Alfred Remsen
Alfred Remsen passed away at home in Fairfax, Virginia, on Thursday, January 9.
He was born July 21,1944, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Harry and Rose Remsen. He moved to the Wilmington area with his wife, Harriet (Keil) Remsen, where he lived for more than 45 years. A graduate of the University of Delaware, a retiree from JP Morgan Chase and a long-time member of Congregation Beth Shalom, Al loved his Philly sports teams and was always in “uniform” on game days.
For the past seven years, Al and Harriet relocated to Northern Virginia to be closer to their daughter, Allison Remsen. He enjoyed exploring the DC museums, trying new restaurants, and cheering with all of the Phillies fans at Nationals Park.
Most of all, Al loved his family. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife of 53 years, Harriet (Keil) Remsen, and his daughter, Allison Remsen, of Washington, DC.
Florence Mae Austin (nee Berg)
Age 94, passed away March 18, 2025.
Florence was born March 5, 1931 and lived in Middletown, DE until her graduation from Middletown High School in 1949 as valedictorian of her class. She then attended the University of Delaware and, in 1951, married Richard Austin, her husband of 58 years. Together they raised their family in Wilmington, DE.
She is survived by a daughter, Patti Berk (Ben); sons, Scott (Alisa) and Jeffrey (Michele); six grandchildren, Jason (Renee), Dana and Lindsay Berk, Matthew (Mary) and Philip Austin, and Jana Bowers (Kyle); and four great-grandchildren, Isabella and Stephen Austin, Logan Bowers, and Vivian Berk.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to your favorite charity.
Lynda Bell
Age 81, a beloved wife of 56 years, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully at home on March 7, 2025.
Born Lynda Yablon on January 17, 1944 in Harrisburg, PA, Lynda was an amazing community builder and event organizer. She was active with the Temple Beth El synagogue since her move to Newark, DE 55 years ago.
Lynda remained a fixture in the synagogue’s sisterhood organization, where she organized numerous events and shared her love of cooking to foster a community rooted in friendship, excellent food, and inclusion.
Preceded in death by her son, Jason; she is survived by her husband, Lynn; daughter, Jill (Matt); and granddaughters, Brianna, Olivia, and Oona.
She will be missed forever but her memory lives on in the people she loved, worked with, and fed.
Iris Bronstein
Age 86, passed away September 10, 2024.
Born August 9, 1938, she was preceded in death by her husband, Mickey Bronstein; Iris is survived by children, Mark (Yoko), Lisa (Bill), and Marla (Byron); grandchildren, Jesse, Dan, Sam, David, Jocelyn, Ethan, Gabby, Bodhi, and Shae.
Born a Philly girl, she loved Mo-Town and dancing. Eventually, Iris moved to Wilmington, DE where she raised her family. She worked for the Department of Labor for many years. Summers were spent at the Jersey Shore. Iris had sand in her shoes and eventually moved toward Atlantic City. There never was nor will there ever be anyone quite like her. She was love personified. Rest In Peace.
In lieu of flowers, take a walk on the beach with someone you love.
Richard Gropper
It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Richard Gropper on March 20, 2025, loving and devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and respected businessman.
Richard was born in New York City on December 8, 1938 to Fred Gropper and Lillian Weiner Klass.
Richard married Phyllis Shtofman in 1963 and they soon after had a daughter, Laurie. Tragically, the family was involved in an automobile accident one rainy night in 1966 and Phyllis and Laurie perished as a result.
He met Geraldine Radolan in 1967, and they were married on November 5th of that year. Richard and Gerry were married for 57 years, serving as a model for both of their children. Family was the most important thing in the world to Richard, and he loved his children and grandchildren more than anything. He delighted in being called “Gramps” by his grandkids and would never hesitate to attend any sports event, musical, or theater performance for any of the six of them.
Richard liked good food, nice cars, and a great deal. He disliked braggarts, rules and regulations, and wasting money in any form.
Richard is survived by his wife, Gerry Gropper; daughter, Deb Yardley and son-in-law, Chuck Yardley; son, Dan Gropper and daughter-in-law, Tammy Allen; his sister, Janet Wiedman; brother-in-law, Edward Radolan; and several nieces. Richard is also survived by six grandchildren, Owen, Emma and Sam Yardley and Myles, Bennett and Pierce Gropper.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richard’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Vennue Foundation (www.vennue.org).
Eugene Kane
Age 97, passed away March 9, 2025.
