Shirley Haber

Detroit-born Cleveland-resident Shirley "Boots" Haber (nee Kallman), age 87, passed away peacefully the morning of March 17, 2017. Boots was a much-loved and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and actress. She was the wife of the late Richard Haber, David Bernstein (deceased), and Alan Littman (deceased). A matriarch who believed family mattered most, she’s survived by sister Rita Rosen of CA, children David (Kim Marie) Littman, Elizabeth Littman, Daniel (Heidi) Littman, and Lisa (Larry) Daniels, grandchildren Aaron (Linda) Littman, Lauren Somogyi, Lesley Littman (Michael Rodriguez), Rebecca, Isaac (Carrie) Littman, Gillian, and Richard Daniels, and great-granchildren Avery, Opal, Lucy, Abe, Louise, Victoria, Ellery, Amara, and Aurora. Born October 17, 1929 to loving immigrant parents, an opera singer and doctor, Boots was always a warm, friendly presence. She earned her name at a young age due to her love of a pair of boots she wouldn’t remove. She was an enthusiastic student and skipped grades in school to attend University of Michigan early. There, she was a Phi Beta Kappa who focused on the performing arts. She performed on radio and stage, including at the Cleveland Playhouse. A self-described “romantic,” she married three times to Alan Littman, David Bernstein, and Richard Haber. Boots was a giving person, favoring her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with frequent and sometimes lavish gifts. A consummate hostess, she cultivated and maintained friendships with many both near and far. Her volunteer efforts included United Cerebral Palsy, the Cleveland Sight Center, and Bellefaire JCB. She took her Jewish heritage very seriously, imparting the importance of her lineage through frequent museum and movie outings with family. She was a lifelong member of ORT, Hadassah, the Council of Jewish Women, the Raoul Wallenberg Society, and a Charter Member of the U.S. Holocaust Museum. Participation with groups like the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1961 and the Cleveland Israel Bond Organization in 1972 brought her into contact with well-known politicians like Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy. This was far from her first brush with famous political figures. As a child, she was proud to have written a fan letter to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and received a response from his private secretary, Marguerite LeHand. She was a lifelong baseball fan and was happy to be the sister-in-law of Al “Flip” Rosen. In her later days, she was a resident of Stone Gardens. There, with pleasure, she participated in book club and attended weekly news briefings. She received frequent visits from family. Boots was a true presence. Humorous, gentle, and warm, when she walked in, the room would light up. To remember her is to celebrate a legacy of joy. Donations in lieu of flowers are suggested to Bellefaire JCB (www.bellefairejcb.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.bellefairejcb.org) or the Cleveland Sight Center (www.clevelandsightcenter.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.clevelandsightcenter.org). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIRLEY "BOOTS" HABER (nee Kallman), age 87, died March 17, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Richard Haber, David Bernstein (deceased) and Alan Littman (deceased); devoted mother of David (Kim Marie) Littman of NV, Daniel (Heidi) Littman and Lisa (Larry) Daniels; loving grandmother of Aaron (Linda) Littman, Lauren Somogyi, Lesley Littman (Michael Rodriguez), Rebecca, Isaac and Carrie Littman, Gillian and Richard Daniels; loving great-grandmother of Avery, Opal, Lucy, Abe, Louise, Victoria, Ellery, Amara and Aurora; dear sister of Rita Rosen of CA. Funeral services will be held at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, 22401 Chagrin Blvd, Beachwood, on Monday, March 20 at 10 AM. Interment will follow at Lake View Cemetery. The family will receive friends IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BURIAL UNTIL 3 PM at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami. Donations in lieu of flowers are suggested to Bellefaire JCB (www.bellefairejcb.org) or the Cleveland Sight Center (www.clevelandsightcenter.org).