Arthur Irwin Wortzel, 87, Led Community Services

Arthur Irwin Wortzel, 87, died Feb. 28 surrounded by his family at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, Wis.

He was born September 26, 1919 in Newark, N.J., the son of Isadore and Anna Leidner Wortzel.

Arthur graduated from Montclair State Teacher's College. Shortly after graduation he met his wife of 63 years, Clarice Ramer. He was enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945.

With Clarice's encouragement, he went on to pass the foreign service exams and began a rich and rewarding career as a U.S. diplomat.

Together with their children, Ellen and Beth, they lived overseas from 1952 to 1959 in Australia, Japan, and Poland. During their time at the State Department, daughter Dena was born.

After completing a master's degree at Harvard in Soviet and Eastern European affairs, Arthur then served at embassies in Moscow, Prague and Belgrade before retiring from the Foreign Service in 1978.

A few years later, Arthur and Clarice settled on Martha's Vineyard, where Arthur served as board president of the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center and Martha's Vineyard Community Services. They formed many deep and lasting friendships while on the Vineyard.

In 2002, with all three children, their spouses and three grandchildren in Wisconsin, Arthur and Clarice settled, happily, at Meriter Main Gate in Madison.

Arthur was a truly gifted man, articulate and brilliant. Besides being handy at any skill or craft to which he put his hands, Arthur had a passion for liberal politics. He read voraciously on social justice and political issues as well as donating time and money to many liberal organizations and causes. He greatly enjoyed the arts, especially classical music. Having spent many years abroad and being versed in seven languages, Arthur continued his interest in international culture and affairs through the many vacations he and Clarice took to Europe and Israel after retirement.

More than anything else, he valued family. He was inseparable from his wife, Clarice, and always proud of his children and grandchildren, to whom he was a living example of moral strength and concern for society.

Survivors include his wife, Clarice; his children, Ellen Marendaz (married to Claude), Beth Wortzel (married to Jim Powell) and Dena Wortzel; his grandchildren, Rachael Richardson-Wortzel, Andrew Powell and Sita Powell; a sister, Ruth Kirsch; a brother, Lester (married to Rachel); and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Kirsch; and his son-in-law, Stephen Bunker.

A memorial service will be held at Meriter Main Gate at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Wisconsin Humanities Council, 222 South Bedford street, Suite F, Madison, WI 53703 or the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, 2800 Royal avenue, Suite 306, Madison, WI 53713.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff of Meriter Retirement Community and HospiceCare for their kind and loving care.