Obituaries

Brandon Hendricks’ Funeral Held

By JASON GONZALEZ
Being the oldest sibling in her household, Tanya Downer did everything in her might to ensure her baby brother, Brandon Hendricks, was protected. Like many times before, Downer ensured that Hendricks was both safe and doing okay before she left town on vacation in late June 2020. In need of some rest and relaxation following the stress and aggravation of the recent lockdown, she was looking forward to a change of scenery.   As soon as it was safe to fly again, Downer and her family traveled to Puerto Rico, her favorite holiday destination. The time spent in the Caribbean


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Mickey Axelbank, 91, Dies; Beloved Grandmother, Community Icon, Nursery School Educator

Mickey Axelbank
Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank, 91, who was beloved by her devoted family and the broader community and well-respected as an early childhood educator, died early Saturday, Apr. 4, 2020. Mickey led a stellar life of more than nine decades and was widely revered as an exceptional woman with a big heart that touched everyone around her.   Mickey’s mother immigrated to America alone on a boat at the age of 16. Mickey’s father died when she was just two, and she was raised with her older sister in a building across the street from the George Washington Bridge by her mother and


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Jules Ira Rubenstein, the Original Inquiring Photographer, Dies at 74

By DAVID GREENE
Life-long Van Cortlandt Park resident Jules Ira Rubenstein, the original “Inquiring Photographer” who produced that popular feature for the Norwood News for 14 years until his retirement more than a decade ago, died from complications of pneumonia. He was 74. A source at Montefiore Hospital, where Rubenstein had been hospitalized since October, stated he had died on Feb. 4, confirming that at around 4:30 a.m., he was found unresponsive. “They tried to resuscitate him [but] he expired,” the source added. Rubenstein was the Norwood News’ first “roving reporter” who covered local breaking news events such as police and fire department activity. He was first hired by


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