Julius H. “Toddles” Alpert, 96, a well known & longtime philanthropist & businessman entered into rest on July 26, 2008 at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home. He was the beloved husband of the late Sophie (Rozman) Alpert & devoted father of the late Roberta (Alpert) Bernstein. Mr. Alpert was a longtime resident of Chelsea, Swampscott, & North Lauderdale, FL
Born in Chelsea, the son of the late Joseph & Sarah (Brown) Alpert, Mr. Alpert was raised & educated in Chelsea where he graduated from Chelsea High School in 1927. While at Chelsea High, he was an avid & gifted athlete most particularly on the gridiron & basketball courts. He went on to study at the Samuel Johnson Academy in CT & then earned his degree from Syracuse University.
Mr. Alpert was the owner & operator of the J. Alpert Iron Works Co. on Eastern Ave. in Chelsea. He was a director of the Merle Hay Plaza of Des Moines, IA, director of Westgate Village Shopping Ctr. in Toledo, OH, director of Town & Country Ctr. in Springfield, ILL, an advisory board member of the Metropolitan Credit Union in Chelsea, past president of the Iron & Steel Institute of Northern New England, director of the National Institute of Iron & Steel, past president of the Young Hebrew Men’s Assoc, treasurer of the Chelsea Memorial Hospital, director of the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett, chairman of the Combined Jewish Appeal, past president of Temple Emmanuel of Chelsea as well as past president of the Temple Emmanuel Brotherhood, past president of the Chelsea Kiwanis Club, recipient of the Man of The Year Award from Temple Emmanuel, Citizen of the Year of Kiwanis in 1976, chosen as Citizen of the City of Chelsea in 1955 by the Chelsea Record, inducted into Who’s Who in America in 1957. He took the lead in the construction of the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home & has served as the President for the past 28 years. Mr. Alpert received the Jewish Advocate Carnation Award on 2 occasions for service to all of the people of Chelsea, he was honored & received the community service award for humanity given by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, he was past president of Camp Bauercrest where he also served as a director for over 50 years, & a recipient of the Jewish Advocate Class of Eighty-Five Award given in recognition of a lifetime of commitment, leadership, advocacy, sensitivity, & service to the Jewish community during the 20th century. Mr. Alpert also served on the Chelsea School Committee from 1939-1947 serving as the chairman in 1944. He established the Roberta Alpert Bernstein Hodgkins Research Foundation at the New England Deaconess Hospital in memory of his daughter in 1970 as well as a nursing station at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett, founded the Julius H. & Sophie Alpert Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Theological Seminary to assist aspiring students to the rabbinate, member of the Knights of Pythias Bellingham Lodge #53 of Chelsea, & member of the Chelsea Elks.
Mr. Alpert is survived by his brother, Norman Alpert & his wife Frances of Peabody, formerly of Chelsea; his granddaughter, Jill Shinnick of N.C.; 3 great-grandchildren; and several nieces & nephews. He was the dear brother of the late Charles Alpert, Nettie Klarfaen, Samuel Alpert, Charlotte Weiner, & Ruth Dickerman.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Torf Funeral Chapel, 151 Washington Ave. (Cary Sq) CHELSEA. Rabbi Earl Kideckel will officiate. Burial will follow in the Chebra Kadisha of Chelsea Cemetery in Woburn. Memorial observance will be held on Wed. immediately following the burial until 4 pm & again from 6-8 PM in the Chafetz Home for Specialized Care, 175 Captain's Row at Admirals Hill, Chelsea, MA 02150. Those wishing to remember Mr. Alpert may do so through memorial donations to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home Foundation, 17 Lafayette Ave. Chelsea, MA 02150. To leave online messages of condolence for Mr. Alpert's family please visit the funeral home website at www.torffuneralservice.com