Obituary of Roberta "Birdie" Frankel Kabel

Roberta “Birdie” Frankel Kabel (nee Dwartz), age 81, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2024, at her home in Denver, CO.

Born on July 20, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA, she was known for her ability to make strangers her friends, her leadership—especially in summer camping, her love of travel, and most importantly her love of family.  As a long-time camp director, she oversaw thousands of campers in the summers of their lives.

Birdie, as she was known to all, was president of her class at Overbrook High School, and President of her sorority in college.  She graduated from Temple University and spent her early career teaching English as a second language.  Throughout her life she relished the opportunity to speak Spanish on her travels, when meeting visitors to the US, and with her grandchildren as they learned a second language.  She transitioned to being a full-time camp director in 1984, first at Camp Arthur and Reeta and then at Camp Saginaw for 20 years. Overall, Birdie spent more than 40 summers at camp, having become the first Miss Saginaw, and as Director waking the camp each morning with “Good Morning Camp Saginaw, it’s another beautiful Saginaw day,” followed by playing Copa Cabana.  She was also very passionate about travel, having visited more than 50 countries.

She was preceded in death by her beloved first husband of 35 years, Neil Frankel. She and Neil met at Temple University, and they were inseparable until his premature passing at age 58.

Birdie was lucky to find love a second time and was preceded in death by her beloved second husband of 16 years, Leonard Kabel.

She is survived by her two children; daughter Melissa Forstein (David Forstein), and son B.J. Frankel (Jenn Feldman Frankel), and five grandchildren; Sophie, Charlie and Jacob Forstein, and Hannah and Neil Frankel. She is additionally survived by her bonus daughter Caroline Kotler (Joel Kotler) and bonus grandchildren Carson, Parker, and Sutton Kotler.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Katz JCC on Tuesday, December 17th, 1:30-4:30 pm. In lieu of flowers or food, contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at Alz.org.