Alice Barauck

Alice Barauck of Palo Alto, California passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. She was 90 years old.

Alice was born on Nov. 28, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Nathan and Minnie Wilner. She was the youngest of three children along with her eldest brother, Rabbi Herbert Wilner, and sister Ruth Wilner Orchin. Alice was raised in Rochester, New York, eventually attending the University of Rochester where she earned an Associates and Bachelor of Arts degrees. She continued her education at Case Western Reserve in Ohio where she received a master’s degree and was honored with the Phi Beta Kappa award.

In 1948, Alice married Alfred Howard Barauck. They soon settled in San Francisco, CA where they had two children, Lisha Cassingham (Dvora Rachel Barauck) and Mark Noah Barauck. In 1966, they moved to Palo Alto where she lived the remainder of her life.

Alice was a passionate licensed clinical social worker for over 40 years. This devotion to social work often translated into several outlets of activism in support of ideals that she strongly believed in, such as civil rights, the welfare of children, world peace and freedom. She was a devout follower of the cultural arts and music, enjoying annual Shakespeare festivals, classical operas, ballets, and Broadway shows. She was a world traveler, an avid reader, a lover of nature and the outdoors. In recent years she enjoyed many of these pastimes with her loving companion Sidney Simon. Her greatest pride and joy, however, was her beloved family and extensive group of friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Barauck, and her son Mark Noah Barauck. Alice is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law Lisha and Keith Cassingham, her granddaughters Ashley Higashi, Emily and Kimberly Cassingham, and her great-grandchildren Ethan, Ella and Fynn Higashi.

Funeral services were held Feb. 17 at Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

Henry M. Daniels

Comfortably passed away on Feb. 9, 2012, following angioplastic surgery at Northridge Hospital in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. Beloved son of Gladys, husband of Ruth, father, grandfather, Master Mason of San Francisco Lodge No. 120, and WWII veteran and member of the greatest generation. He is survived by his two sons and daughter, daughters-in-law, and six loving grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Feb. 13 at Eternal Home Cemetery in Colma, CA, and were officiated by Rabbi Raphael Asher of Temple B’nai Tikvah.

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Esther Leah Greenfield Goldbaum

In San Rafael, Feb. 15, 2012, nine days before her 91st birthday.

Esther was born in San Francisco on Feb. 24, 1921 to Hannah and Jack Greenfield. In 1930, the family moved to San Anselmo, where Esther resided until her death. She attended Main School (now Wade Thomas) and graduated from Tamalpais High School. A gifted artist and seamstress, she also attended the California School of Fine Arts.

In 1945, Esther married Lt. Col. Sam Goldbaum, USAF ret., whom she had met in 1939 while he was stationed at Hamilton Field. They had one daughter. Only 16 years later, Sam died. Esther, then 40, remained a widow the rest of her life.

In her middle years she was extremely active in the community. She served as president of the Brookside School PTA and the Ross Valley Council PTA. She was a charter member and served as president of Marin Chapter #266 B’nai B’rith Women and of the Central California Conference of B’nai B’rith Women. She served on the board of directors of Congregation Rodef Sholom. She was proudest, however, of being a founder and the first woman president of the Marin Jewish Community Center.

Esther enjoyed her family, her garden, poker and mah jongg. She will be fondly remembered as a strong woman, fiercely independent, and stubborn to a fault.

In addition to her husband, Sam, Esther was preceded in death by her sister, Doreen Colvin Glicksberg. She is survived by her daughter Janis Hernandez and son-in-law Cesar Hernandez Chavez of San Anselmo, her adored grandson Sam Hernandez of Oakland, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be private. Donations in Esther’s memory may be made to the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F., CA 94105-9926, Jewish Women International, 2000 M St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036, or the charity of your choice.

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Joan Louise Leshgold

Joan Louise Leshgold died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at the age of 75. Joan was born in Grants Pass, Oregon to parents Nettie and Sam Gold. Nettie and Sam, separately, moved to the United States from Russia as young teens, to escape the pogroms. Joan and her sister, Helen, were raised in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Joan went on to study at the University of Washington in Seattle. There she met the love of her life, Dick Leshgold, whom she married in May, 1955. At the time, both Joan and Dick were in college, but quickly left for Japan, as Dick was shipped off as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Dick and Joan lived in Japan for three years before settling in the Seattle area. Joan worked as a librarian. Dick became a dentist and Joan was extremely supportive and involved in his career.

Joan found tremendous joy in her three children Bruce, Beth and Gary and her five grandchildren. Joan was a natural and gifted homemaker, with a wonderful knack for cooking and entertaining. She made everyone feel welcome in her home. Hers was a house filled with great food, great warmth and lots of love. She loved to travel and planned great trips. She enjoyed golf, attending Mariners games, playing mah jongg and she loved to laugh and have fun. Joan was widely known for her devotion to her many longtime friends but even more so to her family who were the light and center of her life. She was loved by all and will be sorely missed.

