Irving M. Abrams. Surrounded by his loving children, Dr. Irving M. Abrams passed away gently at his home in Los Altos, California on Friday, Aug. 29 at the age of 91.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 25, 1917 to immigrant parents, Dr. Abrams went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1942. A post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford brought him to the Bay Area. He fell in love with the area, and decided to make it his home — settling first in Redwood City before moving to Los Altos in 1978.

“Doc” (as he was known to colleagues) had a long and distinguished career as a chemist specializing in water purification and ion exchange. He authored many articles published in technical journals and magazines, and has 15 patents to his credit.

Dr. Abrams is survived by his five children and step-children: Judy, Nicki, Stuart, Susan and Jim; and his seven grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Jennie, Rachel, Jason, Trevor, Randy, Torrey and Joel. His funeral services took place on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Dr. Abrams’ optimism and inspirational teachings will live on through his children, grandchildren and legions of friends and associates.

Howard M. Blankfeld, M.D., age 67, died at home unexpectedly on Sept. 30, 2008. He was a child psychiatrist in private practice in Walnut Creek for many years and a staff psychiatrist, and also served as chief of the medical staff at Napa State Hospital. He continued helping people after retirement, in 2001, by taking several short-term assignments across the United States.

He particularly enjoyed working with the Indian Health Service on Navajo reservations. More recently, he devoted his time to studying chess and playing with his grandchildren, Joshua and Eliana. He is also survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Tecca K. Blankfeld, daughter Deborah Blankfeld, son David N. Blankfeld, sister Bonnie Kessler and son-in-law Tim Steele. He will be greatly missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him. Services were held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel, Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity.

Agnes Heyman. Passed away peacefully on Sept. 30, 2008 at her home of the last 11 years, The Sequoias of San Francisco.

Beloved wife of the late Alfred Heyman; loving mother of John M. (and Karina) Heyman, O.D.; adored grandmother of Rhea Heyman; dear great-grandmother of Liam Brenn.

Mrs. Heyman was born Jan. 29, 1923 in Ungwar, Czechoslovakia and was a Holocaust survivor. She was a retired San Francisco City Controller, a San Francisco City Guide, a member of the De Young Museum and Hadassah. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at Sinai Memorial Chapel, 1501 Divisadero St. Donations to the Jewish National Fund, 78 Randall Ave., Rockville Centre, NY 1570, preferred.

Bela Lieberman, in San Francisco on Sept. 30, 2008 at age 81. Beloved wife of Mendel Lieberman for 61 years; loving mother of Philip Lieberman (Lori Miller) and the late Max Lieberman; dear sister of Mila Holcberg and aunt of Schmuel and Ephraim Holcberg.

Bela Lieberman was born in Slawkow, Poland in 1927. She was the daughter of Meier Fischel and Liba. A Holocaust survivor, she spent 41⁄2 years in the camps in Germany before being liberated in 1945. She met and married Mendel and gave birth to Max while living in Munich, Germany. In 1949, the family moved to New Jersey, where Bela gave birth to her second son, Philip.

Bela and her family lived in New Jersey from 1949 to 1960. During that time she and her husband operated a number of small businesses. The Liebermans permanently settled in San Francisco for the remainder of Bela’s life starting in 1960. Bela was a homemaker and very devoted to her family. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and celebrating the Jewish holidays as well as the weekly traditional Shabbat. She also enjoyed playing gin rummy with family and friends and was a longtime member of Orthodox congregation Adath Israel in San Francisco for more than 35 years.

Bela was well known for her gentle nature and spirit. She had an infectious smile, coupled with the most expressive blue eyes that just lit up the room when she smiled. Before her decline in health, she was always in the kitchen making something delicious for anybody who stopped by her house. She will be deeply missed by everyone she touched in her loving life.

Funeral services were held on Oct. 2, 2008 at Eternal Home Cemetery in Colma. Donations to Adath Israel, 1851 Noriega St., S.F., CA, 94122, are preferred.

