Leslie Rae Axelrod
Leslie Rae Snyder Axelrod, born on Nov. 13, 1945, passed away Feb. 21, 2025, in Dallas. She was predeceased by her parents Chester Snyder and Mickey Stekoll Tannenbaum and stepfather Zebbie Tannenbaum. Married to Nathan Axelrod for 58 years, she was the mother of Lauren Tims (Scott) and grandmother of Gabriella Garcia, Austin Tims and Anais Vanderpoel (Kyri).
Leslie loved shopping, playing bridge, her Bon Appetit group, dining, learning with her havurah, folk art and home decorating. She was passionate about art, cooking and interior design.
In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her sister Allison Long (Chuck), brother Marcus Snyder, brother-in-law Ron Axelrod (Judy), sister-in-law Janis Isgur (Jake), numerous nieces and nephews and a wealth of friends.
Graveside services were held at Temple Shalom Mount Zion United Jewish Cemetery on Feb. 24. A shiva followed at the home of Lauren and Scott Tims.
Contributions may be made in memory of Leslie Axelrod to Temple Shalom Dallas or the charity of your choice.
Jeffrey Ian Berg
Jeffrey Ian Berg, 70, of McKinney, passed away on Feb. 20, 2025. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and cherished by many friends and family.
Jeff was born in Los Angeles, California, to Sam and Vivian Berg on Oct. 26, 1954. He attended The University of Texas at Austin. Jeff worked in the plastics industry as a sales professional. Jeff loved sports, especially UT and TCU, where his son Max graduated from. He loved cars of all kinds. He loved to test-drive them, even though he wasn’t going to buy one. His greatest joy was his grandchildren, Elisabeth, Stella and Callahan.
He is survived by his wife Liz Berg, his daughter Autumn, his sons Max and Ethan, his stepdaughters Missy (Ryan) and Heather, his sister and brother-in law Andi and Joe and many aunts and cousins.
A funeral service was held Feb. 25 at Temple Emanu-El Cemetery, with Rabbi David Barnett officiating.
A special thank-you to Platinum Health and to Three Oaks Hospice Care for their help in taking care of him.
Brenda Levine
Brenda Levine , 83, of Dallas, passed away peacefully at her home Feb. 25, 2025. She was born in Fort Worth on Oct. 27, 1941, to Marvin and Tillie Labovitz. She graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, attended The University of Texas at Austin and graduated from Texas Christian University.
After graduation, Brenda began teaching school in Houston, where she met her husband Meyer “Mike” Levine, and they were later married on June 27, 1971, at Beth-El Congregation in Fort Worth. They later moved to Singapore, Plano and Lubbock before moving back to Plano in 1979. They lived in Plano until shortly after Mike’s passing in 2020.
In addition to attending all of her sons’ school and sporting events and avidly cheering on every Dallas sports team including the Cowboys, the Rangers, the Mavericks and the Stars, Brenda was a professional volunteer. She served and rose to leadership positions, local and national, such as Brian and Jonathan’s school PTO, Women’s American ORT, Congregation Shearith Israel Sisterhood and the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, among others. Mike and Brenda were particularly active at Congregation Shearith Israel and they were instrumental in organizing the procurement of auction items for the Sisterhood’s major annual fundraiser.
She always enjoyed birthday outings and dinner groups with her friends, playing bridge and mah jongg and winning big at bingo at The Legacy Midtown Park in her later years.
She is survived by her sons, Brian Levine (Dr. Laurie Berger) and Jonathan Levine (Rabbi Risa Weinstein); her beloved grandchildren, Yedidyah and Yael Levine and Alyssa and Rebecca Berger; and her sister, Joan Skibell.
Rabbi Adam Roffman officiated the funeral service on Feb. 28 at Shearith Israel Memorial Park.
