14 THE JEWISH LEADER, FEBRUARY 5, 2016 NANCY PRAGUE ABE Vigoda ‘FISH’ DIES at 94 Boynton Beach, FL -- Nancy S. Prague 89, of Boyn- By Reuters immigrants from Russia. ton Beach, Florida passed away peacefully at the home be Vigoda, an American actor best known for His father was a tailor. of her son Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz in Monsey, New roles in “The Godfather” and the 1970s sitcom York, on January 8, 2016. “Barney Miller,” died on Tuesday at the age of on stage at age 17 and, Born Nesya Silversmith on June 22, 1926, Nancy 94, after spending three decades jokingly refut- droppingHe had thehis “H”first fromrole grew up in Montreal, Canada where she met and mar- ing rumors of his demise. his last name along the ried Harry Seplowitz of Coventry, CT. They settled in Vigoda’s daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, said way, had modest suc- Norwich, CT, where they raised their four children un- her father died at her home in New Jersey. “He cess in theater and on til Harry’s untimely passing left Nancy a young widow. died in his sleep, of natural causes. He was not television through the In 1963, Nancy married Norman Prague of Willim- sick,” she told Reuters. 1960s. Obituaries antic, CT, and they added a daughter to the family. Vigoda, who was adept at drama and com- Vigoda was already Nancy was deeply committed to Jewish life and tra- edy with a hang-dog face, slouched posture and past 50 when he got dition and was considered a “Pillar of the Community” slow delivery, played mobster traitor Salvatore his break in “The God- in Norwich. She was an active and cherished member - father.” In an interview of Brothers of Joseph Synagogue, often volunteer- ited movie role. His character was doomed for with CNN, Vigoda recalled being summoned to ing and performing mitzvot including Tessio in “The Godfather” in 1972, his first cred Tahara, “Chesed Shel Emet” (truest act open casting call. of kindness), with the Norwich wom- betrayingGodfather thePart CorleoneII” two years family later. in the film but the“It office seems of directorhe’d seen Francis me in aFord play Coppola or plays,” in Vian- en’s Chevra Kadisha. hadHis a cameo most famous role in therole flashback was as the scenes grumpy of “The and goda said, adding that one of the reasons Cop- In recognition of her years of dedi- deadpan Detective Sergeant Phil Fish in the pola “was interested in me was that nobody cation to Hadassah, Nancy was hon- “Barney Miller” police comedy series. He picked knew my face.” ored with the “Woman of Valor” award, up three supporting-actor Emmy nominations Vigoda said the role opposite stars like Mar- and for her long-standing service to for the part. lon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan in one of the local Jewish community. Nancy was Vigoda spent years amiably proving he was Hollywood’s greatest movies changed his life. a long standing member of the Jewish still alive after People magazine mistakenly de- From there, Vigoda moved to the “Barney Federation of Eastern CT. She also re- clared him “the late Abe Vigoda” in 1982, when Miller” series. ceived the Hebrew Day School of East- he was 62. The question of his mortality became “I got the role because the producer thought ern, CT “30 years of outstanding ser- a running gag that he learned to live with. I looked tired,” Vigoda said. “But I looked tired vice” award. Nancy also for thirty years was the “go to” person To disprove the People report, he posed for a because I had been jogging earlier that day.” for planting trees in Israel for the Jewish National Fund. In a typical line from “Barney Miller,” Fish be- Nancy was known for her warmth, compassion, generosity of became an often-revisited joke in his appear- spirit, strong values, and unwillingness to speak ill of anyone. photoances onsitting Conan in aO’Brien’s coffin. His late-night alive-or-dead show andstatus in it feels like to be running down 43rd Street and She was well respected and a beautiful woman inside and out. a skit on David Letterman’s show, he curtly ad- moanedyour partner the effects is cornering of age: a“Do guy you on know52nd? whatDo With unwavering devotion to her family, Nancy was so proud of vised the host, “I’m not dead yet, you pinhead!” you know how I found out what happened? I her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. asked a reporter. Four radio stations beat me to Nancy Prague is survived by her daughter Barbara Seplowitz longevity was the joke and appeared with the the scene of the crime.” Schumer and son-in-law Marvin Schumer, son William Seplow- equallyVigoda well-seasoned also had roles actress in filmsBetty Whitewhere inhis a Unlike the creaky, lethargic Fish, Vigoda was itz, son Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz and daughter-in-law Sheera, commercial during the Super Bowl in February a vigorous man who played handball regularly 2010. and was still jogging into his 80s. Dana Prague Meeks and son-in-law Dale Meeks, 14 grandchil- The website www.abevigoda.com was set up Vigoda worked in TV and movies well into sondren Jeffrey , many greatSeplowitz grandchildren and partner and niecesBecky andGustafson, nephews. daughter simply to give his status - “Abe Vigoda is alive” She is also survived by her sister Bluma and brother–in-law - above a photo of the actor and a date/time “Good Burger,” “Joe Versus the Volcano,” “Look Ben Stolow of Montreal, sister-in-law Harriet Berkman Silver- stamp. On Tuesday, that was changed to “Abe hisWho’s 80s. Talking” His other and “Cannonballwork included Run.” the He films also smith, also of Montreal and pre-deceased by her brother Sam Vigoda is dead.” appeared on television series such as “Soap,” Silversmith. Born in New York City on Feb. 24, 1921, “The Rockford Files,” “Wings” and the vampire She will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her. Abraham Charles Vigodah was the son of Jewish soap opera “Dark Shadows.” AUTO | HOME | COMMERCIAL | MARINE MARVIN MINSKY AI PIONEER DIES AT 88 By Reuters single process. Instead, he argued, intelligence Marvin Minsky, the arises from the interaction of numerous pro- Levine Insurance Group LLC - cesses in a “society of mind” - a phrase Minsky neer who helped make used for the title of his 1985 book. Andrew J. Levine artificialmachines intelligence think, leading pio to computers that under- isn’t a thing but an embarrassing mess of dumb stand spoken commands things“Marvin that workbasically together, figured as outin a thatsociety,” thinking said 221 Boston Post Rd. 860-739-4444 Office and beat grandmasters at Danny Hillis, a former Minsky student and now P.O. Box 339 860-739-6861 Fax chess, has died at the age co-chairman of the Applied Minds technology East Lyme, CT 06333 [email protected] of 88, the Massachusetts company. Institute of Technology Minsky’s insight led to the development of said. smart machines packed with individual mod- Minsky, who died on Sunday, January 24, computers that play grandmaster-level chess, school said. ulesrobots that that give build them cars, specific programs capabilities, that analyzesuch as 2016,Minsky suffered had “a monstera cerebral brain,” hemorrhage, MIT colleague the DNA and software that creates lifelike dino- - saurs, explosions and extraterrestrial worlds 136 Sachem Street ligence and computer science, said in a 2012 for movies. Memorial Norwich CT 06360 Patrickinterview. Winston, He could a professor be intimidating of artificial without intel 860-889-2374 meaning to be because he was “such a genius,” almost every computer function, from web Winston said. Artificial intelligence is also essential to- Fax 860-886-2396 Minsky’s greatest contribution to computers tering spam email, focusing cameras, translat- searching documents to video and games, giving and voice tasks commands such as fil to neither human nor machine intelligence is a MINSKY CONT. ON PG 15 and artificial intelligence was the notion that .