Archived Celebrations

Ruth (Gitomer) and Allan Bell were married in Miami Beach on June 16, 1963, five days after they graduated together from the University of Miami, in Coral Gables, Fla. They went all over Europe for a five-week honeymoon, thanks to Allan’s rock ’n roll theatrical agency that he started at Southwest High School in 1955. The couple then moved to Kansas City. Allan graduated from the University of Tulsa Law School in 1967.

The Bells have a daughter, Allison Pilgrim, a senior magazine editor, married to Michiel Pilgrim, a WNET producer, residing in Jersey City, N.J., with their daughter Sylvia Pilgrim, age 10. The Bells’ son, Jeffery Stewart Bell, an immigration attorney with Polsinelli, is married to Marla Rabicoff Bell, also a Polsinelli attorney. They have two children: Jacob Stewart Bell, age 16, and Sophie Bell, age 11.

Allan is the founder of Allan H. Bell & Associates, which has specialized in all types of immigration law since 1967. Ruth works part time with Allan. They have also operated a travel agency, ABC Travel, since 1970, well known for large group travel.

The Bells are active golfers at Meadowbrook Country Club and also longtime members of Kehilath Israel Synagogue.

Ruth and Allan will celebrate at yia yia’s on June 29 with a group of close friends of 40-plus years. A family celebration is planned for late August.

Mark and Gaye Cohen announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jake Cohen, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Jake is the grandson of Eileen Cohen, Suzanne Sterioff of St. Louis, and Sylvester and Yvonne Sterioff of Rochester, Minn.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Mark and Gaye Cohen announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jake Cohen, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Jake is the grandson of Eileen Cohen and the late Byron Cohen of Kansas City, Mo., Suzanne Sterioff of St. Louis, and Sylvester and Yvonne Sterioff of Rochester, Minn.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Jon and Sandy Gale announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Nina Faith, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Nina is the granddaughter of Fanice Sudvarg and the late Norman Sudvarg, St. Louis, Sändra and the late Paul Gale, Lee’s Summit, and Janet and Harold Price, Overland Park.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Rabbi Moti Rieber and Suzy Siegler Rieber announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Abigail Rieber, at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation, Lawrence, Kan.

Abigail is the granddaughter of Merna Siegler and the late Sylvan Siegler and Maxine and David Persons, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush lunch following the service.

Helen and Selwyn Luben will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, June 7. They were married on June 7, 1953.

The Lubens are the parents of two daughters, Debra Luben and Stephanie (Jeff) Summers, and the grandparents of two granddaughters, Lydia and Alexa Summers.

Toube and Mark Searles of Leawood announce the engagement of their son, Adam Michael Searles, to Rachel Erin Hochman, daughter of Diane and Seth Hochman of Hewlett, N.Y.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Joan and Robert Roman and the late Joyce and Joseph Hochman. She attended the University of Arizona, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and a Master of Science degree in education from Hunter College in New York City. She is currently employed as an elementary school teacher with the Chicago Public School System in Chicago.

The future groom is the grandson of Ferne Searles and the late Milton Searles and the late Chana and Abe Sander. He attended the University of Arizona, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting, and a Master of Science degree in accounting from Hunter College in New York City. He is currently employed as a CPA with KPMG accounting firm in Chicago.

A July 6 wedding at the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., is planned.

Sarah and Robert Gallardo of Houston, announce the birth May 22, of a son, Jacob Solomon. They are also the parents of Nicholas.

Grandparents are Craig and Linda Salvay, Prairie Village, and Trent and Margie Wittmayer, Houston. Great-grandparents are Gerry Salvay, Shawnee Mission, and the late Nathan Salvay; Malcolm Kessler, St. Louis; Ida Kessler, Providence, R.I.; the late Irma Kessler; Anthony and Margaret Gallardo, Gladwin, Mich.; and Harlan and Jeanette Wittmayer, Waterloo, Iowa.

Aaron and Jennifer Spiegel announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Isaac Spiegel, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Isaac is the grandson of Herb Spiegel and Linda Spiegel, Ron and Evalyn Vanvalkenburgh-Brown and Margaret Glen of Sonoma, Calif. Great-grandmother is Elizabeth Glen of Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Aviva and Etai Sooliman of Skokie, Ill., announce the birth March 31 of their son, Nadav Meir.

Nadav Meir is the grandson of Alan and Alison Molotsky, Skokie, and Dina and Yossi Sooliman of Raanana, Israel.

Great-grandparents are Leona Molotsky and the late Dr. Hyman Molotsky and Jean Best and the late Michael Best of Chicago. The late Elk and Anna Rose Peltzman of Kansas City were the great-great-grandparents.