Sol Rabin, beloved husband of Florence D. Rabin, passed away peacefully October 7, 2008 at his home with his family by his side. Sol, the eldest of five children, was born on May 7, 1917 in San Francisco to Celia and Max Rabin. He grew up in San Francisco, attended Polytechnic High School, graduating in 1936. Sol served in the Army Air Force during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart from General Nathan Twining in 1944 while flying in the Italian Campaign.

Sol met Florence at the Hollywood Canteen in Los Angeles while in the service and they were married in 1945. They recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary.

Sol had a successful career with Prudential Life Insurance Company for over 25 years. An avid fisherman, one of his greatest joys was entertaining and fishing with his friends and family on his boat, “The Shalom.”

Sol and Florence traveled throughout the world, often meeting up with family and friends. Sol was blessed with two children; Lynn Astengo (husband Martin Astengo) of Poway, California and the late Douglas J. Rabin of Kirkland, Washington. Sol is survived by his sister, Mildred Reese and brother, Irving Rabin, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, grandson, Steven Astengo of Phoenix, Arizona, granddaughter, Adrienne Astengo of Poway, and great granddaughter, Ashley, also of Poway, California.

He was preceded in death by his late brothers, Henry Rabin and David Rabin.

Sol will be remembered for his contagious sense of humor, the longest list of spontaneous, memorized jokes, his constant smile that won the hearts of all who knew him, and his positive, energetic view of life.

A memorial service was held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel. Contributions in memory of Sol may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Isadora Rae Rosenbaum.

On Oct. 1, 2008, in San Francisco, passed

on quietly from advanced lung cancer. She was born in New York on Feb. 16, 1929, and attended Music and Art High School in New York, where she was a piano major and also played bass fiddle. She was an accomplished pianist.

Isadora was the most beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She was a friend to many cancer patients who she graciously guided and helped as a clinical nurse assistant and patient role model. She volunteered for 40 years at Mount Zion Hospital and UCSF Cancer Center, having declined a paid position, as she wished to maintain her independence and so she could do voluntary service.

In 1961, when living in Boston, she learned Immunology Technology and Chromosome Analysis and volunteered in the laboratory at Tufts New England Center Hospital in the Hematology Division. Upon returning to San Francisco, she set up the Immunology Program at Mount Zion Hospital and assisted California Pacific Medical Center with their program. She worked in developing new technology and participated in many clinical studies, drug development, evaluating new cancer drugs, and later retrained as a medical assistant and served as a nursing assistant for the UCSF Medical Oncology of four doctors at the UCSF Mount Zion Comprehensive Cancer Center.

She was a medical editor, who participated with her husband, Ernest, as co-author of six books on cancer care, home care, palliative care, supportive care and cancer survivorship. She received an award from the American Medical Writers Association for the Comprehensive Guide for Cancer Patients and Families in 1980.

She was an advocate of the San Francisco Opera and also enjoyed symphony.

Her greatest joy in life was in guiding her four children, Eileen (Joseph) Marom, Alexandra (Richard) von Ehrenkrook, Diane (Richard) Shapiro, and Steven (Kate) Davis-Rosenbaum, and her six grandchildren, Rachael and Daniel Marom, Stephanie Shapiro, Miriam Davis-Rosenbaum, Leah and Eric von Ehrenkrook, to mature and progress in life. She had almost daily phone call conversations with them. These conversations were not short, but advisory, complimentary, and gave great support and insight to assisting her children and grandchildren as they grew up. She had the great pleasure of seeing two of her grandchildren graduate from college and others progress through school.

Her life was dedicated to being available to help all who had needs, especially friends, cancer patients and strangers. All who knew her not only respected her but loved her, and she made a difference in their lives through her dedication to love, service and benevolence.

She will be missed by all who knew her and will be long remembered as one of the most special people one meets in one’s entire life

Graveside services were held on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma.

Isadora’s wish is for donations to go to Hospice by the Bay, 1902 Van Ness Ave., 2nd Floor, S.F. 94109, or, The San Francisco Opera, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F., 94102. Or “do a random act of kindness to someone in need,” and be gracious to those in need.