Sisskind Funeral Service

03/06/2026

James Jay Rothfeld
May 3, 1948 – March 4, 2026

James “Jimmy” Rothfeld, 77, of Syracuse, passed away on March 4, 2026.

Born on May 3, 1948, Jimmy spent his entire life in Syracuse, a community he loved and where he became a familiar face to many. As the second-generation owner and operator of Harrison Bakery, he proudly continued the family business, which has been handed down to the third Rothfeld generation.

Jimmy was a devoted father who believed the best way to love his kids was to be there. He spent countless hours coaching youth sports: girls softball, baseball, and Pop Warner football and rarely missed a chance to be on a field, a sideline, or in the stands. He instilled the passion of sport and sportsmanship.

He was also a lifelong, and often long-suffering, fan of the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Braves, standing by “his” teams through every heartbreaking loss and rare triumph with unwavering loyalty.

Jimmy had a gift for humor and was known for his quick wit and constant playful barbs. If he teased you, it meant you were one of his people.

“Blackjack Jimmy,” as he was called, had a deep love for Las Vegas, a place he returned to often and insisted was “better than Maine.”

Jimmy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Donna Rothfeld, and his parents, Arthur and Eve Rothfeld.

He is survived by his children, Suzanne Steven (John), Michelle Rothfeld, and Michael Rothfeld (Melissa); his sister, Karen Freel (David); his cherished grandchildren, Arthur, Sophia, Madison, and Jacqueline; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Jimmy will be remembered for his humor, his loyalty to the people and teams he loved, and the many memories he created with family, friends, and customers throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in Jimmy’s memory be made to the CNY SPCA

Funeral services will be at 11:00AM on Monday at Sisskind Funeral Chapel. Friends may visit with the family immediately prior to the service on Monday from 10:00 - 11:00 at The Funeral Chapel, 3175 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse. Burial will be in the Temple Concord section 63 of Woodlawn Cemetery.
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03/03/2026

Merle Maloff Trogman, 76, passed away early Tuesday morning at Upstate University Hospital. Born on June 13, 1949 to Dr. Harding and Beatrice Maloff, she had been a life resident of Syracuse.
Merle was a graduate of Nottingham High School, earned both a Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and then an additional Masters degree from Syracuse University.
She established The Accredited Electrolysis Studio in 1979. It continues today as Smart Choice Electrolysis. She was a trusted and caring person to many hundreds of customers. Her early detection of skin cancers saved countless lives.
She will be remembered for how she put her patients at ease. Her skill at her profession and her subtle counseling were invaluable.
Her family includes her husband Marco of 42 years, and her brother Dr. Perry (Gail) Maloff. She was pre-deceased by her parents, and her brother Jan.
Funeral services will be at 11AM on Friday the 6th at Sisskind Funeral Chapel. Friends may visit with the family immediately prior to the service on Friday from 10-11 at the funeral chapel, 3175 E. Genesee Street. Burial will be in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. Contributions to perpetuate her memory may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra Shas
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02/26/2026

02/22/2026

Warren Seth Abrahams passed away Sunday morning, the 22nd, at Emory St. Josephs’s Hospital in Atlanta. Warren was born on December 5, 1953 to Jack and Lois Schwartzberg Abrahams in Syracuse, NY. He was a graduate of Jamesville Dewitt High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Rochester, and his Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Miami.

Most recently in his professional career he was an environmental specialist for the state of Georgia in Marietta. He was especially proud to have authored the Georgia State drinking water rules and regulations. Warren was a past member of Temple Adath Yeshurun, and Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta.

His family includes his son Marc (Melanie); grandchildren Emilia, Collins, Hudson, and identical twins Miller and Wyatt; his companion of many years Fern Schorr; his former wife Judy Abrahams; and many cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be at 11AM on Thursday the 26 at Sisskind Funeral Chapel. Friends may visit with the family from 10-11AM on Thursday immediately prior to the service at the funeral chapel, 3175 E. Genesee Street. Burial will be with his grandparents in Adath Yeshurun Cemetery.

The service will be live streamed on the Sisskind Funeral Service page beginning at 10:55AM on Thursday. Contributions in Warren’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Shiva will be at:
The Courtyard by Marriott
Meeting Room A - 7pm-9pm
6415 Yorktown Circle
East Syracuse, NY

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02/17/2026

Alan Saul Volinsky, 71, of Pittsford, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026.

Alan was born in Syracuse, New York, to Seymour and Ruth Volinsky. He built a successful career in the furniture industry that spanned nearly 50 years, working as a manufacturer’s representative. He was widely respected for his professionalism, integrity, and deep relationships throughout the industry. His work ethic and commitment to doing things the right way defined his career and earned him lasting friendships.

