Rae (Rotman) Zuckerman

Rae Zuckerman, 85, of Brockton, passed away on March 4, 2021. Rae was the loving wife of Bernie Zuckerman, mother of Howard Zuckerman and recently deceased Bobby Zuckerman, mother-in-law of Amy Zuckerman, and older sister to Rosalie Bloom and Rhoda Rotman.

Simply put, Rae was a giver. She was a caring, empathetic, and a selfless individual whose passion was helping others.

While raising her two young sons, Rae and her partner operated an artificial floral store. She was extremely creative and had an eye for design. She went out of her way to either discount or donate her services to those in need.

Her second chapter began in 1983, when she was inspired to establish the Living Independently For Equality Center. She became a champion for the physically disabled, creating a comfortable gathering place for people who were otherwise shut-ins, confined to their homes and unable to socialize. The center has been in operation for almost 40 years and hopes to re-open when the pandemic eases.

Back in the early 1990s, Rae was honored in the nationwide Maxwell House Coffee Real Heroes Contest and featured in People Magazine for her work. She was flown to Washington, D.C. where she and the other contest winners met First Lady Barbara Bush. She said to Mrs. Bush, “It’s such an honor to meet you.” Barbara Bush looked at her and said, “No, honey, it’s an honor to meet you.”

In 1997, Rae was named the first champion of the city for her work with disabled Brocktonians. Most recently, Mayor Robert Sullivan hosted a dedication ceremony for a new street sign, “Rae Zuckerman Way,” in her honor. It was a very proud day for Rae Zuckerman.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no funeral or service will be held. The family hopes to have a celebration of her life later this year. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the L.I.F.E Center in Rae’s name would be much appreciated, US Post Office, Montello Branch, P.O. Box 2956, Brockton, MA 02305.                                                           

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rae (Rotman) Zuckerman, please visit our floral store.