Obituaries

Mr. Goldberg, of Charlotte, died July 30, 2009. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Cedarhurst, NY, he moved to Charlotte in 1956 with his wife Marlene, armed with the good sense that his children would be better off born and bred in North Carolina.
A graduate of UCLA and an Air Force veteran, he was a past chairman for the local chapter of the March of Dimes and board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He was a life member of the Charlotte Optimist Club and became Charlotte's only Jewish Santa Claus reveling in the opportunity every year to work with the Police Explorer's Christmas Project and the Children's Theatre among others. He was active in local politics and initiated the idea of turning the old First Baptist Church into what is now Spirit Square. Along with his late wife Marlene, he was a member of B'nai Brith and a founder of Providence Day School.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife Marlene and granddaughter Jessica Bayliss. His legacy is son Steve Goldberg of Charlotte, daughters Marsha Bayliss of Rushylvania, OH and Marian Goldberg of Atlanta, GA, grandchildren Shawna Bensman and Eric Bayliss of Rushylvania, and Whitney Pruden of Burlington, NJ. Great-grandchildren include Parker, Ryder, and Emarie Bensman, and Micah Pruden. His extended family includes Larry and Carol Horowitz and their children Jenny, Jeff and Betsy. He was excited at the blossoming of a new relationship with best friend Edwina Leighton at this time of his life.
 
A memorial service will be held Sunday, August 2 at 1 p.m. at Temple Israel preceded by a private interment at the Hebrew Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Jewish Family Services, Shalom Park.