Alan was married to his beloved wife, Sherry Volinsky, for over 47 years. Together they built a strong and loving family, raising three successful sons: Joshua, Peter, and Jason. Nothing meant more to Alan than his family. He was proud of his boys and the men they became, and he cherished his role as husband, father, and grandfather.

He loved being active and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Whether he was golfing, playing pickleball, spending time on his boat, or negotiating a great deal on a new car, Alan brought enthusiasm and energy to everything he did. He had a sharp sense of humor, a competitive spirit, and a natural ability to connect with people.

Alan will be remembered most for his kindness, his unwavering work ethic, and the way he consistently showed up for the people he cared about. If you needed him, he was there. Steady, dependable, and generous with his time and advice.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry; his sons Joshua (Allison), Peter (Marisa), and Jason (Victoria); his cherished grandchildren Zachary, Matthew, Madelyn, Adelaide, Wyatt, and Oliver; and his sister, Lynn (Steve) Bronstein and several nieces and nephews and a multitude of close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Seymour and Ruth Volinsky of Syracuse.

Funeral services will be held THURSDAY, February 19, at 11AM at Temple Beth El, 139 Winton Road, Rochester, NY followed by a burial at Britton Road Cemetery. His service will be available for livestream at https://www.tberoc.org/live-stream/. Shiva will be observed on Thursday at Midvale Country Club from 1-3 pm. Thursday evening 7-9 pm and Friday 1-4 at Alan & Sherry’s home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wilmot Cancer Center and or Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation, 1 Pleasant Valley Road, Denville, NJ 07834 in Alan’s memory.

He leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and quiet leadership that will continue through his family for generations.

139 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14610 | Phone: 585-473-1770 | Fax: 585-473-2689 Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 am – 5 pm | Fri., 8 am – 3 pm | Sun. (during school year), 9 am – 12 pm

02/02/2026

Martin Fried, 91, passed away peacefully on January 30 in Sarasota, FL. Born on February 11, 1934 to Henry and Mildred Levine Fried in Brooklyn, he had been a resident of Syracuse for many years before retiring to Sarasota.

Martin was a practicing attorney and professor of law at The Syracuse University College of Law. After retiring from teaching he was an associate with the law firm Hancock and Estabrook. He was a previous member of Temple Adath Yeshurun.

He was pre-deceased by his wife Daisy on August 11, 2013
His family includes his daughters Dr. Linda (Dr.Todd Hertzberg) Fried, and Marjorie (Carlos) Samper; his stepdaughter Michelle (Alan Bernstein) Goldstein; his sister Sandra Fried; and his grandchildren. Sarah Small, and Colyer Samper.

Graveside funeral services will be at 11AM on Sunday, February 8, in Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. www.sisskindfuneralservice.com

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01/28/2026

With a heavy heart, Arlene Abend passed on October 17th, 2025. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 23rd, 1931. A graduate of the Arts at Cooper Union, finishing her bachelor’s at Syracuse University, her artistic endeavors continued well into her early nineties. She was embedded into the creative culture of Syracuse and Upstate, NY for over six decades.

Visit her Post Standard article at: https://this-is-cny.visitlink.me/lMuOqJ

Arlene is survived by her adult children, Tema Abend and Les (Carol) Abend, and her grandchildren, Alyssa O’Neal-Abend and Shira O’Neal-Abend.

Contributions to perpetuate her memory, (and to support women in the arts on a continued basis), may be made to the Everson Museum, The Arlene Abend Artistic Donation: https://everson.org/abend-fund/

A Celebration of Life will be held at Congregation Beth Sholom, 18 Patsy Lane, Jamesville (Dewitt) on February 25, 2026, 6:30pm-9:30pm. Hors d’oeuvres, non-alcoholic drinks & desserts will be provided. Services begin promptly at 6:30pm with the reception to follow. Please join us for an evening of warmth and fond memories.

01/25/2026

Isaac Joseph Signorelli, 33, died as a result of injuries from an accident Friday evening. Born on 11-17-92 to Frank and Sari Signorelli, he had been a life resident of Syracuse.

He was a graduate of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, Manlius-Pebble Hill, Syracuse University Whitman School, and Syracuse University College of Law.

Isaac’s passions were philosophy, law, debating and his close friends and family. He reveled in his Model UN and Mock Trial teams at Manlius Pebble Hill. The leaders of those teams, Jeff Mangram and Phil Rothschild, respectively, nurtured the moral compass that was at his core.

His family includes his parents Frank and Sari Signorelli, his grandmother Selma “Sis” Zucker, uncles Harold Zucker,Jody (Allison Weiner) Zucker, and Joseph Signorelli; cousins Sloane, and Maxwell; and his partner Emily Flood.

He was pre-deceased by his grandparents Theodore A. Zucker, and Carmela and Joseph Signorelli.

A memorial service will be at 11AM on Tuesday January 27 at Sisskind Funeral Chapel. There will not be any calling hours prior to the service.

