2 | A OBITUARIES | MORNING SUN TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017

NATION Jewish centers cope with bomb RememberingMi.us ATribute to Life. threats and vandalized graves

BOODY, MERVIN GENE By Michael Rubinkam Loving husband, fa- Of The Associated Press ther, grandfather and great-grandfather; age Jewish centers and 76; of St. Louis; passed schools across the nation away Sunday, Febru- coped with another wave ary 26, 2017 at Mason- of bomb threats Monday ic Pathways in Alma. as officials in Philadelphia He was born in Ithaca, made plans to repair and Gratiot County on De- restore hundreds of van- cember 17, 1940, the dalized headstones at a son of Harold Nelson and Kathryn (Knelly) Jewish cemetery. Boody. He gradu- Jewish Community Cen- ated from Ithaca High ters and day schools in at School with the class least a dozen states re- of 1959 and, went on ceived threats, according to Chicago Engineering to the JCC Association of School in Illinois and received an associate’s degree North America. No bombs in engineering. Thru the years he worked in many were found. All 21 build- places. He married Dora Mae McCarty of Lansing ings — 13 community cen- in 1968. He is survived by his wife, Dora Boody; children Pamela and Don Riker of Greenville, Mark ters and eight schools — Boody of Waterford, Bryant Boody and fi ancé Holly were cleared by Monday af- of Breckenridge; two grandchildren and one great- ternoon and had resumed grandchild; his sisters, Patty Reeves of Ithaca, normal operations, the as- Janet Eichorn of Lansing; his brother Melvin and sociation said. Jackie Boody of Saginaw and several nieces and It was the fifth round of PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE LARMA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents bomb threats against Jew- Joe Nicoletti and Ronni Newton of the Taconey Holmesburg town watch group pay their and a brother-in-law, J.B. Reeves. Funeral services ish institutions since Janu- respects at a damaged headstone in Philadelphia’s Mount Carmel cemetery on Monday. will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 12 noon ary, prompting outrage and at the First United Methodist in St. Louis with Pas- tor Terri Bentley officiating. Interment will follow in exasperation among Jew- appeared to be targeted Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thurs- ish leaders as well as calls at the Jewish community, day from 10 am until the time of services at the for an aggressive federal re- though they cautioned they church. Memorial contributions may be made to sponse to put a stop to it. had not confirmed the mo- the wishes of the family. Arrangements have been “The Justice Depart- tive. Philadelphia Mayor entrusted to the care of Lux Funeral Home, St. ment, Homeland Security, Jim Kenney said authori- Louis. To view Mervin’s obituary online or to leave the FBI, and the White ties were doing everything a condolence for the family please visit House, alongside Congress possible to find those “who www.luxfuneralhomes.com and local officials, must desecrated this final rest- speak out — and speak ing place.” SARGENT, GERALDINE ELSIE out forcefully — against “I’m hoping it was maybe Age 100; of Mt. Pleas- this scourge of anti-Sem- just some drunk kids,” said ant; passed Away Sat- itism impacting commu- Aaron Mallin, who discov- urday, February 25, nities across the country,” ered the damage during a 2017, at McLaren said David Posner, an offi- visit to his father’s grave. Central Michigan in cial with JCC Association “But the fact that there’s Mt. Pleasant. Funeral of North America. so many, it leads one to Damaged headstones are seen at Mount Carmel cemetery Services for Geraldine “Members of our com- think it could have been on Monday. will be held at 11 a.m. munity must see swift and targeted,” he told WPVI-TV. on Friday, March 3, at CLARK FAMILY FU- concerted action from fed- The vandalism comes “There’s plenty of peo- and Virginia also were NERAL CHAPEL with eral officials to identify and less than a week after a ple who are scared,” threatened, according to Pastor Dana Hender- capture the perpetrator or Jewish cemetery in subur- said Rosenberg, who de- the JCC Association of shot of Immanuel Lu- perpetrators who are try- ban St. Louis was targeted. nounced the hoaxsters as North America. theran Church offici- ing to instill anxiety and More than 150 headstones “an embarrassment to civ- Since January, the group ating. Interment will fear in our communities.” there were damaged, many ilized society.” has tracked a total of 90 take place in Memorial The FBI and the Justice of them tipped over. Some 200 people were incidents in 30 states and Gardens Cemetery. A Department’s Civil Rights Both acts of vandalism evacuated from a Jew- Canada. luncheon will follow in the Reflections Reception Division are probing the spurred offers of help. ish Community Center in Paul Goldenberg, di- Center. