Obituaries

Maxine Alper

Maxine Block Alper, who recently celebrated 90 years of being a much loved, much admired and respected member of our community, died on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, in a local hospital. Maxine was a vital, caring, giving part of our community and state for many, many years. She has done so many good deeds for family, friends and community that is impossible to recognize them all, and more importantly, she remained an active force and volunteer until she died. Maxine was the daughter of Benjamin and Florence Korn Block and was married to the late Charles Harold Alper M.D. for 63 years. Maxine was also preceded in death by her sister, Lorraine (Zudie) Block Leventhal; and brother, Roy Korn Block. She was a member of BNai Zion Synagogue, a Life Member and past president of Hadassah, a past chair and co-chair of numerous fundraisers for the Jewish Community Center and a past co-chair of the Womens division of the Jewish Federation of Chattanooga for several years. Maxines love for children, especially special needs children, was apparent in so many of her volunteer activities. She was a founding and charter member of Friends of Special Children. She was also involved with White Oak School for the Deaf until its closing, was involved with Camp Spectrum at Warner Park, a summer camp for children with physical disabilities and raised funds for the Signal Centers at the Princess Ball. Her community involvement covered a broad spectrum from being a member of the first Human Relations Commission for the city of Chattanooga under Mayor Chunk Bender, to serving as a past board member and hospitality chairman of the GPS Alumnae Association to being president of the Valleybrook Womens Golf Association and serving in numerous capacities for various medical and medically related organizations. She was a member of the American Lung Association of Tennessee and was recently honored as one of the Diamonds of Distinction. Maxine was one of the first Women of Distinction, working every year on the planning committee. She has raised funds for the American Cancer Society, been a fundraiser and charter member of the Medical Alliance, a board member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and an original board member of the Siskin Auxiliary. She has worked in many capacities for the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. Maxine has always worked for and supported in some way almost every major fundraiser in our city. She loved golf, knitting and helping others most of all. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and a dear friend to many. Maxine is survived by the couples three children, Jeff and Donna of Hixson, Ches and Carol of Franklin, Tenn.; daughter, Debby and grandson, Justin, of Chattanooga; sister-in-law, Baila Berman Block and son, Bradley, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; nieces and nephews, Jan and Richard Baralli and family of Signal Mountain, Mindy Leventhal and family, of Boynton Beach, Fla., Dana and Scott Averbuch and family and David and Edna Block and family of Huntsville, Ala., and many cousins from Georgia to Florida to Colorado. Graveside services will at 10 a.m. today, Dec. 1, at BNai Zion Cemetery, located at 506 Lullwater Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. A Celebration of Life will be hosted at the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club from 2-4 p.m. today. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to: Friends of Special Children, P.O. Box 5718, Chattanooga, TN 37406; Siskin Hospital, One Siskin Plaza, Chattanooga, TN 37403, or to The American Lung Association of Tennessee, 1466 Riverside Drive, Suite D, Chattanooga, TN 37406. Visit www.heritage fh.com to share words of comfort to the family. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.

Published December 1, 2013

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