The service will be live streamed on the Sisskind Funeral Service FaceBook page beginning at 10:55 AM on Tuesday the 27th.

Shiva will be observed Wednesday evening at the family home from 6-8 PM.

Contributions to perpetuate Isaac’s memory may be made to The Syracuse Hebrew Day School.
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01/08/2026

Joann Finkel, 84, died Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Born on May 24, 1941 in Boston, MA to A.D. and Thelma Fineman Finkel,
She had been a resident of Syracuse for most of her life. Her dad passed in1985, her mom in 2007, and her brother Robert in 2020.
She is survived by her long time companion Glenn Lystad; and her nephew Alexander (Lori) Finkel.

Contributions may be made to The Syracuse Jewish Cemetery Association.

Graveside services will be on Monday the 12th at 10:00AM in Poiley Tzedek Cemetery.

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12/29/2025

Dr. Laurence Thomas, 76, passed away Saturday afternoon, December 27 at The Nottingham. An American philosopher, he was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Political Science at Syracuse University.

Dr. Thomas was the author of over 80 articles and four books. His articles on moral theory, on social philosophy and on American Blacks and Jews have been widely anthologized. One of Laurence Thomas's most highly regarded essays is entitled "Being Moral and Handling the Truth".

He has held appointments at Notre Dame, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Oberlin College, and in 1994 was a visiting scholar in the Religion Department at the University of Michigan. He was the Andrew Mellon Faculty Fellow at Harvard University in 1978-79.

Thomas's teaching has been widely noted and praised. He was named Syracuse University's Scholar-Teacher of the Year in 1993.

“Over the years my students have been a profound source of inspiration. My signature course was Philosophy 191, “Ethics and Value Theory”. That course has been and continues to be a tremendous source of moral and intellectual inspiration.”

Though Dr. Thomas never married or had children, his legacy is his students who he thought of as his family. “I regard parental love as the greatest of all moral gifts’”

Funeral services will be at 10AM on Wednesday at Sisskind Funeral Chapel, 3175 E. Genesee Street. Burial will be in Frumah Packard Cemetery.

Contributions to perpetuate his memory may be made to Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse

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12/02/2025

Charlotte “Chuckie” Holstein, 100, passed away in the comfort of her home early Tuesday morning. Born on September 1, 1925 to Morris and Esther Garelick in Rochester, she had been a resident of Syracuse since June of 1946 when she and her late husband Alex were married.
She was a graduate of SUNY Brockport and received the Hall of Heritage Award from the Brockport Alumni Association in 2024. Chuckie taught at Salem Hyde and tutored students after she left formal teaching. In 1998 she received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from LeMoyne College; and then in 2015 was awarded a Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa honorary degree from Syracuse University.

Chuckie was a “Citizen Trustee”. It was a title that she not only earned but lived her life by through activism, volunteerism and devotion to making her community a better place for all citizens locally and globally. She was honored locally, by New York State, and nationally as well.

She served as an honorary VP of the The American Jewish Committee where she chaired the national committee on the role of women; also served on the board of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Human Rights, and chaired the Jewish Communal Affairs Commission.

Her awards and accolades are vast and widespread. She was particularly proud to have been a co-founder of “Leadership Greater Syracuse”, and F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse. She spoke with pride of her 100’s of graduates of the programs.

Chuckie was pre-deceased by her beloved husband Alex in 2020, daughter-in-law
Barbara in 2003, and son Philip in 2016.
Her family includes her children Carol (Ron) Killian, David (Jeanne), Alyse, and Liz (Lou); grandchildren Shoshana (Howie), Ben (Amy), Mark (Ana Laura), Erin (Mike), Dan (Sarah), Greg (Stephanie), Chelsea (Chris), Erin (Eric), Sam (Esther), Amara (Bjorn), and Dan; great-grandchildren Ben, Josh, Arthur, Hannah, Alex, Winnie, Jack, Birdie, Isla, Thatcher, and Parker.

Funeral services will be at 11AM on Monday the 8th at Temple Concord at Kimber Road. Friends may visit with the family at the Temple, 450 Kimber Road from 9:30 to 11AM immediately prior to the service on Monday. Burial will be in the Temple Concord section 30 of Woodlawn Cemetery.

The live stream may be seen at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14ZYlXy9yMvGvKeVMBOcLyNPngv9A0zFu/view?usp=drive_web

Contributions to perpetuate her memory may be made to Temple Concord, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse, Leadership Greater Syracuse, Loretto, Meals on Wheels, The Holstein Citizen Engagement Fund at The CNY Community Foundation, The Jewish Community Foundation of CNY, or The Syracuse University Library Special Collections which is the home of the Charlotte Holstein Papers.

Shiva will be observed at Chuckie and Alex’s home on Monday the 8th from 7-9PM and Tuesday the 9th from 7-9PM www.Sisskind funeral service.com