Barbara (Solomon) Kaufman

Barbara (Solomon) Kaufman of Newington, died on Wednesday, September 23,2009 at age 84. She was the daughter of the late King and Frances Solomon, and the wife of Stanley Kaufman, her husband of 62 years. Born in Hartford on July 9, 1925, she attended Hartford and West Hartford schools and graduated from Hall High in 1943. She received a Bachelor?s degree from Bouve-Boston School of Physical Education (now part of Northeastern University) and taught in the New Britain, Hartford, and Newington school systems. For many years she worked with her husband at the business they co-owned, Appliance Repair, Inc. in Manchester. She belonged to Temple Sinai in Newington, where she was active in temple affairs for more than 50 years. She served as president of the temple Sisterhood, started the Youth Group, launched and ran the rummage sales, and often chaired Passover seders. In 1958 she was instrumental in the temple?s adoption of a Cuban family, and helped set them up in the community. For 12 years she was a dedicated volunteer with Jewish Family Services, especially the resettlement program for Russian immigrants, for whom she collected furniture, clothing, and household goods, and provided endless warm support to more than 100 immigrant families. She was also a loyal longtime blood donor for the Red Cross. Barbara?s irrepressible enthusiasm and inexhaustible willingness to help turned everyone she touched into a friend. She was predeceased by her sister, Marilyn Lippman. In addition to her devoted husband, Stanley, she is survived by a son, Arthur, and his wife Nancy, of Hillsborough, NJ, and by a daughter, Judith, and her husband Steve Kemper, of West Hartford. She leaves three cherished grandchildren: Rebecca Kaufman, Ben Kemper, and Alex Kemper. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Rd, Newington 06111. Burial will follow at the adjacent Temple Sinai Memorial Park. Family and friends will be received immediately afterward at Temple Sinai. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Temple Sinai Barbara Kaufman Youth Fund Endowment, c/o Temple Sinai. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Barbara with her family, please sign her guestbook online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.