Eleanor H. Samuels

Eleanor H. Samuels – of Chestnut Hill, MA entered into rest on March 13, 2024, at the age of 97. Beloved wife of Jason H. Samuels (deceased). Devoted mother of Howard Samuels (Elizabeth) and James Samuels.

Cherished grandmother of Tessa and Max Samuels. The loving sister of Milton Berkovich (deceased), Sylvia Cherenson (deceased), Sumner Berke (deceased). Dear daughter of (the late) Harry Berkovich and Jane Berkovich (Zolloto) and loving aunt and cousin to her large extended family.

She grew up in Mattapan, MA surrounded by a large extended family of cousins. In 1940 her mother formed a kinship organization called the Zolloto Family Circle (ZFC) to build strong bonds between all members of the family.

She attended the Dorchester High School for Girls and graduated from Boston University in 1948 with a B.S. in Business Administration at a time when few women got business degrees. Her first job was with Cantor Construction Company of Brighton, MA as an accountant. After raising her family in Wellesley, MA and Dennis, MA she taught accounting at the college level.

She was a dedicated member of Temple Beth Elohim of Wellesley, where she was actively involved in the Temple Sisterhood and Haddasah. She also served on the Woman’s Committee of New England Villages of Pembroke, MA, a community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities founded in 1972 by a group of families that included her Uncle and Aunt. She was the constant companion of her husband, Jay, at many Tufts University events including homecomings, Advocates for ROTC, and The Charles Tufts Society.

She cherished her time with her family and friends at their home on Cape Cod, going for walks, reading and having wine and cheese at the beach while watching the sunset. With almost 100 ZFC cousins spread across the globe, her extended family was an important part of her life and she cherished spending time and celebrating life events with them.

One of her greatest joys was the spending time with her grandchildren, Tessa and Max, and looked forward to their calls, texts and iphone and ipad technology support.

A funeral service for Eleanor will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 10:30AM at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesley, MA 02481 with interment to follow at Shara Tfilo Cemetery, 776 Baker St, West Roxbury, MA 02132.

Shiva will be held at the home of Linda and Peter Braun, on Friday, March 22, 2024 from 1:30PM to 7:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Tufts University - Samuels Family Mechanical Engineering Prize via check to Tufts University, PO Box 3306, Boston, MA 00241-3306, payable to the Trustees of Tufts University. Memo line: Samuels Family Mechanical Engineering Prize.