Ernest W. Abel, in San Francisco on January 12, 2011 at age 100, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Beloved husband of the late Greta Abel for 65 years; loving cousin of Anny Bohmer of Vienna, Austria, Ruth (David) Coen, Sally (Don) Goodman and many other cousins and friends. Many thanks to Agnes for all her loyalty and friendship.

Ernest was a Holocaust survivor who arrived in San Francisco in 1939 from Vienna where he had been a lawyer. In San Francisco he accomplished many positions starting as a Fuller Brush Man. He graduated as a chemist from USF and he became a professor there. He went to work for SAARCO. After his retirement he became a volunteer for legal aid and went back to study law. He was written up in Time magazine for a case he won before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ernest was a long time member of Hadassah, Hebrew Free Loan Association and B’nai B’rith.

Ernest was an extraordinary person. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Funeral services were held, Friday, January 14, 2011, at Sinai Memorial Chapel, SF, followed by interment at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. Donations to a charity of your choice.

Lova Blumenkranc (Leon Blum) passed away January 10, 2011 at 62 years of age. Devoted father to Jaclyn Guelfi and Rachel Blum, grandfather to the “apple of his eye” Gianna Guelfi, loving son and brother to Sam Blumenkranc and Sonia Simon.

Memorial services were held January 16 at 10 a.m. at Home of Peace Jewish Cemetery, 1299 El Camino Real, Colma.

Sylvia A. (Harkaway) Gelt passed away in San Francisco on January 12, 2011 at age 86. Beloved wife of Samuel Gelt for nearly 65 years; loving mother of Jerilyn Gelt, Roberta Gelt and Marsha Gelt (Barry Sheinberg); dear sister of William (Barbara) Harkaway; adoring aunt of Joyce Spector, Dori Gelt-James, Maggie and Eddie Pells, Steve Davis, Howard Gelt, and Jane, Beth and Joseph Harkaway.

Sylvia served as president of Hadassah and the Jewish National Fund in Minneapolis. She was a vibrant loving woman who gave generously of herself to her family and to her community. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 17 in the chapel at Gan Shalom Cemetery in Martinez, CA.

Donations to Hadassah preferred.

Albert Graddis, aged 96, of Rossmoor, passed away peacefully, in his sleep, on January 13, 2011. Born in New York City, he practiced patent law on the East Coast for 45 years, retiring in 1982. He was an accomplished amateur musician, a formidable dancer, a voracious reader and student of history. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by Miriam, his wife of 71 years, two children, Barbara (Lawrence) Cahn, of Oakland and Richard (Enid) Graddis of Los Angeles, two grandchildren, Melissa Cahn of Seattle and Jack Graddis of Los Angeles, and one sister, Muriel Chill of Los Angeles.

Samuel Lawrence Karonsky, long-time resident at the Sonoma Developmental Center, passed away peacefully at age 61.

Sam is pre-deceased by his mother, Marie Isaacson Karonsky, and is survived by his father, Dr. George Karonsky, sister Sheri Taman Karonsky (Larry Taman), brother Rabbi Glenn Karonsky and nephew Jake Taman. Private service and interment was at Home of Peace in Colma, California. 

Sam was diagnosed with severe autism at an early age and lived his life without uttering a single word. The rhythm of his days was punctuated with a passion for music, nature, and the love of his caregivers and family. The family expresses its deep gratitude to the staff of the Sonoma Developmental Center and generations of caregivers for their loving attention to Sam’s needs.

The family requests donations in Sam’s memory to the Samuel Karonsky Fund for the Developmentally Disabled at the Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay, 300 Grand Avenue, Oakland, California, 94610.

Emanuel “Manny” Kuby

Passed peacefully in his sleep on January 14 at the age of 93. Survived by his wife of 64 years, Sybil Kuby. Father of Linda (Joel) Straus and Joyce Robbins. Grandfather of Stacey (Yigal) Nagar, Jonathan (Ashley) Straus, Erica (David) Rosen, Debra (Ethan) Allison. Great-grandfather of Benjamin, Samuel, Maya, Abigail and Adam. Veteran of World War II. Manny was an original member and past President of Peninsula Temple Sholom. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Evelyn Joseph Spiegelman

February 5, 1910–January 17, 2011

Evelyn (Evy) Joseph Spiegelman, daughter of Estelle Sweet Joseph and Joseph Leon Joseph, passed away three weeks before her 101st birthday.

Evy was born in San Francisco on February 5, 1910 at Children’s Hospital. Both of her parents were native Californians. Her father was a gold miner, born in Sonora in 1865. Her mother was a member of the Sweet family who opened the first department store in California in 1857. Evy often told stories of growing up in San Francisco, riding in one of the first automobiles in the City and traveling to Yosemite and Trinity County, where her father had mining operations. She attended Madison Grammar School on Clay Street and Girls High School in San Francisco. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1931, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.

Following her graduation from U.C. Berkeley, Evy opened a flower stand on the corner of Stockton and Geary. She met and married Eugene Krischer and they had a son, Jonathan. Eugene died in 1945 and a few years later, she met and married David Spiegelman. Together, Dave and Evy had a son, Alan.

While Jon and Alan were growing up, Evy explored her interests in shoemaking, glass enameling, gardening and oil painting. Over the years, she served as a candy striper at Mills Hospital, a volunteer at Mission Hospice in San Mateo, a docent at Filoli, an antique collector and carousel horse restorer.

Both Evy and Dave had a passion for dancing, travel, bridge and golf. After Dave passed away in 1989, Evy sold her home in Hillsborough and became the first occupant of the Stratford, a residential community for seniors in San Mateo. While living at the Stratford, she devoted much of her time to volunteering, bridge and visiting with her many friends.

Over the past decade of her life, her friends and family often repeated the phrase “Evy, you are an inspiration to us all.” She proudly celebrated her 100th birthday last year at the Palace Hotel, a place she often visited as a young child.

Evy was predeceased by her son Jonathan Krischer, her husbands Eugene Krischer and David Spiegelman, and her nephew, Bradley Krischer.

She is survived by her son, Alan Spiegelman, daughter in law, Naomi Spiegelman, grandson Joshua Spiegelman, grandson Adam Spiegelman, his wife Robin and great grandsons Noah, Eli and Simon, daughter in law Zandra Krischer, grandson Jeffrey Krischer and his wife Kathryn Wolf Krischer. Over the last two years, Evy was lovingly cared for by Rose Lacap and Jane Harris.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma. Donations in her memory may be made to Mission Hospice of San Mateo.

Marian Swartzburg, in San Francisco, January 11, 2011, after a prolonged illness. Dearly beloved wife of the late Charles Swartzburg; loving mother of Gary Swartzburg; dear sister of Bette Weinberg; fond aunt of Dana and Terry Weinberg.