Phyllis Markowitz

Phyllis (Kalishman) Markowitz, Ed.D, age 82, of Newton, on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Beloved daughter of the late Abraham and Rose Kalishman. Loving mother of Gary K. Markowitz and his wife Lisa Fruitt, and Carol D. Donnelly and her husband Howard. Sister of Pearl Matfis and her husband Morris, and the late Belle Greenberg and Calvin Kalishman. Devoted aunt to her many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was a mentor and inspiration to many. She always valued education and continued to learn throughout her life. She received her AB from Harvard Extension Studies, her MA in Psychology from Harvard College, and at 56 she received her Doctorate in Education from Boston University. Her thesis was on disrupted adoption and Phyllis spent much of her career working in that field. She was a case manager at the Department of Social Services and a Director of Mental Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was a founding member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis (BOLLI).

Services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton on Sunday, February 9 at 1:00pm. Burial at Beth Israel of Malden Cemetery, 250 Main St., North Reading. Following burial, memorial observance will be at her late residence until 8:00pm, and continuing Monday and Tuesday, 1-4pm and 6-8pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Temple Emanuel or Dana Farber Cancer Institute Clinical Lymphoma Program, Attn: Dr. Arnold Freedman, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.