GOTTSCHALK, Deanna “Dee” Zeff

GOTTSCHALK, Deanna “Dee” Zeff

Deanna “Dee” Zeff Gottschalk loved her family, animals, music and travel. She was a warm, loving and empathetic daughter, mother, grandmother and friend.

After a long illness, Mrs. Gottschalk passed away on her 73rd birthday, March 16, 2012—the 22nd day of Adar, 5772. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Selma and David Zeff, she grew up in North Avondale and graduated from Walnut Hills High School.

Mrs. Gottschalk attended Wheaton College and the University of Michigan and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She earned her MSW (master’s in social work) at Smith College. She was a social worker at Family Service of Cincinnati in Mt. Auburn, and also worked at Glen Manor Home for the Aged and Jewish Family Service.

Formerly married to John Frank, in 1977 she married Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, who was serving as president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Mrs. Gottschalk will be remembered, the school said in a statement, “for sharing Dr. Gottschalk’s devotion to our institution, Governors, Overseers, students, faculty and staff, and for her gracious warmth. May Deanna Gottschalk’s commitment to her dear family and to HUC-JIR’s mission endure as an inspiring legacy.”

Mrs. Gottschalk was appointed to the City of Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and was a board member for Tender Mercies.

Her husband, Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk, preceded her in death. Surviving relatives include her children, Andrew (Dawn) Frank, of Toronto, Canada, Charley (Amy Snyder) Frank, her step-children, Marc (Devi) Gottschalk, of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Rachel Brenner, of Los Angeles, Calif., her grandchildren, Teddy and Lydia Frank, of Toronto, Canada, Sam and Avery Frank, Atara, Dania and Sara Gottschalk, of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Nathan and Evan Brenner, of Los Angeles, Calif., her brother, Morton (Ann) Zeff, her nephew, Larry Zeff, and her niece, Amy Zeff.

Services were held for Mrs. Gottschalk at HUC-JIR on Sunday, March 18, with Rabbi Lewis Kamrass and Rabbi Sandford Kopnick officiating. Burial followed at United Jewish Cemetery in Clifton.

The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Alois Alzheimer Center, 70 Damon Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45218, 513-605-1000; or to Jewish Family Service, 8487 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236, 513-469-1188.