Annette Dunitz

1929 - 2025

Annette Dunitz

December 4, 1929 - April 6, 2025

On April 6, 2025, Annette Darlene Braverman Dunitz died peacefully at the home she and her husband, Norman, built and designed in 1962. She was born on December 4, 1929, in Iowa City, Iowa to Emma Snider Braverman and Eli Braverman. As a child she performed monologues at garden clubs and other women meetings. A University of Iowa director saw her and hired her to do plays on the radio. In high school she performed in musicals such as Mikado and Pirates of Penzance. She was editor of both her high school newspaper and yearbook. Annette's childhood interests foretold her future passions. She was active in Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic, the Broadway Theater League, and chaired each of their major fundraiser galas including the opening of the PAC with Ella Fitzgerald. The last several years she saw a weekly movie at Circle Cinema and loved attending Tulsa Ballet performances and Tulsa Opera's President's Council. Annette was also a news junkie and each day, until the last week of her life, she read the Wall Street Journal and Tulsa World cover to cover.

But Annette's lasting memory is the loving life she created for her family and friends. Annette said she was happiest when planning a party and her parties were legendary. The food always followed a specific concept, and her table decorations were chosen to accessorize the dinner's theme such as 50 nutcrackers during the holiday season or live goldfish for a Chinese dinner. To celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of friends with Scottish ancestry, she hired a bagpiper. Holiday celebrations typically required moving all the furniture to accommodate 40 people at one table. Annette was so specific about her signature martini, Norman had business cards made with the recipe. Many of those cards live on in restaurants across the country. Annette believed all of life's special moments needed to be celebrated.

Cooking and baking were another way she showed love. She was always the first person to prepare a meal for a friend who lost a loved one or who was ill. Every Thanksgiving she made 3 dozen pumpkin pies and delivered them throughout Tulsa. She did the same thing at Christmas with pesto made from basil grown in her garden. But her most famous recipe was her matzah ball soup. Making this soup was a 3-day process and required specially ordered hens, chicken fat, and commercial grade pots and pans. The soup was made twice a year and enough was made for all family holidays and for any family or friends who were ill.

Of all her passions, her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren came first. Annette was married to Norman for 71 years. They met when she was a student at the University of Iowa. She supported him during his medical training in Detroit, Rochester, and Chicago. In Tulsa she was the first office "employee" of what would later become Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates. They loved international travel, and made lifelong friends around bridge, movie club, "the Rascals" and their house at Grand Lake. Annette recently said that living long enough to see all her children and grandchildren in supportive marriages and partnerships like hers was the biggest joy of her life.

Annette is survived by her children Elise (Terry) Brennan, Scott (Harriet) Dunitz, grandchildren Michelle (Ryan) McDonald, Drew Dunitz (Gillian Silver), Phil Dunitz (Whitney Mohr), Katie (Vic) Zimmermann, Danny (Maddie) Brennan, great grandchildren Levi and Oliver McDonald, her brother Marvin Braverman, sisters-in-law Toby Newman and Jeri Dunitz, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to express their appreciation and love to several people who helped Annette and Norman throughout the last several years and are forever part of our Mishpucha: Linda Herring, Jessica Kohlbacher, Margaret Kungu, Gin Vawi, Grace Masaku, Rosemary Kungu, Eva Waita, Nicolate Kirunda, and Kim Stamps. A graveside service was held. Friends can honor Annette with contributions to Tulsa Opera or the Circle Cinema.