Adele (Diane) Gaster

Adele Diane Gaster, of Bloomfield, wife of Albert Davis and widow of Berthold Gaster, died August 21, 2011. She was the former associate editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger and drama critic of the newspaper, a long-time junior high and college teacher, and the writer of numerous articles for local newspapers and educational journals. The editor of the Jewish Historical Society newsletter, she also edited books for local rabbis. Adele cherished her family and friends and enjoyed writing, art, music and reading. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 26, 1930, to Rebecca (Shub) and Alexander Lifshitz, she moved to Connecticut in 1958. Adele earned a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in 1951 and master’s degree from the University of Hartford some 20 years later. After substitute teaching in Bloomfield schools, she taught English at Bloomfield Junior High School for 17 years before becoming a lecturer at Manchester Community College, Greater Hartford Community College, Central Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford. At the Ledger, in addition to reviewing plays, she was layout editor, and feature and news writer for numerous years before assuming the post of associate editor after her first husband’s death. For many years she reported on the extensive trips she and her husband took to diverse areas of the world. Mrs. Gaster won government grants and numerous awards while teaching, was presented with the Myrtle Wreath award from Hadassah for journalism and teaching, was cited by the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation, and received the Mercy Award from the Golan Chapter of ARMDI. A member of the Board of Agudas Achim Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, she was the publicity director for Hadassah for several years. Survivors include her husband; a daughter and son-in law, Emeline and Howard Jacobs of Old Saybrook; two grandchildren, Michael and Sharon Jacobs; a son, Atty. Jeffrey N. Gaster of New York City; a stepdaughter Marcy Davis of Newington; a step-son, Edward Davis (and his wife Joanne), and step-grandchildren, Benjamin and Allison, all of East Haven. Additional survivors are her sister, Florence Perlstein of Bloomfield, her nephew, Abram Perlstein of California, and her nieces, Ruth Yancovich (and her husband Henry) of Hartford, and Penny May (and her husband Arthur) of New York City. She was predeceased by a step-daughter, Freda Duke (and her husband Jimmy) of East Windsor, her brother-in-law, Julian Perlstein of Bloomfield; and her nephew Dana Perlstein of California. Funeral services will be held Monday, (August 22, 2011) at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary 640 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT with interment in Beth Hillel Synagogue in East Granby, CT. Shiva will be observed at her home August 22nd through the 24th. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Agudas Achim, the Jewish Federation, Hadassah, ORT, or a charity of the donor’s choice.