Dr. Morton Wittenberg

EVANS, Ga. Dr. Morton Wittenberg entered into rest Saturday, December 3, 2016. Mort was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1926 and came to Augusta in 1951 with his wife Boots after he completed his degree from the Illinois College of Podiatry in Chicago. Prior to completing his degree, Mort enlisted in the US Navy, serving on the USS Omaha. Dr. Wittenberg opened his podiatry practice Medical Center Podiatry Group now known as Foot and Ankle Group, on Laney-Walker Boulevard. After his retirement from there, he worked at the Augusta State Prison until he was 88 years old. He was a significant contributor to the field of podiatric surgery and served as President of the American Academy of Podiatry Administration and was a member of the Georgia Podiatric Medical Association. During his time in Augusta, he was an active volunteer in the Augusta community. He was a member of the Walton Way Temple Congregation Children of Israel, served as President of the Congregation as well as lifetime board member, President of the Augusta Jewish Federation, and was a member of the Torch Club and Elks Club. He was also on the Board of the Jewish Community Center at various times through the years. As well as being Augusta City Councilman in 1986 for the 5th Ward, Mort had also served on the board of the Augusta Opera Association, the Opera Club, was a member of the Augusta-Richmond County Museum and the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. Mort traveled on many United Jewish Appeal missions to Europe and Israel. Mort was also affiliated with the Podiatry program at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel and spent much time at his beloved Kibbutz Kfar Menachem in central Israel. Mort and his wife Boots were honored in September of 1985 with the Israel City of Peace Award given by the Augusta Israel Bond Organization for Devotion to the Jewish Community and the People of Israel. Mort was honored in May of 2001 with the Maurice Steinberg Achievement Award by the Augusta Jewish Federation along with his wife for continuous community service and also the Augusta Jewish Community Humanitarian Award in 2009. Dr. Wittenberg was preceded in death by his beloved son, Bart and his beloved wife Boots. He is survived by his two children, Robyn Wittenberg Dudley from Summerville, SC, and Jon Wittenberg from Alpharetta, GA and three grandchildren, Sarah, Sean and Brian and three brothers Alfred, Robert, and Burton Wittenberg. Funeral services will be held 11AM, Tuesday December 6 at Congregation Children of Israel with Rabbi H. Richard White and Rabbi Shai Beloosesky officiating. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be David Alalof, Wayne Bland, Lyle Glascock, Jack Goldenberg, Dr. Kyle Kinney, Dr. Kent Kronowski, Dr. Mary Ottinger, Elliott Price, and Dr. Louis Scharff. Honorary pallbearers will be Ms. Janet Burt and Mr. James Hardee and Past Presidents of Congregation Children of Israel and the Augusta Jewish Federation. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bart D. Wittenberg Religious School at Congregation Children of Israel, 3005 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909, to the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta Georgia, or to the Augusta Jewish Federation. Elliott Sons Funeral Home 4255 Columbia Road, Martinez, Georgia 30907 706-868-9637~~The Augusta Chronicle - December 6, 2016