Joan is survived by her husband, Dick; sons Gary Leshgold and Bruce Lipian, daughter Beth Nesis and her grandchildren, Sam, Nick, Danielle, Nicole and Benjamin. Funeral services were held on Feb. 19 at Butterworth-Arthur Wright Chapel, 520 West Raye St., Seattle, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s name to the charity of your choice.

Judith Lipshitz

Dec. 24, 1925 – Feb. 16, 2012

In San Francisco at age 86. Beloved wife of the late Israel Lipshitz; loving mother of Uri (Lea) Lifschitz and the late Ronit Reich; adored grandmother of Patty Lev (Kenny Mills), Shira (Eric) Lompa, Daniel Lifschitz and Talia Reich; proud great-grandmother of Hanna, Jameson and Abigail; dear sister of David Buri. Judith was everyone’s Safta.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 17 at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael. Donations to American Cancer Society, preferred.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

Alice (Buchholz) Staller

Born 1923 in Vienna, Austria, and died Feb. 17th in San Francisco.

Alice, a Petaluma resident for 30 years, was a Kindertransport child leaving on one of the last trains out of Vienna at age 15. She spent the war years in London before immigrating to the USA in 1949. She lived in NYC before moving to San Francisco, where she met and married Irwin Staller in 1958.

Alice was the beloved mother of Leslie, Karen (Hugh Molesworth) and Richard (Dianne) Staller as well as doting Oma to Maude, Talia, Simon and Vivian Molesworth. We are grateful for her strong devotion to family, her passion for Jewish culture and

traditions and her love of nature. She will be

remembered for her generosity and volunteer

activities helping other immigrants, Jewish causes, ushering at events and performances, local politics and her ongoing lifelong fight against injustices. As well as her delicious cooking and green thumb in the garden!

A celebration of Alice will be held in the spring. Please contact Karen at [email protected] for information.

A longtime member and volunteer at Rodef Sholom, contributions in Alice’s memory may be made to either Congregation Rodef Sholom or to Zen Hospice Project, 44 Gough St., Suite 303, S.F., CA 94103, a loving and supportive residential hospice where she received extraordinary care during her final month.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

Dr. Edward G. Stein

May 2, 1925 – Feb. 19, 2012

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Dr. Stein came to San Francisco with his family in order to escape the Holocaust. He served in the U.S. Army, and later received his doctorate of optometry. He embraced every aspect of his life. After 63 years of marriage, he leaves behind a loving wife, 3 daughters, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Private services to be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: UCSF Foundation, P.O. 45339, S.F., CA 94145-0339, please designate donations in the check memo line to Parkinson’s research, Michele Thompson; Stanford University Medical Development, 2700 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94028-7020, please designate donations for Steven Coutre, M.D. ,CLL research; San Francisco Botanical Garden Society, call Heidi Wohlwend (415) 564-3239 x304, please designate donations toward a memorial paver that has been set up in Edward Stein’s name.

Lewis Weil

Sept. 4, 1922 – Feb. 15, 2012

Lewis was born in Landau, Germany. At age 16 he left his family and came to America. San Francisco was Lewis’ “dream city” and he lived his dream. He was married to the wonderful Helen Jean for 50 years and raised three beautiful children with her. He is survived by Dave, Linda and Rob, daughters-in-law Adrienne and CoAnn, and grandchildren Elana, Natalie, Audrey, Addison and Helena Rose. In the last five years, Lewis was blessed with the love and friendship of Phyllis Wolf.

Lewis made his career in desserts and confections. He started at Blums and then joined his brother Ernie as co-owner of Fantasia Confections. Together, for 35 years, they built a wonderful company that was enjoyed by customers and employees alike.

Lewis had a passion for tennis. If he wasn’t with his family, and wasn’t working, he was on the tennis court. His love of tennis was passed down to his youngest son and grandson. A cherished memory is the three generations playing tennis together.

Forever an optimist, with many friends and admirers, a generous, kind man; one of his favorite lines was, “May all your dreams come true.”

His greatest love was his family and he delighted in every event and milestone in his grandchildren’s lives. Every friend of every one of these grandchildren adopted Lewis as “their” PaPa.

Lewis had a wonderfully positive attitude about life and will be missed dearly. His “joie de vivre” lives on in all of his children, grandchildren, and beloved family and friends.

Memorial service for Lewis was held at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, CA on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. and at Maui Kaanapali Villas on Kaanapali Beach, Maui, at sunset.

Donations in his memory can be made to Frankel Learning Center, c/o Karen Weil, 1209 Bonita Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709; or the Samaritan House, 4031 Pacific Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94403.