Arnold Biskar, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend passed away with his family at his side on December 3, 2006 in Portland, Oregon. He left behind many family and friends who will miss his intelligence, humor and humanity. He is survived by his life partner and wife of thirty-one years, Rosie Biskar, his three children, Neal Biskar (Ardath Kirchner and granddaughter, Natanya), David Biskar (Carole Biskar and grandson, Jake), and Joani Van Tuyl (Mark Van Tuyl and grandsons, Kelly and Matthew, and great-grandson, Dylan). Arnold is also survived by two brothers, Marvin and Herb Biskar and he is preceded in death by his sister, Ada Stern.

Arnold is a veteran of World War II, he served as a radio man on a submarine in the Pacific. After the war he returned to Washington, DC, married Zelda Bulman, with whom he had his three children. He attended George Washington University on the GI Bill earning a degree in accounting. He became a CPA in 1960 and a partner in the firm, Kirschenbaum, Abel and Biskar shortly thereafter.

Arnold and Rosie moved to Portland in 1975. He continued his accounting practice for several more years eventually becoming a partner in the firm of McDonalds, Jacobs and Biskar.

During his time in Portland Arnold demonstrated his strong commitment to public service: he was a Multnomah County Commissioner, served on the Oregon Film Institute, the Oregon Council of Humanities and was a founding member of the Creative Conference. One of his proudest moments was in 1984 when he received the Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon.

As long as he and Rosie were together they would try most anything; including living in Israel for six months, traveling to Japan, and moving for several years to Astoria, where he had a radio talk show, and then to Idyllwild, Ca., Palm Desert, Ca., before finally returning to Portland in April, 2004.

In sharing this advice with his grandchildren, Arnold gives us all insight into his core values: “Try to keep all the good childhood stuff — the enthusiasm of a child, the innocence of a child, the inquisitiveness of the forming childhood mind, the love and zest for life — all great — keep them all.”

The family will be planning a memorial service at a later date.

Donations in Arnold’s memory may be made to Brandeis Hillel Day School, 655 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, Ca. 94132.

Alice Bloomfield in Walnut Creek on December 5, 2006 at 104 years of age. A native of Berlin, Germany, she immigrated to the United States through Shanghai where she and her family resided for one year. Alice, together with her late husband Herbert, was in business in San Francisco for many years. Although she loved living in San Francisco she moved to Walnut Creek to be closer to her family.

Survived by her children Ernest Bloomfield of Tiburon and Irene Werner of Walnut Creek; grandchildren Suzie (Tom) King, Leslie Brown and Vickie (Alan) Elnick and six great grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette. Donations in her memory may be made to ARMDI, 5535 Balboa Blvd. Suite 114, Encino, CA 91316.

Arnold H. Mentz in Burlingame on December 8th 2006. Beloved husband of Marietta Mentz; loving father of Russell Mentz, Michelle Feldbrill and her husband William, and Curtis Mentz and his wife Melinda. Arnold is survived by his 4 grandchildren, Elexis, Ashley, Alexis and Gavin and was a dear friend to many.

Arnold was a practicing attorney of 44 years with the law firm of Mentz, Finn & McDowell, he was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1962 and was the past president of the California Compensation Defense Attorneys Association and Judge Pro Tempore for the Workers Compensation Appeals Board.

Services were held at the Home of Peace Cemetery chapel on El Camino Real in Colma, interment to follow at Salem Memorial Park.

Donations in Arnold’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association or the organization of your choice.

Bernard Portnoy, retired principal clarinetist with several major symphony orchestras, died in Marin County, California on December 2, 2006, two days before his ninety-second birthday. “Port”, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to parents Jacob and Rebecca Portnoy.

At age 15, Portnoy left home to accept a scholarship to the Curtis Institute for Music in Philadelphia. Following graduation from Curtis, his career blossomed, including principal clarinetist with the Kansas City Philharmonic under conductor Karl Krueger, the Pittsburgh Symphony under Fritz Reiner, and the Philadelphia Symphony under both Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy. During World War II, Portnoy joined the Merchant Marines in New York. After the war, he joined the Cleveland Orchestra as principal clarinetist under George Szell for six years. Portnoy then returned to New York where he played with the NBC Symphony under Arturo Toscanini and accepted free-lance assignments including recordings for Victor, Columbia, Vox, Capitol and M.G.M., as well as for television and motion pictures, Broadway shows such as “My Fair Lady” and “Kismet” and stints with the WOR Mutual Broadcasting Orchestra and Pablo Casal’s Orchestra.

In spite of his career demands, Portnoy found time to teach, first at the Curtis Institute during his tenure with the Philadelphia Symphony and later at Juilliard School in New York for twelve years. In 1968, he became Professor of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he spent the next twenty years. In 1987, Portnoy moved to California and settled in Larkspur. He was invited to join the prestigious Bohemian Club of San Francisco and Russian River, where he participated in many musical events over the years.

Port was married twice and is survived by three children: a daughter from his first marriage, Josie Fisher of Wynwood, Pennsylvania; and two sons from his second marriage, sons Carey Portnoy of Tucson Arizona and Richard Portnoy of Southern California. He is also survived by his brother Dr. Joseph Portnoy, retired Cantor of Temple Emanu-El, and one niece and four nephews.