Betty T. Schiff Obituary (1919 - 2014)

Betty (Mrs. Herbert) Schiff died peacefully at her home in Florida on September 12, 2014. Betty Topkis was the youngest daughter of Charles and Edna Topkis, born on February 11, 1919 in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from Friends School of Wilmington and attended the University of Pennsylvania. She married Herbert Schiff of Columbus, Ohio in 1938. They lived briefly in Detroit and then moved to Columbus, Ohio, where they raised their three daughters—Suzanne, Patricia, Jane. Mrs. Schiff was an active member of the Columbus Jewish community, a member of the Winding Hollow Country Club and a club champion golfer and bridge player. In the early 70’s, the Schiffs purchased a home in Longboat Key, Florida and spent the winters there. After Mr. Schiff’s death in 2002, she continued his legacy of philanthropy, including serving on the Board of the American Jewish Committee in Sarasota, Florida. Mrs. Schiff worked on numerous boards and committees, supporting causes including ORT, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, Wexner Heritage Village auxiliary, the Jewish Center of Columbus, Brandeis University Women, Technion, Temple Israel in Columbus and Temple Beth Israel on Longboat Key. She has been a supporter of the Jewish Federations in both Sarasota and Columbus, endowing a Lion of Judah in both communities and was the recipient of the National Lion of Judah Kipnis/Wilson/Friedland Award for extensive volunteer and philanthropic achievement. Betty and Herbert Schiff established two endowment funds at Temple Israel in Columbus. She is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Gallant (Mort Rosenthal) and Jane Schiff (Lawrence Gratz), her son-in-law (Richard Hershorin), her six grandchildren, Deborah Gallant (Jonathan Lieber), Eric Gallant (Susan Gallant) , Laura Hershorin, David Hershorin (Jill Hershorin), James Fleckner (Sarah Fleckner) and Daniel Fleckner. She will be missed by her nine great-grandchildren. Nathaniel and Noah Gallant, Amy Lieber, Emma, Solomon and Lillian Hershorin, Joshua, Hannah and Rachel Fleckner. She was predeceased by her daughter Patricia (Richard Hershorin) and grandson Thomas Fleckner. Donations in her memory can be made to the Betty and Herbert Schiff Fund at the Columbus Jewish Foundation, 1175 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43209 or www.columbusjewishfoundation.org Services will be held at 11am on Monday September 15, at Temple Israel at 5419 East Broad Street, Columbus Ohio with interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family will sit Shiva on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m at Mrs. Schiff’s home at 5430 Nelsonia Place in Columbus.