Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 8

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NAT 4 January 1. 2003 Obituaries Charles Isaacs, 88, was sitcom producer

SANTA MONICA, Ca. - Charles Isaacs, who provided comedy episodes for stars like Milton Berle, Red Skelton, and Bob Hope, died at the age

of 88. Isaacs enlisted in the Coast Guard during World War II. Later he wrote and produced sitcoms.

Daniel Parker; rabbi, political scientist

Daniel P. Parker, 80, of Willow Grove, a political science professor who became a rabbi, died of heart failure at Abramson Center for Jewish Life in North Wales. From 1962 until the 1990s, Rabbi Parker led the congregation of Temple Zion in Northeast Philadelphia and later in Huntingdon Valley. Under his direction, the Reform synagogue incorporated Conservative and Orthodox liturgies into its services. "If it's beautiful and/or meaningful, we can use it," he said. Although his father had been a cantor in Philadelphia, Rabbi Parker had not planned a career in the clergy. After graduating from Central High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Emory University in Atlanta. During World War II he served with the Army in the Philippines. After his discharge, he earned master's and doctoral degrees in political science at the University of Pennsylva-

Robert Altman, 79; businessman, teacher

CINCINNATI - Robert L. Altman, vice president of a division of the U.S. Shoe Co., who attained the rank of first lieutenant in the Army, died at the age of 79.

Dudu Fisher is one-man show

nia. His daughter. Sherry King, said that her father began to study privately with a rabbi while also preparing to become a college professor. For over 30 years he taught political science at the Baruch College of the City University of New York until deciding to become a full-time rabbi. He continued to enjoy a good political argument, his daughter said, and he was a classical music aficionado and a longtime subscriber to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 59 years, Irene Tuck Parker; a son, Lyndon; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held at Goldstein's Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks Southampton. Burial was in Shalom Memorial Park, Lower Moreland. Memorial contributions may be made to Abramson Center for Jewish Life, 1425 Horsham Rd., North Wales.

NEW YORK - Israeli singer Dudu Fisher recently concluded the first tour of his one-man show, "Something Old, Something New," in the New York Off- Broadway Mazer Theatre. In the show, which is written and directed by veteran director Richard Alexander, Fisher performs traditional Jewish songs and Broadway favorites. "It was a wonderful feeling to come back and perform in New York," said Fisher. "The enthusiastic response of the audience was really heartwarming." Fisher established himself as a world-caliber performer when he played the leading role of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" on Broadway and around the world. He

started his career as a cantor in the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv and is considered to be one of the greatest contemporary cantors. Fisher made the leap into show business in the 1980s after viewing the British production of "Les Miserables" in London. Impressed by the show, which he saw four nights in a row, Fisher returned to Israel focused on getting a role in the Israeli production. Although all the roles had been cast, he persisted and was finally offered the starring role in the Hebrew version of the musical. An observant Jew, Fisher was the first actor on Broadway and in the West End to be excused from performing

on Friday nights, Saturday matinees, and all Jewish holidays. "Shabbat is the time for my family and me to be together, go to services in the synagogue, have family meals around the table, and enjoy the important things in life. Nothing makes me happier than going with my children to synagogue on Friday night," Fisher said, adding, "My faith and my family are the sources of my energy and power, and although combining them with work as a performer is not easy, there is no question in my mind that without them I would not be able to perform." Fisher will resume the North American tour of "Something Old, Something New" in Florida this month.

After retiring from U.S. Shoe, Altman taught a class in marketing at the College of Business Administration of the University of Cincinnati for three years.

Thougnts We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are. —Talmud

NO PUSHOVER—She may not be the best tennis player in her class, but Israeli Anna Smashnova is making her way there. A recent conquest was against Anna Kournikova in the ASA Bank Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

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