie Alpert MacFarlane’s son Joshua in the English countryside. Sharon Hammer Rubin shares sad news: Her 93-year-old father died in December. Sharon writes, “He was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather to all girls, and we adored him. Thankfully, my mother is still alive, but his passing leaves a large hole in our family.” On a happier note, Sharon’s granddaughter, who was born 12 weeks premature, celebrated her first birthday in January and is doing very well. “The circle of life continues,” Sharon notes. Betsy Sarason Pfau and husband Dan ’73 enjoyed spending time with Beth Mintz Woolf ’73, Jeffrey Hunter ’73, Susan Hammerschmidt Hunter, Danny Lehrman ’64 and Susan Goldberg Benjamin during Thanksgiving weekend. Stanley Wakshlag has been appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to a five-year term on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. He was also appointed to the board of directors of the Legal Services of Greater Miami foundation. He and his family recently traveled to Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany to trace the roots of his parents, Helen and Max, both of whom survived the Holocaust. The journey included visits to Auschwitz and Gross-Rosen, which Helen survived, and Plaszów, where Max was imprisoned. “It is hard to put into words the impact of the trip,” Stan writes. “All I can say is that it helped fill in major pieces of the puzzle of my life, and it was both intense and immensely gratifying.” Khan Zahid crossed some items off his bucket list with trips to Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal. He calls Morocco’s “blue city,” Chefchaouen, a must-see.