Julius Barthoff

Julius Barthoff, age 100, of Needham, died April 29, 2010. He was the husband of 66 years to the late Ellen (Wexler) Barthoff. Mr. Barthoff was born in Chicago, IL, where he graduated from John Marshall Law School. Despite his severe hearing loss, he was always active in civic affairs. Before moving to MA, he lived in Tucson, AZ; in Oberlin, OH where he served on the public library board and in Park Forest, IL where he was elected to the school board and also helped to organize one of the first non-rural 4-H Clubs. As an advocate for the hearing impaired, he supported efforts to install assistive listening devices in public venues. He also worked to raise public consciousness about better communication with the hard of hearing and the risk to everyones hearing from noise pollution. Last November he was the oldest recipient of Oticons Focus on People award for life-long advocacy for the hearing impaired. He is survived by his daughters, Toby Sandler and her husband Louis of Needham and Sue Weidenbaum and her husband Kevin of Oberlin, OH. Also survived by three grandchildren, Harry Sandler, Aliza and Shira Weidenbaum, several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held June 6 from 1-2 PM at Temple Beth Shalom, Needham and afterwards at the home of Louis and Toby Sandler. Memorials may be sent to Project Bread or the Home for Little Wanderers.