OBITUARIES
Mary Smith Saad
Jan 7, 2023
Saad, Mary Smith died January 7, 2023 at 91 years old. She was born in Maple Shade, New Jersey, on January 12, 1931 to Walter Merle Smith and Bertha Bierman Smith. Mary grew up in Darby, PA with six siblings. At 21, she moved to Frankfurt, Germany, to work as a secretary for the US military. This experience ignited a...
Norton "Norty" Baskin
Jan 7, 2023
Norton (“Norty”) Baskin, 93, passed away on Saturday, January 7, 2023. He was predeceasedby his beloved wife, Marilyn (“Lyn”) Weiss Baskin, and son, Craig Baskin. He is survived by hisbeloved brother Howard and sister-in-law Cheryl Baskin of Pittsburgh, PA, his daughter Janice (“Jan”) Baskin and son Scott Baskin of Tampa, FL, beloved granddaughter Alexandra (“Avi”) Baskin of Paris, France,...
Charles Barry Hudson
Dec 31, 2022
HUDSON, Charles Barry, 87, of Tampa, died on December 31 2022
Charles was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935 to George and Hilda Hudson. It was in his home state that he received his education at the University of Pennsylvania and it was there that he joined the rowing crew team of 1955. The team won the international Henley Regatta...
Phyllis Shur
Dec 30, 2022
Shur, Phyllis, 73, of Tampa, passed away on December 30, 2022. Phyllis came to Florida from Wilmington, Delaware in 1972. Phyllis worked for the Tampa Police Department. She loved to shop and had a strong connection to animals, specifically cats. She will be sorely missed by all that knew her. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years,...
Robert Hayden Smith
Dec 26, 2022
SMITH, Robert Hayden "Bob", 80, of Tampa, passed away on December 26, 2022. Bob was an incredible teacher for 46 years, Environmental Education and Biology being his passion. Bob was a founding member of LEEF (League of Environmental Educators in Florida), founded in 1981 and still going strong today. He served in many positions on the leadership board. He was a...
Rhiannon Sarah Xaviera Wistrand
Dec 22, 2022
Wistrand, Rhiannon Sarah Xaviara, 39 of Tampa/St Petersburg passed away on December 22, 2022 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her father Eric Wistrand. Survivors include her beloved wife Daphne Wistrand, mother and step-father Renee and Shawn Krause, brother and sister-in-law Carlos and Mellissa Wilfong, nephew Viktor Wilfong, brother Cody Krause, and numerous...
Richard Johnny Sanchez
Dec 22, 2022
SANCHEZ, Richard "Rick", 74, of Tampa, passed away on December 22, 2022. Rick spent 16 years with Hillsborough county schools as a mechanical tech. He enjoyed fishing, diving and boating. Rick is predeceased by his two sons, Robert Lindsay Jr., and Daryl Sanchez. He is survived by his wife and love of over 36 years, Valerie Sanchez, and four beloved...
Sharon Ann Rozelle
Dec 18, 2022
Bessie and George Haymond welcomed Sharon Ann Haymondinto their world on June 29, 1938. Little did they know that she wouldexperience ration stamps, black outs, air raid sirens, P38’s, and blimpsin their humble home in San Diego, California.
My fondest childhood memory was the Saturday we spent in theyard catching butterflies. Sharon always had a passion for the...
David Picca
Dec 15, 2022
Picca Ph.D., David, 100 of Tampa, passed away December 15, 2022. He was born in the small, rural farming town of Cervinara, in the Province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. He emigrated to the United States with his beloved wife Mary and spent his final years in Tampa with his family.
David valued education, was a prolific reader, had a passion...
Gail Hirsch
Dec 13, 2022
Hirsch, Gail, 87 of Tampa passed away December 13, 2022. She was surrounded by family, and she beautifully passed with Jewish Star of David in hand. Gail was a 64-year resident of Tampa and she adored living here. Gail was predeceased by her loving husband, Lester Hirsch, Junior. She is survived by her “favorite people”, her sons, Rabbi David Hirsch...
Robert Abelardo Coto
Dec 3, 2022
COTO, Robert Abelardo, 73, of Tampa, died December 3, 2022. Robert served 21 years in the US Airforce, domestically and abroad, before retiring to his hometown of Tampa. Always a smile on his face and an Airforce cap on his head, Bob enjoyed the pleasures of boating and fishing, as well as preparing culinary delights for friends and family....
Michael Andrew Liss
Dec 2, 2022
Liss - Michael Andrew, Jan. 22, 1943 - Dec. 2, 2022, originally from Long Beach, New York, passed away on Dec. 2, 2022, at the age of 79. Michael spent his retirement years in Tampa, Florida. After living with Parkinson's disease for several years, Michael is now at peace. A devoted husband and beloved father and grandfather, Michael is survived...
Ephraim Graff
Nov 30, 2022
On November 30, Ephraim Graff, 72, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend passed away.
Born to Henry and Ruth Graff, Ephraim graduated with a BS and MS in Engineering from Newark College of Engineering and an MBA from New York University. He began his career in banking with Citigroup where he remained for 37 years. Work...
Floyd Andrew (Ray) Rabil Jr.
Nov 22, 2022
Floyd Andrew (Ray) Rabil passed away November 22, 2022 after a sudden illness at the age of 87. He was the son of Floyd Andrew Rabil Sr. and Louise Utterback Rabil born in Washington, DC. Ray was a true Marylander. Growing up in the shadow of our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., he spent his youth in Hyattsville, MD attending Northwestern High...
Roger Melvin Cohen
Nov 16, 2022
On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, Roger Melvin Cohen, of Sarasota, Fl, belovedhusband and father, passed away. He was ninety-six. Born to Celia and CasperCohen in Brookline Massachusetts, Roger was drafted into the Airforce on his18th birthday and later graduated Boston University. He went on to workalongside his father as an accountant for Casper Cohen and Company. Roger wasset up on...
David J. Shannon
Nov 4, 2022
David J. Shannon, 82, of Lithia, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2022. He was a retired Philadelphia Police Detective and lifelong Philadelphian who retired to Florida in 2006. He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police and a member of Michael G. Lutz Lodge 5. David was born in Philadelphia, the son of the...
Ruth Smith Yadley
Nov 2, 2022
Ruth Lorraine Smith was born in Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC, on December 3, 1924, the daughter of Sophie Porton and Harry K. Smith. The family moved to Tampa when Ruth was an infant, and she spent her first years on Georgia Avenue. She was an active girl, and childhood became more idyllic when the family moved to...

Ira Gordon
Oct 30, 2022
Ira Gordon, formerly of Chicago, IL, passed peacefully on Sunday, October 30, 2022, in Tampa, Florida, at age 85. He was born in Chicago on January 11, 1937. Ira had a zest for life and loved food, travel, boating, and he made friends wherever he went. Ira is survived by his beloved wife Yolonda, his children; Ricky Gordon (Laural Gordon) and Debbie...