Obituary
Judith Yvonne (Halperin) Gamoran, age 91, passed away peacefully in the embrace of her family
on April 12, 2023. Engaged and loving to the very end, she had just celebrated a joyful Passover
with her husband of nearly 70 years, Rabbi Hillel Gamoran, and many members of her large
family.
Judith was born on September 1, 1931, to Maurice Halperin and Edith (Frisch) Halperin.
Though born in Boston, she spent her earliest childhood in Norman, Oklahoma, and also lived
with her parents and brother in Maryland, New York City, and the Boston area. A notable
accomplishment of her youth was the publication of a book, authored as a high school class
project, about the life and death of Colonel David “Mickey” Marcus.
Judith married Hillel on June 14, 1953. After spending the first year of their marriage in Israel,
they settled briefly in Morristown, New Jersey. In 1960 they moved to Hoffman Estates, Illinois,
when Hillel became the first full-time, permanent rabbi of Beth Tikvah Congregation. Shortly
afterwards they moved to Palatine, Illinois, where they raised their family.
Judith was trained as a Spanish teacher and spent the first half of her professional career
teaching in the local public schools. For the second half of her career, she was a teacher of
homebound youth, showing her versatility and talents as a teacher by teaching all subjects to
high school students who were unable to attend school, often due to medical constraints.
Judith was deeply involved in community service in Palatine, serving on the public library board
and playing an instrumental role in the building of a new library building. Later she helped lead
the charge for building Clayson House, a restored original Palatine home and the host of the
Palatine Historical Society. For her many years of service, she was designated Volunteer of the
Year by the Village of Palatine.
A deep and abiding passion for the Jewish people and the land of Israel were core values for
Judith. She visited Israel many times, including extended stays in 1953, 1970, and 1982. She
maintained a Jewish home and enjoyed her involvement in synagogue life. She was also admired
for her energetic presence among the faculty and spouses at the Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute
summer camp. She passed along these values to her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, her children and their spouses Adam Gamoran (Marla), Saul
Gamoran (Devorah), Reuben Gamoran (Julie Galton), and Miriam Gamoran Sherin (Bruce
Sherin); as well as twelve grandchildren, Joel M. Gamoran (Bridget Hoffmann), Daniel
Gamoran (Mary), Naomi Gamoran (Joshua Smolevitz), Joel B. Gamoran (Angiolina), Alex
Gamoran (Andrea), Erin Haber (Eric), Jesse Gamoran, Isaac Gamoran, Sarah Gamoran, Leah
Sherin, Mia Sherin, and Akiva Sherin; and eleven great-grandchildren. Judith was preceded in
death by her parents, her brother, Dr. David Halperin, a daughter-in-law, Sherry Gamoran, and
a granddaughter, Shauna Gamoran.
Funeral services will take place Friday, April 14, at 10:00am CT at Beth Tikvah Congregation,
300 Hillcrest Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. The funeral will be live-streamed on Judith’s page at www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com. Burial will follow on Sunday at the Union Field Cemetery in Queens, New York City, New York. Shiva will be held in New York City on Sunday and in the Chicago area on Monday through Thursday, April 17-20.
Donations in memory of Judith Gamoran can be made to Beth Tikvah Congregation, www.beth-
tikvah.org, or to the Palatine Library Foundation, www.ppldf.org. Info: The Goldman Funeral
Group 847-478-1600.
Arrangements by Goldman Funeral Group.
www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com