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, at Clark Family Fu- threats. The Philadelphia Build- York, Pennsylvania, after rector of the Secure Com- neral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made Attorney General Jeff ing & Construction Trades a caller told the front desk munity Network, a non- to Great Lakes Caring Hospice or the Susan G. Ko- Sessions called the vandal- Council, an umbrella group there was a bomb in the profit founded by several men Breast Cancer Foundation. Envelopes will be ism and bomb threats seri- for more than 50 union lo- building, said Melissa Plot- national Jewish groups available at the funeral chapel. Geraldine was born ous, unacceptable behavior cals that work in the con- kin, the York JCC’s direc- to bolster security in December 20, 1916, in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter and said the department struction industry, of- tor of community engage- the Jewish community, of Charles and Charlotte Warner. She married Ver- will “do what it can to as- fered to repair the dam- ment and diversity. Police said Jewish Community co Franklin Sargent on January 14, 1935, and was sist in pushing back ... and age at Mount Carmel free entered the building and Centers and other Jewish a homemaker. Geraldine was an avid reader and prosecuting anybody that of charge, calling it a “cow- cleared it, she said. institutions have extensive talented seamstress. She also enjoyed gardening, golfing, bowling and cooking. Geraldine is survived we can prove to be a part ardly act of anti-Semitism Pennsylvania Gov. Tom security protocols in place. by her two daughters, Charlene (Gordon) Kobs of of it.” that cannot be tolerated.” Wolf, who has long ties After dealing with Mon- Tawas and Judy Paullin of Harrison; fi ve grandchil- “We are a nation that A community cleanup or- to the York center, having day’s threats, he said, the dren, David, Steven, Gary, Danee and Michelle; 12 is a diverse constituency, ganized by the Jewish Fed- served on its board, called “Jewish community is back great-grandchildren, Ryan, Danny, Matt, Brandon, and we don’t need these eration was to begin today the bomb threats and cem- in business.” Joseph, Elizabeth, Andrew, Cody, Ryann, Chase, kind of activities,” Sessions with as many as 50 volun- etery vandalism reprehen- Alexandra and Cole; two great-great-grandchildren, said. teers per hour. sible. Rubinkam reported and Bentley; and sister-in-law Shirley War- In Philadelphia, police And in Missouri, a Mus- “These acts are cow- from northeastern ner of Midland. Geraldine was preceded in death investigated what they lim crowdfunding effort ardly and disturbing,” Wolf Pennsylvania. by her husband Verco Franklin Sargent on Janu- ary 31, 2003; parents; sister, Marvel; three broth- called an “abominable to support the vandal- told reporters in a confer- Associated Press writers ers, Ronald, Durwood and Charles; and son-in-law, crime” after several hun- ized Jewish cemetery near ence call Monday. Larry Rosenthal in Daniel Paullin. You may view Geraldine’s obituary dred headstones were dam- St. Louis had raised more “We must find those re- Philadelphia; Eric Tucker online and send a condolence to the family, light a aged during the weekend at than $136,000 by Monday, sponsible and hold them in Washington, D.C.; Jim memorial candle, or place a memorial donation at Mount Carmel Cemetery, with organizers announc- accountable for these hate Salter in St. Louis; Marc www.clarkfuneralchapel.com a Jewish cemetery dating ing they would use some of crimes.” Levy in Harrisburg, to the late 1800s, said Ste- the money for the Philadel- Jewish centers and Pennsylvania; Michelle ven Rosenberg, chief mar- phia cemetery. schools in Alabama, Del- R. Smith in Providence, NATION keting officer of the Jewish Monday’s bomb threats aware, Florida, Indiana, Rhode Island; and Morning Sun - 02/28/2017Federation of Greater Phil- caused no physical dam- Maryland, Michigan, New Emery P. DalPageesio : A02in adelphia. age but were no less wor- Jersey, New York, North Raleigh, North Carolina, Storm chasers honor Police said the vandalism risome. Carolina, Rhode Island contributed to this report. ‘Twister’ star Bill Paxton STATE BRIEFS ton, a star of the most popu- By Ben Guarino Of The Washington Post lar tornado film of all time, Dead pigs in dumpster The small dead pigs released. He could face il- after it shifted gears and “Twister.” linked to teacher, were discovered last week legal dumping charges. ran him over. On Sunday, on a weather Paxton died Saturday at in Ithaca, along with scal- Tests by the state agricul- The