Francis Erwin Cappel

In San Mateo, Oct. 23, 2009. Beloved husband of Margot Cappel. Loving father of Joan Wachter (Ron) and Ellen Fiebert (Mark). Loving grandfather of Erin Anderson, Justin Anderson and Heather Wachter. Dear brother of Ruth Phillip. A devoted uncle. A member and Past President of Temple Beth Israel–Judea, a member of Golden Gate Speranza Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M. and co-founder of M-C International.

Funeral services Monday, Oct. 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of Home of Peace Cemetery, 1299 El Camino Real, Colma. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Beth Israel–Judea.

Seymour Fromer died in his home in Berkeley, California, on October 25 after a long illness. The internationally known Jewish educator and founder of the Judah L. Magnes Museum was 87.

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Fromer graduated from Stuyvesant High School, earned a B.A. from Brooklyn College, and did graduate work at Teachers College Columbia University. He worked in the Jewish communities of Essex County, New Jersey and Los Angeles where in 1955, in the Hollywood Bowl he presented the opera David, composed by Darius Milhaud who conducted the orchestra. In Los Angeles, Fromer met and married his wife of more than fifty years, the poet and author Rebecca Camhi.

In the late 1950s, Fromer came to Oakland, California, and established the Jewish Education Council (forerunner of today’s Center for Jewish Life and Learning), remaining in his that post for a quarter century. In 1962, the Fromers founded the Magnes Museum, first in modest quarters over the Parkway movie theater in Oakland and a few years later in the turn-of-the-century Burke mansion at 2911 Russell Street in Berkeley, its headquarters to this day.

Before Fromer’s retirement in 1998, the Magnes grew to become the third largest Jewish museum in North America. It has specialized in ceremonial art and posters and paintings of Jewish interest. Fromer expanded the collection by rescuing artifacts from endangered Jewish communities such as Czechoslovakia, Morocco, Egypt, and India. In 1967, he established the Western Jewish History Center at the Magnes, the first regional Jewish history center in the U.S. and the most comprehensive. He also created the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks, which restored and to this day maintains seven Jewish Gold Rush cemeteries in the California Mother Lode.

Especially in the 1970s and 80s, Fromer nurtured many young Jewish scholars and artists and was a key catalyst in the Jewish cultural renaissance in the Bay Area. He provided the impetus for such organizations as Lehrhaus Judaica, the Jewish Film Festival, and the National Yiddish Book Center.

Seymour Fromer is survived by his wife, Rebecca Camhi Fromer; their daughter, Mira Z. Amiras, Professor of Comparative Religion at San Jose State University; and grandchildren attorney Michael Zussman and Rayna Leonora Savrosa, a graduate student in the Parsons School of Design, both of Brooklyn, New York.

The family requests that any donations in Seymour Fromer’s memory be sent to the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell Street, Berkeley 94705.

Funeral services were held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel (925) 962-3636

Ronald Neil Green

Ronald passed away peacefully on October 16th, 2009, with his family by his side. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Cecile Green, his son Brian, daughter Joy Gutnick and son-in-law Bernard, wonderful grandchildren Joshua, Danielle, Justin, Michael and Cary, brother Dr. Norman Green and sister Sheila Koumelis.

Ron was born April 1, 1936 and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Animal Sciences and served in the armed forces. Ron worked in the food industry for many years. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Green Hills Country Club.

Funeral services were held October 20th at the Hills of Eternity. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Sinai Memorial Chapel (650) 369-3636.

Lillian Rebecca Kruger

Born Lillian Rebecca Katzenelenbogen May 21, 1923, died on October 19, 2009 in Alameda, California.

She was born in New York City to Samuel and Eva Katzenelenbogen. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She loved to cook and shop and walk. She appreciated beauty and had a sense of wonder and adventure. She loved flowers and her family.

She is survived by her daughters Fern and Ellen, her grandchildren Amanda, Michael and David, her sister Frances and so many others who loved her well. She will be dearly missed. “As long as we live, she too shall live and we will remember her”

A memorial service was held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel. (925) 962-3636. Donations to Pathways Hospice or Alameda Food Bank are welcomed.

Lawrence M. Sampson, M.D., passed away Monday, October 19, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Born to Shirley and Peter Sampson in Chicago, Illinois, September 16, 1939, Larry is survived by his companion of twenty years, Cynthia K. Benson, his son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Amy (Regalia) Sampson of Dakar, Senegal, his sister, Rita Weil, of Woodland Hills, CA, and his former wife, Eleanor Sampson. He was a loving and supportive stepfather to Jennifer (Brad) McDowell and a doting grandfather to Carson and Parker McDowell.

He is also survived by Danielle and Brandon McDowell, niece Karen (Stuart) White of Portland, OR., nephews David (Lina) Weil of Las Vegas, NV, and Robert Weil of Woodland Hills.

Larry graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship at Cook County Hospital and his residencies at Temple University in Philadelphia and Mt. Zion in San Francisco, and was a graduate of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis.

In addition to his private practice in psychiatry and psychoanalysis in San Mateo, he served as chief of the psychiatric inpatient unit of Peninsula Hospital, the medical director of Woodside Women’s Hospital, and co-director of the Central San Mateo County Mental Health Clinics. Larry was a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, past president of the San Mateo Psychiatric Society, and especially enjoyed his long-time participation in the Peninsula Study Group. He served as a Captain in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center, Oahu.

Larry’s family wishes to give special thanks and acknowledgement to his long-time, dedicated, and talented caretakers Rolando Sauro, Perla Cantiller, and Al Plaza, whose care and patience were invaluable throughout his illness.

An accomplished classical pianist, Larry leaves behind many friends who shared his and Cynthia’s joy of attending the annual Carmel Bach Festival, and his passion for classical music. A gregarious intellectual, Larry will be remembered for his outrageous sense of humor, as well as his generosity to individuals and organizations.

A memorial service to honor Larry’s life will be held on Saturday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m., at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road (at Embarcadero Rd.), Palo Alto.

The family asks that donations be made to the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., SF 94105, (www.sfjcf.org), the Carmel Bach Festival, P.O. Box 575, Carmel, CA 93921, (www.bachfestival.org), or to the organization of your choice.

Lillian Lewis Weiner

January 17, 1915-October 21, 2009

Born in Brooklyn, New York to Ida and Barnett Lewis, Lillian lived in San Francisco for over 90 years. For sixty-one of those years, she was the loving wife of Sam Weiner, Jr., who passed away on August 12, 2003. She is survived by daughters Rosalie (Vern) Gerrans and Sylvia (Vic) Krimsley; grandchildren Derek (Sheri) Gerrman, David (Kirsten) Krimsley and Debbie Krimsley; great-grandchildren Nathan Krimsley and Emily Gerrman; sisters Sarah Samson and Mildred Weiner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lillian took great delight in her family. Happiness was being with Sam as they danced, played bridge, traveled, and raised their daughters. Lillian and Sam were married by Rabbi Elliot Burstein and were long-time members of Beth Israel. Family and friends will cherish their memories of her warmth and love.

Services were held at Salem Memorial Park in Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations to charity of your choice would be welcome.

Sinai Memorial Chapel.