Miriam Klapper

She was the former Executive Director of Temple Beth Shalom in Cambridge and previously of the Cambridge Homes for the Aged, where she worked collectively for almost 40 years. Miriam, known as Mim, was born in Chelsea and spent most of her life in the Boston area. She graduated from Tufts University in 1958 and the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration in 1959, where she was among the first women to take part in this graduate program.

Miriam lived an authentic life. She valued honesty and practicality above all else and was never afraid to speak the truth. She loved cooking, eating, spending time with family and friends, and nurturing everyone she met along the way. She was widely loved and respected for her jovial sense of humor, sincerity, generosity, and welcoming spirit.

Miriam is survived by her sister, Judith Ellenzweig, her children, Adam Klapper and Rebecca Ascher, daughter in law Mely Santizo Klapper, nieces Lisa Ellenzweig and Sarah Ellenzweig, grandchildren Sharlyn de Leon Santizo, Harold Klapper, Nathaniel Ascher, Simon Ascher and Naomi Ascher.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Temple Beth Shalom’s Handicap Accessibility Fund where they are hoping to build a ramp and make the shul handicap accessible. This ramp is to be named in honor of Miriam who suffered with Multiple Sclerosis all her adult life. Donations can be made directly on the shul website https://www.tremontstreetshul.org/donate - select Centennial Campaign/Accessibility in the dropdown menu.