We are sad to announce the passing of our mother, Lenore P. Koppel, on Aug. 4, after a long, fruitful, productive and eventful life. Lenore was born to her parents, Albert and Fannie Pfeffer on June 8, 1929, in Cleveland, the middle of three sisters. The family lived in Cleveland Heights.
Lenore Koppel (Pfeffer) is survived by daughters Margie Jackel (Steve), Ruth Rosenblum (Barnett), son Ted, and her sister, Judy Pfeffer Hurwitz. Her extended family includes seven grandchildren: Yuval Cohen, Hilla Lev (Doron), Allison Choate (Ryall), Sara Koppel, Hannah Rosenblum, Jason Rosenblum (Rebecca), and Yanai Cohen z”l. Lenore was the proud great-grandmother of seven, Lawson and Layla Choate, Imri, Itamar, and Avigail Lev, and Madelyn and Hazel Rosenblum.
Lenore graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1946, studied briefly at the University of Chicago, then returned to Cleveland to earn her B.A. in Education at Flora Stone Mather College. She later earned a master’s degree, spent the majority of her career in deaf education at Heights High School, then later became a Director of Pupil Personnel in the Lakewood School District.
In later years, she was the Interim Principal of the Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike. Lenore continued involvement in Jewish educational pursuits throughout her life. She taught for many years in Temple Emanu El’s High School program. She attended Saturday morning bible study at Mishkan Or for many years, led book groups largely related to Judaism and Jewish literature, and in earlier years was active in Jewish community organizations. Wherever Lenore and Harry traveled around the world, she would look for the local synagogue or Jewish community. Lenore was a master at "Jewish geography."
Another of her passions was reading and libraries. She served as a Library Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees at the Cleveland Heights University Heights Public Library for several years in the 1970s. To that end, Lenore, Harry and Ted compiled and published the Index to Jewish Periodicals since 1988.
A Thanksgiving blizzard weekend in 1950 was their first date. On July 1, 1951, Lenore married Harold Koppel (z”l) at Park Synagogue, the start of a nearly 74-year marriage which concluded with Harry’s death in May 2025. Lenore and Harry were avid travelers and visited destinations including such as China, Brazil, South Africa, South America, various places in Europe, and several trips to Israel. In the early 2000’s, she and Harry visited Lodz, Poland to visit her father’s ancestral home.
She also loved spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a strict babysitter and always enjoyed doing a craft, shopping, going out to eat, getting ice cream, - pretty much any outing - with extended family. She was known for her wit, intellectual pursuits, sharp tongue, and somewhat irreverent persona. You always knew where you stood with Lenore!
She enjoyed culture and the arts; she and Harry were long-term members of the Cleveland Chamber Music Society, Shaker Heights Indoor Theater, and other community activities. They attended Cleveland Orchestra concerts regularly over many years.
Lenore and Harry moved to Judson Park in 2017 and enjoyed proximity to University Circle for concerts and other activities. The family would also like to thank Judson Park Reinberger and Shawn Jackson for providing excellent care to Lenore over the past years.
Donations may be made in Lenore’s memory to the Gross Schechter Day School at grossschechter.org/one-time-gift/, Congregation Mishkan Or at mishkanor.org/ or Siegal College at case.edu/ech/articles/s/siegal-college.
A graveside memorial service will be held at noon on Sept. 6 at Mayfield Cemetery and a Celebration of Life will follow at 3:30 pm at Judson Park, 1801 Chestnut Hills Drive in Cleveland Heights.
Arrangements by Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.