Blossom Zitron Obituary (1928 - 2009) - Port Charlotte, Florida

Blossom Diana Zitron, 80, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota Florida, following a brief illness. Preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Evelyn Shapiro Lubline, and her daughter, Marcy Nadine Zitron. She is survived by her sons, Eric Allan Zitron, of Buffalo Grove, IL. and Marc Stuart Zitron, of Canton, GA; grandchildren, Michael David Zitron & Melissa Leigh Zitron, of Virginia Beach, VA., Kyle Mathew Zitron and Monica Janel Zitron, of Columbus; Great-Grandchild, Asa Brixton Zitron, of Virginia Beach, VA; sister, Sharlet Lubline, of Cleveland; and nephews, Dennis Kronenberg and Richard Kronenberg. Blossom’s love of theater and acting began as far back as 1956 at Park Synagogue in Cleveland, acting in the temple’s productions. Upon moving to Columbus she found a home for talent at OSU’s Stadium Theater and the Gallery Players at the JCC. She did many television roles on shows like Traffic Court and Juvenile Court on WBNS-TV. To honor the loss of her daughter, Marcy Zitron, Blossom started the Marcy Zitron Chapter of the Lupus Association of America, considered to this day one of the most prolific sources of education about the disease. She was later inducted into the National Lupus Hall of Fame for her contributions. She was recognized with the Mayors Award for Humanitarian Service, the Jefferson Award, and the National Leadership Award from Hadassah. She was also passionate about her cooking. Funeral service 3 PM Monday, January 19, 2009 at THE EPSTEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 3232 E. Main St., with Rabbi Michael Ungar officiating. Burial to follow at New Tifereth Israel Cemetery. Shiva will be Monday night from 7-9 PM at the home of Marilyn Mendelman.