Margaret ‘Margie’ Shane, age 58 of Los Angeles, passed away after a lengthy illness, on July 12. Ms. Shane graduated from Harrison High School (’73) in Evansville, Ind. where she spent her entire childhood. She attended Miami University (Oxford) and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in advertising/communications. She worked for Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago for several years before pursuing an acting career. Her interest in acting led her to Los Angeles, where she spent her remaining years. Ms. Shane was preceded in death by her mother, Phyllis Bader Shane, and her brother-in-law, Ronald S. Pretekin. She is survived by her father, Sidney (Roberta) of Boca Raton, her sister Cindy Pretekin of Clayton, brother Michael Shane (Felice) of Dayton; six nieces and nephews, Jodi Watts (Jeremy), Brian and Dan Pretekin, Lindi, Allison and Jordan Shane; and her great-nephew, Brandon Watts. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition or a charity of your choosing.

Pauline Vada Simsovic (nee Linder) age 96, daughter of Max and Ida,  passed away June 6 in Dayton. Mrs. Simsovic was a proud member of the Greatest Generation and served as a 1st Lt. in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) during World War II in London, England.  She worked side by side with Winston Churchill’s daughter Sarah at Medmenham Royal Air Force Station in the aerial photo map interpretation unit. Her talent prevailed during Operation Torch and again later, by helping discover Hitler’s infamous Peenemunde rocket site used in developing a potential tide-turning V-2 rocket program in 1944. In her formative years Mrs. Simsovic graduated from Lee High School in Massachusetts in 1933 and afterward gained employment as manager of a dress shop in Winsted, Conn. She continued her quest of further education by accruing one year of college credit preceding World War II. She later turned to a greater calling by joining the Women’s Army Corp in 1942 to help counter the Nazi war regime and served at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma in 1943 before being reassigned to England during the war. While there, she fell in love and married 2nd Lt. Albert  J. Vada (USA) in Marlow, England during the war and later resided in Italy twice and across the U.S. with her family during his 22-year Army career (CIC). She later moved to Netanya, Israel and served as a tour guide and historian for several years. Her love of oil painting inspired Mrs. Simsovic to produce many canvases of locales where she had lived, ranging from her beloved Montville (Sandisfield), Mass.  in the Berkshires, to Vicenza and Verona, Italy, and also portraits of family members. A voracious reader, she studied the Hebrew language and the state of Israel while living her later years in West Palm Beach, Fla. While living there, she thrived and was an active chorus member of Congregation Anshei Sholom synagogue and volunteered at the regional VA Medical Center. She stayed very sharp and typically mobile, driving her Toyota up until the age of 95. She was preceded in death by husbands Albert J. Vada (1988), Israel Simsovic (1995), and brother Sam Linder. She is survived by one son,  Jay E. Vada,  and daughter–in-law, Roxie Vada of Dayton; grandchildren Laurel and Karissa; great-grandchildren Katie, Addison, Ryan, and Elle; nieces and nephews Ronnie, Michelle, Steve, Carl, Joannie, Robert, and cousin Barry. She was interred at the Sons of Jacob Cemetery in Torrington, Conn.