Morton “Marty” Avner peacefully passed from this world on Dec. 12, 2012 at the age of 87.

Marty was born in New York in 1925. As a boy, his natural curiosity spurred him to take radios apart and put them back together. This inquisitive aptitude seemed predictive of his life path.

Marty is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirlee Greenberg Avner, whom he met and fell in love with after his discharge as Chief Electronic Tech in the United States Navy in WWII. They began their married lives together in San Francisco in 1946.

Marty’s extraordinary focus and foresight into the future of electronics and their components led him into the field of electronics distribution. His tenacity and dedication to detail led this young married couple into the compelling and competitive world of retail business.

Not only was this young couple establishing a business, Marty’s Surplus Super Mart, in San Francisco in 1957, they were raising their three active young children, Karyn and the twins, Mark and Jay. Their lives were tremendously busy, but never too busy for Marty to enjoy his time with them.

In 1962, Marty moved the family to San Rafael, where they became members of Congregation Rodef Sholom. They have been members of the Marin Country Club for 48 years where they pursued their passion for golf. By 1970, Marty established Electronics Plus, Inc. at its current location on Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael. His feisty personality and perseverance as a small businessman led to a loyal customer base that exists to this day.

In 1973, Marty was delighted that his children elected to formally join him in the business once they completed their higher educational goals. Marty had a strong presence, a distinguished bearing and enviably lived by the convictions of his principles. Going beyond the bounds of mere world traveler, he had the soul of an adventurer and an unquenchable interest in the world.

It was a natural progression that his fascination with travel and his ardent enthusiasm for the game of golf would combine and lead Marty and Shirlee on golfing excursions around the world. Marty had an exuberance for life and all of its offerings: wines of quality vintage, enticing foods, diverting plays, parties with friends, the symphony, competitive sports and showcasing his abilities as an amateur actor.

Marty, the adoring great-grandfather, is survived by great-grandchildren Jordan Gentile, Jade A. Leeds, Royce Avner and Vincent Petrucci. Marty, the loving grandfather, is survived by his grandchildren Stacey Gentile and Matthew Gentile, Jayson Avner, Michelle Avner Leeds, Nick Avner and Lindsay Avner Petrucci. Marty, the beloved and respected father, is survived by his children and their spouses, Karyn Gentile Carrilo and Luis Carrilo, Mark and Ellen Avner, Jay and Tura E. Avner. Marty the wonderful husband is survived by his truly devoted wife, Shirlee.

Marty is, and will always be, sorely missed.

In lieu of additional floral expressions of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions in Marty’s memory be sent to your favorite charity.

Shirlee Berman. In Clackamas, OR on December 27, 2012. Wife of Alan Berman. Mother of Steve and Dan Alt. Grandmother of Jake, Maddi, Ethan and Jordan Alt. Sister of Lynda Folkman. A native of San Francisco. Donations to JFCS, Hebrew Free Loan or Bureau of Jewish Education.

Marian Stein Donner passed away on December 28, 2012 at 90 years young. She died peacefully and was surrounded by her large, loving family.

She was married to Charles H. Donner and lived a very full and rich loving life.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Jeffrey and Marsha Donner, Susan and Barry Noss, Deborah and Marvin Hinshaw, David Donner and Michael Donner. She had 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was loved and will be missed by all.

Memorial contributions may be made to randomactsofkindness.org or advokids.org. Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4 at Home of Eternity, 5000 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, California.

Rose Rachela Isak (nee Strum) passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco on December 25, 2012. Born in Poland in 1920, Rachel married Sigi in Bochnia Ghetto in 1943 before she was sent to Auschwitz. Escaped from Death March and reunited with Sigi in 1945. Immigrated to America in 1951. Survived by Sigi, daughters Gita Isak and Karen (Chuck) Amital, and grandchildren Eden and Jesse Amital. Passionate, loving and strong, she was greatly loved by family and friends and will be deeply missed.

Anita Weiman Keyak

Nov. 10, 1926–Dec. 18, 2012

In San Francisco. Beloved wife of the late Victor Keyak for 61 years; loving mother of Jeffrey (Vicki) Keyak, Janet (Marvin) Schwab and Jonathan (Dvorah) Keyak; mother-in-law of the late Howard Wisefield; adored grandmother of Jennifer and Julie Wisefield, Aaron (Avi), Joshua (Ilana) and Jonah Keyak, Brachie (Avraham Chaim) Berenstein, Shifra (Eliyahu) Shteiman, Rivka, Yosef, Yehuda and Dovid Keyak; cherished great-grandmother of Nomi and Yael Berenstein, and Shmuel, Tamar and Tova Gittle Shteiman. A loving sister, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin.

Funeral services were held Dec. 20, 2012 at Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma. Contributions may be made to Jewish Family and Children’s Services for the Anita and Victor Keyak Endowment Fund or a blood donation to the Blood Centers of the Pacific or to a charity of your choice.

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Dr. Raphael B. Reider, beloved San Francisco physician, died on Dec. 30, on his 87th birthday, at Rhoda Goldman Plaza, in San Francisco, from Alzheimer’s disease.

