Elliot Klein, in San Francisco on Sept. 6 at age 59 of cancer. Survived by his beloved daughter Delia Anderson-Colson and a close circle of loving friends, including Fred Fishman, Steven Weitz, Ed Eng, Maureen Anderson and Susan Colson.
Elliot is fondly remembered by his many friends for his smile, his humor and his unflagging optimism.
He was a great supporter of the arts and an audiophile. Joy came in musical form, recorded or live; and an exuberant curiosity led him into varied nooks and crannies of opera and musical theater.
Fluent in French, German, Italian, and always articulate in English, he used language as a window into other people and cultures, maintaining close friendships around the world. Elliot was a devoted father who shared his love of language, theater, Judaism, and even silent movies with Delia.
His sunny disposition was matched by a passion for social justice.
Elliot served as Associate Director of Development at Stanford University Medical Center’s Office of Medical Development, supporting the area of orthopedic medicine.
His career in fundraising also included work for the California Arts Council, Opera San Jose, California Council for the Humanities, Lawrence Hall of Science/UC Berkeley, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services.
Born in New York, Jan. 27, 1950, to Arthur Klein and Evelyn Feldman Klein, Elliot graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, Cornell University (BA), and Stanford University (MA).
Funeral services were held this past week at Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma, CA. Donations to Congregation Sha’ar Zahav of San Francisco, Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences or the Elliot Klein Endowment Fund at San Francisco Jewish Family and Children’s Services, preferred.

Sydney Kossen died on Sept. 2 at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville beside his wife of 69 years, Jeanette. Syd was 93.
Syd spent more than four decades in journalism, including 24 years at the San Francisco Examiner where he became political editor. Willie Brown once dubbed Syd the “dean of Northern California political writers.”
Syd is survived by his wife Jeanette; two children, Barbara Margolis (Dr. Lawrence) of Hillsborough and Michael Kossen (Barbara) of Lakeport; two grandchildren, Michelle Ebersman (David) of Hillsborough and Jason Margolis (Amy) of Boston, MA; and four great-grandchildren.
Syd was born in Seattle, the last of seven children, to Jewish immigrant parents from Eastern Europe. Syd attended Garfield High School and the University of Washington, where he was editor of the campus newspaper.
Syd served as a U.S. Naval gunnery officer in the Pacific during World War II and participated in the liberation of China.
As a reporter and editor with the Examiner, Syd covered California politics in Sacramento and spent his summers at the Capitol in Washington. He had a distinguished career and won many press awards; he served twice as the president of the San Francisco Press Club, a role he greatly enjoyed. He interviewed U.S. presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
He was a tough journalist, but earned the respect and eventual friendship of California politicians such as Pat Brown, Willie Brown, Phil Burton, Dianne Feinstein and Eugene McAteer. He never became friends with Richard Nixon, however, who demanded that Syd be fired for his writing about the then-California gubernatorial candidate; the Examiner sided with Syd.
After retiring from journalism in 1982, Syd moved from his San Francisco home in the Sunset District to Walnut Creek, where he lived an active life of golf, swimming and travel with his wife. He enjoyed following the sport of politics until his final days.
Funeral services were held Wednesday Sept. 9 at Home of Peace Cemetery, 1299 El Camino Real, Colma. Contributions may be made in memory of Sydney Kossen to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506.

Esther Kroll
Esther Kroll died at the age of 87 on Sept. 2 of complications from cancer. For the past 50 years, she had lived in Northern California with her husband of 59 years, William (Bill).
Born Esther Strauss in Pittsburgh, she grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. After World War II, Esther moved to Southern California where she met Bill at a dance. Bill and Esther moved with their three children to Northern California in the late 1950s.
Esther was an expert seamstress, avid bridge player and devoted fan of daily crossword puzzles. She delighted her family and friends with her keen sense of humor and her fabulous cuisine. A serious piano student in her youth, Esther loved classical music. She was active for many years in service organizations such as ORT and Hadassah.
Esther is survived by her husband Bill, son David, daughter Heidi, granddaughter Rachel and nephew Hal (Berger). Her beloved younger son, Theodore (Ted) passed away after a prolonged battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma just two weeks prior to Esther’s death.
Donations may be made in her name to the charity of your choice.