Saginaw News re- map used by storm chasers the age of 61. The cause of education event pels, gloves and masks. ture department showed ports the man died in and spotters to track torna- death was complications ITHACA (AP) >> Police say Wright says the man was no disease. his shed Sunday evening does through the American from surgery, according to a man who was teaching returning from an edu- in Saginaw County’s Che- Midwest, giant initials ap- a statement from his fam- kids about the anatomy of cation event in northern saning Township. After peared. Dot by dot, spilling ily released Sunday. He was pigs has taken responsi- Michigan when he used Michigan man dies striking him, the bull- from Kansas south to Texas, known for such roles as a bility for dumping 16 car- a dumpster in an indus- after being struck, run dozer continued moving the markers formed the let- treasure hunter in “Titanic” casses in a mid-Michigan trial park to get rid of the over by bulldozer for about 300 yards into ters B and P. It was a unique and a suburban polygamist dumpster. waste. a field. tribute to the actor Bill Pax- in HBO’s “.” Gratiot County Sheriff The sheriff tells CHESANING TOWNSHIP Sheriff’s Lt. Miguel Doug Wright says there ap- The Saginaw News (AP) >> Authorities say a Gomez says it isn’t clear pears to be no “malicious he’s affiliated with a uni- 70-year-old man doing how the bulldozer shifted cer several different names, intent,” just a “lack of com- versity. maintenance or repair gears, and nobody was according to the police re- mon sense.” The man’s name wasn’t work to his bulldozer died driving it. Arrested port. FROM PAGE 1 As police continued to ask for his actual name the ural Resources, the Sag- this project through the their bikes; there are end- vehicle and then hit a sign man told them he didn’t inaw Chippewa Indian Community Foundation,” less possibilities.” and pole. “have time” for the ques- Trailway Tribe, Saginaw WIN, said Executive Director The Isabella County When the witness tioning, at which point the FROM PAGE 1 Charter Township of Amanda Schafer. “There is Friends of the MMCP will took a photo of the officer decided to detain the Union and Village of Shep- a great deal of excitement hold their first ever fund- driver, the 23-year-old con- man pending proper identi- Pathways Group, said the herd make up most of the about breaking ground on raiser this spring in antici- fronted the witness, Browne fication. project has been a long $2.2 million needed for this portion of the path- pation of the new trail. Ales said. At first the man pulled time coming. this phase of construction. way.” for Trails will take place When police caught up away but was ultimately ar- “So many have come to- The Mt. Pleasant Area In addition to the April 28-29th in down- with the driver, he said he rested and lodged at the Is- gether to make this proj- Community Founda- MMCP, a group called the town Shepherd. The beer didn’t have identification abella County Jail pending ect happen,” he said. “We tion has worked with the Isabella County Friends of tent will be open from with him then gave the offi- arraignment. are very excited to keep MMCP Group to raise the Mid-Michigan Com- 5:30-11:30 pm each night moving on it.” much of the rest, with munity Pathway recently and local entertainer Jedi The paved trail is 10 grants from the Shepherd formed. The group will fo- Mind Trip will provide find the suspect but know feet wide and will be lined Community Fund and cus on trail maintenance, entertainment Saturday who he is and are await- with signs and markers Community Impact Fund, repairs, promotion and night. Attacked ing authorization of the indicating locations and as well as the Gerstacker overall care. Additional information FROM PAGE 1 warrant after submitting length to the next desti- Foundation and today’s “We can’t wait to hold about the pathways project it to the Isabella County nation. gift from the Consumers events on the pathway,” can be found at midmich- tim regained conscious- Prosector’s Office, Main Large grants from the Energy Foundation. said President Wendy Os- pathways.org or by visiting ness, he went to MCM for said. Michigan Department of “Several individual do- wald. “Local cross coun- the Mt. Pleasant Area Com- treatment, Main said. Alcohol is believed to be Transportation, the Mich- nors from our commu- try kids can practice on munity Foundation website Deputies were unable to a factor. igan Department of Nat- nity also contributed to the trail, families can ride at mpacf.org.

Copyright (c)2017 The Morning Sun, a 21st Century Media Property & part of Digital First Media MI -- All rights reserved. Please review new arbitration language here. Edition 02/28/2017 February 28, 2017 1:09 pm (GMT +5:00) Powered by TECNAVIA