Born August 25, 1927, Eugene grew up in Kennett Square, PA, son of the late Joseph and Sadie Kanofsky, and youngest brother of Alan, Burton, and Leonard. After a brief stint in the United States Coast Guard, he attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. Eugene was in practice for over 50 years, with his son, Randall joining him for many of those years.
He was a long-time member and past president of the Media Rotary Club. In addition, he enjoyed golf, music, and playing piano. After retirement, he also donated his time helping immigrant families learn English.
Preceded in death by his wife, Doris of more than 65 years; he is survived by daughter, Candace Tesler (Burt); son, Randall Kane (Diane); four grandchildren, Scott (Delia), Will, Mia, and Abby; and great-grandson, Jack Tesler. He also loved his many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Congregation Beth Emeth or the Rotary Club of Media.
Benjamin Klaus Raphael
Age 95, passed away on March 15, 2025.
He was the last surviving son of the late Felix and Else Raphael of Essen, Germany, who fled the Holocaust and emigrated to America in November 1938 eventually settling in Wilmington. He married the late Helen Leeser of Chihuahua, Mexico in 1952.
A lifetime lover of classical music and an amateur pianist, he with his former wife, owned and operated the Delaware Music House on Main Street in Newark until 1979. They were the parents of Linda, Michael, and Richard (Rik). In 1988 he met and married the former Catherine Page Middleton, who helped him in the final years of his business until his retirement in 2005.
In addition to his son, Michael, he was predeceased by his parents; three older brothers, Dr. Ernst Raphael, Erich, Fritz (deceased in infancy); and a niece, Eunice Raphael Weber.
He and Cathy were invited back to his hometown of Essen, Germany in 2002 as a gesture of apology for the persecution and murder of Essen’s Jews during the Hitler era, and Ben spoke to a German high school class about his childhood during the pre-Holocaust years.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 36 years, Cathy; his son Richard “Rik;” his three stepchildren: Tobyanne Middleton Ventura; Tracy Middleton Shakespeare (Cdr. John A., USN); and Frederick “Skip” Middleton III (Christa); and a host of grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nephews, a niece, great granddaughters, and great nieces and nephews, and great great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Newark Symphony Orchestra www.newarksymphony.org
Bryna Klastorin Rappaport
Age 80, passed away on March 2, 2025.
Bryna was born in New York, NY, and grew up in Houston, TX. She attended Syracuse University as an undergraduate and earned a Masters at the University of South Carolina. Originally a homemaker and then a jewelry appraiser, Bryna’s true calling was as a middle school math teacher. She was also a devoted community volunteer, serving in various leadership roles for Hadassah and the A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children. Bryan was married to her husband Jay (z”l) for 54 years and actively supported his career at Dupont. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world, having visited over 25 countries. Bryna was an avid gardener, mahjong player, fashionista, and devoted mother and grandmother.
Preceded in death by her husband; she is survived by her two children, David Rappaport (Jennifer) and Alyson Fieldman (Matthew); her brother, Theodore Klastorin (Susan); sister, Nancy Katims (Michael); 5 grandchildren, Hannah, Abigail, Eliana, Liora, and Aryeh.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hadassah (https://www.hadassah.org/donate) or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org/donate).
Judy Lange Topkis
Passed away March 16, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and friends.
Judy was the daughter of Leslie and Mollie Lange and Stepmother Regina Lange. Judy married Bill Topkis on April 30, 1961, and they spent 64 years together. She devoted herself to Billy, and her two daughters, Nicole Topkis Pickles and Julie Topkis Nason. Judy was especially proud and loved spending time with her grandchildren, Ben and Max Pickles, and Lange Scanlan. She was also very fond of her son-in-law, Jaimie Pickles, and she is survived by and loved her many nieces and nephews.
In the early 1980s, Judy founded Contemporary Concepts with Faith Pizor, a design firm specializing in commercial spaces. Judy later went on to found Textile Workshop in Norristown, PA with her two partners Barbara Herak and Grace Henshaw, traveling around the country showing their textiles and fabrics.
Judy loved volunteering in the Wilmington Public Schools, tutoring students, and worked with the domestic violence program for women in Wilmington for many years and later supported Cancer Support Community Delaware with her volunteer time and especially enjoyed the knitting group.
Judy and Bill enjoyed exploring and traveling and spent many years traveling both in our country and abroad.
The family requests that any donations in her memory please be made to Cancer Support Community Delaware, 4810 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807, cancersupportdelaware.org.
