Maurice Tonkin

Mr. Tonkin was an active member of Congregation Agudat Achim in Leominster, where he taught Sunday school and served on the board of directors. He raised funds for the United Jewish Appeal and was involved in the adult education program of the Leominster Public Library.

He was born in 1918 in Hartford, CT, the child of recent Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father Simon died in the influenza epidemic of 1919. He and his mother Yetta moved to Boston, where he grew up with his mother’s family. He attended public schools in Cambridge and Revere, and was the first in his family to go to college, attending Massachusetts State College (now UMass Amherst, B.A. 1938) and Harvard University (M.A. English Lit., 1940).

Mr. Tonkin served in the U.S. Army during World War II. When stationed in Casablanca, Morocco, he met and married his wife Eliane. After the war, the couple settled in Fitchburg and later moved to Leominster.

As a young man, Mr. Tonkin started a wholesale paper business in Fitchburg, which he operated for 45 years. In 1987, he sold Tonkin Paper to Hammermill, a subsidiary of International Paper.

He enjoyed speaking with and getting to know people from all walks of life. He read broadly, knew several languages, and liked to discuss many different topics. He was an unpretentious man and a pillar of his family and community.

Mr. Tonkin was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Eliane Tonkin (nee Lasry). He is survived by his daughter Rachel Frazer of Teaneck, NJ, son Simon Tonkin of St. Louis, MO, son Dr. Marc Tonkin of Blauvelt, NY, daughter Elissa Tonkin of Brookline, MA, nine grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, brother Phil Silverman of Portland, OR, and sister Marilyn Mendelsohn of Ithaca, NY.

Funeral services will be at the Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline, MA on Friday, May 19 at 11:00am. Burial at 2:00pm in the Agudat Achim Cemetery, 320 Rollstone Rd., Fitchburg, MA.

Shiva beginning immediately following the burial through 4:30pm at Congregation Agudat Achim, 268 Washington St., Leominster and continuing at the Samuel Sewall Inn, 143 St. Paul St. (main entrance on Sewall Ave), Brookline on Sunday from 1-5pm & 7-9pm and Monday and Tuesday from 2-4pm and 7-9pm.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice, 80 NewBridge Way, Dedham, MA 02026.