Ray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1925, graduated from Johns Hopkins University, completed a master’s degree in biochemistry at Columbia University and received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine.

He settled in San Francisco in 1960 and established a private practice with a specialty in cardiology. He was Chief of City Physician Services for the City and County of San Francisco from 1960 to 1976 and District Medical Consultant for the State Department of Rehabilitation from 1965-2000. He retired from medicine in 2000.

Ray met his wife, Freda Rosenfarb, when both were counselors at a summer camp in New Hampshire in 1949. They married three years later and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2012.

An accomplished pianist, Ray inspired a love of music in his children and grandchildren. He was a well-known figure in the local Jewish community, and was a founding member of the San Francisco Jewish Community Library.

Ray is survived by his wife, Freda, his son Daniel and wife Susan; his son David and wife Gail; his son Joel and wife Pamela; his brother, Emanuel, of Philadelphia; and his five grandchildren, Samuel, Jonah, Nathan, Livia and Benjamin.

Donations may be made to the Jewish Community Library of San Francisco, (415) 567-3327.

Joseph Satten

1921–2012

On December 28, 2012, Joe, 91, died of natural causes in San Francisco. He was preceded in death by Norma, his wife of 65 years, who died in 2010. He is survived by his children Neal, Debby and Sara; his daughter-in-law, Rona Cordish Satten; his grandchildren, Susanna Satten, Matthew Satten and Cory Edelson Cary; and his grandson-in-law, Ryan Cary. Joe was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and patriarch of the extended family.

Joe was born to David and Ernestine Satten in 1921 in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated cum laude from Brooklyn College in 1941. There he met Norma Goldstein, whom he married in 1945. Also in 1945, while in the Army Specialized Training Program, he obtained his M.D. from New York University.

Joe completed his U.S. Public Health Service duty in Kansas, serving as the prison psychiatrist at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. There he began to pursue what became his lifelong interest: trying to understand what makes some people commit murder. At Leavenworth, he first met Dr. Karl Menninger, founder of the Menninger Clinic, a well-known psychiatric hospital and training institution.

In 1948, Norma and Joe moved to Topeka, Kansas, where they raised their children. Joe studied psychiatry at and then joined the staff of the Menninger Foundation. He worked there until 1971, where he created the Division of Law and Psychiatry and served as its Director. In the early ’60s, he worked closely with Truman Capote as Capote wrote “In Cold Blood.” In the book, Capote quotes one of Joe’s research papers that posits how two mixed-up personalities can influence each other and essentially fuse into a third even more damaging personality capable of murder. Joe, a noted forensic psychiatrist, also testified as an expert witness in many prominent murder cases.

Joe was active in both the Menninger and Jewish communities in Topeka. He supported Norma’s career as a city planner and took pleasure in his children’s academic and social successes. He was an avid photographer, card player, crossword puzzle solver, book lover, stamp collector, and real estate investor.

Joe and Norma moved to San Francisco in 1971, where Joe opened a private practice in psychiatry. He also worked at the Mount Zion Hospital for many years, serving as the last Medical Director of its In-Patient Psychiatric Service when it closed in 1993. He was active in the San Francisco Jewish community at Congregation Emanu-El and Jewish Family and Children’s Services.

He was a founding member of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. His other professional affiliations included, among others, the American Criminology Society, the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychoanalytic Association. He was the President of the Board of the Northern California Service League for 20 years, where he received the Justice Raymond Peters award in 1988. Brooklyn College gave him an Alumni Award of Merit in 1967 for his work to prevent crime and rehabilitate prisoners.

Memorial services were held on December 31 at the Home of Peace Cemetery Chapel in Colma, followed by interment there. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Joseph and Norma Satten Endowment Fund for the Frail and Needy at Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 2150 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115.

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Jacob Siegel

Passed away at his home with family by his side on December 29, 2012, at age 91, of natural causes. Jacob was born March 11, 1921 in Chicago, IL (his loving parents were Bella and Louis Siegel). His family moved to Oakland, CA and later to San Francisco, CA where he graduated from Lowell High School. Jacob was a WWII Veteran who served as a sergeant in the Army’s 733rd Air Material Squadron as a carpenter. He started and retired from his own business, ABEL Cabinet and Carpenter Service. His work was his passion and hobby.

He volunteered his services at Congregation B’nai Israel in Daly City. Jacob was a devoted husband and father. He and his loving wife, Evelyn Siegel (deceased April 2000), raised four lovely daughters, Linda (z”l), Lorraine, Eleanor and Annette.

He will also be remembered for his upbeat joy to life. Jacob’s other hobbies included bike riding, jogging and swimming in the San Francisco Bay Area. He continued swimming in the Bay Area up to the age of 90.

He is survived by his brother Max Siegel, daughters Lorraine (Rudy) Rosenthal, Eleanor (Michael) Pechner and Annette (Jon) Montgomery. He was blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In the last decade of his life he shared companionship with his loving girlfriend Rena Neri.

Services were held at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma, on December 31, 2012.

Donations can be made in memory of Jacob Siegel to Sinai Memorial Chapel, 1501 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA.

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