Miriam Helpern Stoneman

Died of congestive heart failure on November 13, 2005 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Throughout her 91 Years of life she was quick-witted, vigorous and strong-willed. Miriam was born in 1914 to Rose Shapiro Helpern and Myron Helpern. The oldest of five children, she attended Brookline public schools and summer camps in Maine, where she excelled in sports long before women received recognition for their role in sports. Miriam attended Smith College, but, when the Depression hit, returned to Brookline to live at home and to attend Radcliff College, from which she graduated in 1934. She married Sidney Stoneman in 1934. They lived in Chestnut Hill for many years except during World War II, when Sidney was stationed in Philadelphia and outside New York City. Later, she and Sidney divided their time between Boston and Falmouth, Massachusetts, settling in Palm Beach, Florida in 1988. Miriam was an avid golfer and was club champion at golf clubs in Boston, Cape Cod and Florida. She had an antique shop with her partner Bess Kurland for many years, originally opened at the Mount Washington Hotel and later located on Cape Cod. Both Miriam and Sidney were active in Community affairs and gave generously of their time and money to groups including the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brandeis University, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Youth Scholarship Fund, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Planned Parenthood and many other organizations. They endowed the Miriam H. Stoneman Professor of Radiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Stoneman Center for Quality Improvement, directed by Dr. Mark Aronson, who was also Miriam's personal doctor. Sidney died in 1998. Miriam is survived and will be missed by her brother, David Helpern of New York City, her two daughters, Jane Stein of Chapel Hill, NC and Elizabeth Deknatel of Louisville, KY, as well as her five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Her family thanks her devoted companion for many years, Caroline Strusberg, and her daughter Kathy, of whom Miriam and Sidney were very proud. They also thank Marjorie, her kind and caring caretaker of five years. The family requests that flowers not be sent and, that those who wish to, make a contribution to the Stoneman Center for quality Improvement c/o Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 or to a charity of their choice. The family will have a remembrance gathering in Boston at the Ritz Carleton Hotel, 15 Arlington Street, on December 10 from 12:30 to 2:00 and at Miriam's home in Palm Beach on January 14th, also from 12:30 to 2:00. Levine Chapel, Brookline 617-277-8300