Ruth Meltzer Benett was born in Massachusetts on March 4, 1921 and died on November 26, 2006 in Los Altos, California. She was the loving wife of the late Benjamin Benett. She is survived by daughter Michele Jacks and her husband Sam, son Aron Benett and his wife Dawn, and son Sandy Benett and his wife Ann. Ruth leaves 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Ruth met Ben Bitchatcho on the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach on Labor Day, 1941. When he returned from Army duty in Europe at the end of World War II, and agreed to change his last name to Benett, she married him in New York.

Private family services will be held in Florida.

Murray Gelleri at his home in San Francisco on Nov. 21, 2006 after a short battle with brain cancer. Born in 1934 in Queens, NY, son of Alex & Bella Gelleri. His family moved to Marin county in 1945 where he graduated from San Rafael H.S.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps attaining the rank of 1st Radio Operator.  He married Barbara Bloom in 1956, the first marriage to take place at Congregation Rodef Sholom where he served on the Board of Directors. Loving father of Alex (Ursula), Lesa (Lou) and Evin (Debby); devoted grandfather (Tata) of Jakob, Tyler, Lukas, Haley, Hannah and Madelyn; dear brother of Miriam and Mervyn Cohn and their family; loving brother-in-law of Dini Freeman and her family. He began his career at Goodman Lumber in 1956, then started 4-Star Building Supply which he ran for 25 years, then returned to his roots at Goodman Lumber. He was avid at tennis, boating, golf and poker. Murray and Barbara were charter member of the Marin Tennis Club where he served as President for two years. This summer Murray and Barbara celebrated their 50th anniversary surrounded by their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael with interment to follow at the Sha’arei Shalom Cemetery located at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael. Contributions to Sutter VNA Hospice, P.O. Box 7999, SF/CA 94120 or JFCS, 2150 Post Street, SF/CA 94115.

Harry Polonsky passed away on November 10, 2006 at 87 years of age. Born in Youngstown, OH. A longtime Bay Area resident. A veteran of the U.S. Army he served during World War II. A member of B’nai Brith for over 60 years, past board member of the Jewish Federation of the East Bay, Board Member of Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, Temple Isaiah, and B’nai Israel at Rossmoor. An avid golfer and painter. He is survived by his loving wife Beverly. His Children Rhonda Povlak and Charles J. Polonsky. Grandfather of David Povlak and Jaime Anne Povlak. Funeral services were held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Murray Shiff, born in Sandomierz, Poland on April 2, 1922, died in Seattle on November 19, 2006. He came to Toronto, Canada, with his family in 1931, and earned a B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1949 and an M.S.W. from the University of Toronto in 1951. Murray’s entire professional life was in Jewish community service.

One of his first jobs, with the Canadian Jewish Congress, involved traveling to bring support to isolated Jewish communities throughout Ontario. Subsequently he worked for the Jewish Theological Seminary and the United Synagogue of America and was instrumental in establishing Camp Ramah in Canada, of which he was the first administrator. He was the Associate Director of the Jewish Welfare Federations in Dallas (1966-68) and San Francisco (1970-72), and in New York he directed the United Synagogue Book Service (1962-66) and the Large City Budgeting Council of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds (1968-70).

Murray moved to Seattle in 1972 to head the Jewish Welfare Federation of Greater Seattle. Among his many accomplishments there, he was perhaps most proud of his role in the development of the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Washington and the creation of the Federation’s Endowment Fund.

In retirement, Murray discovered a new interest in harpsichord making and built four instruments, two of which are still used frequently on Seattle concert stages. He served on the board of the Seattle Early Music Guild in its early years, where his nonprofit experience was invaluable to the fledgling organization.

He is survived by Naomi, his wife of 56 years; brother J. Richard Shiff of Toronto; children Aviva (Karl) Boedecker of Tiburon, CA, and Jonathan Shiff of Charlottesville, VA; and granddaughters Karen and Robin Boedecker.

Information about a memorial will be announced at a later date. Any contributions may be sent to the Jewish Studies Program of the University of Washington, Development Office, 1200 5th Ave., Ste 500 Seattle, WA 98101-1116 or the Seattle Early Music Guild, 2366 Eastlake Avenue E., Suite #335, Seattle, WA 98102-3399, or a charity of your choice.