Doris Blum
Born November 9, 1911 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Died 101 years later, on May 21, 2013 in San Francisco.
She was preceded in death (1980) by her husband Ben. She is survived by sons Joe (Nancy) of Tiburon, Mark (Donna) of Sacramento, grandchildren Ari (Mead) of Larkspur, Andrew (Samantha Pohler) of Bend, Oregon, Morgan of San Francisco and great-grandsons Henry and Caleb of Larkspur.
Although born in Canada, where her parents lived for a short time, her family returned to San Francisco when she was just 1 year old and she spent the rest of her long and fulfilling life in the city she so dearly loved. She graduated Lowell High School in 1928 and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, before following her father’s footsteps and entering the retail fur business.
She married Ben in 1945 and together they made a life and family in the Sea Cliff neighborhood and the wholesale sundries business in San Francisco. She and Ben started a long-lived tradition, which continues to this day, through four generations of Blums, of yearly family trips to Lake Tahoe in August (as recently as 2012) and to Hawaii in December. Until his early and untimely death, they traveled together around the world, a passion she continued with family and friends up until the past few years when her health began to decline.
Doris was both dedicated and generous to San Francisco institutions. She was a longtime volunteer at Mt. Zion Hospital and served a term as President of the Women’s Auxiliary at the hospital in the 1960s. She was very generous to various philanthropies, including the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco and Theta Delta Xi Sorority.
Doris absolutely loved entertaining, first in her Sea Cliff home and, after Ben’s death, in her fashionable Nob Hill apartment. An invitation to Passover seder, Yom Kippur break-the-fast, or other events was highly prized by her friends. No matter how many people were invited, she always found extra room if one of her children or grandchildren asked to bring someone new to dinner.
The family wishes to thank Dr. James Davis for his highly personalized, far above the normal, care provided for many years. Thanks also to Dr. Lawrence Cohn (a lifelong family friend) of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who performed open heart surgery on a woman of 95 years (when other doctors recommended doing nothing) and bought her an additional six meaningful years with her family.
Also greatly appreciated is Dana Wiltsek (our cousin), Case Manager with Heartwood Health and the team of dedicated caregivers who made it possible for her to live out her life in her own apartment.
Doris’ death marks the final chapter in the life of a true matriarch. While never to be replaced, she will be remembered fondly by family and her wide circle of friends of all ages.
Memorial contributions to the Doris Blum Endowment Fund for Holocaust Education, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 2150 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115, or to Theta Delta Xi Sorority, c/o Cheri Goldberg, 339 Magellan Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94116 would perpetuate her legacy and be gratefully appreciated.
Dylan Patrick Mitchell
Age 21. Dec. 25, 1991–May 23, 2013.
May 23rd, we lost our precious first born baby. Dylan touched so many hearts. He was a light that could brighten the darkest of rooms. He had a way about him that everyone loved and adored. He loved everyone he knew, and he knew many. The Mitchell foursome of brothers will never be the same without their big brother. We will never be the same.
Dylan loved wrestling and was a champion wrestler from 6th-12th grade. The Clayton Valley wrestling team held a special place in his heart. He was also a golf lover and dreamed of being a pro some day.
He is survived by his parents, Julie and Paul Mitchell, and his brothers, Robert, Dustin, and Matteo. His grandparents Terry and Jim Mitchell, and Saul Samuels. His aunts and uncles, Arla and Bill Samuels of Concord, Nechama and David Samuels of Israel, and Bonji and Michael Mitchell of Pittsburg, and many cousins.
Dylan, you will forever be in our hearts, our sweet baby, we love you.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Clayton Valley wrestling team is requested. Please make checks payable to CV Wrestling and write “The Dylan Mitchell Memorial Fund” on the memo line, or if you would like to donate to the Mitchell
family to help with the funeral expenses, please make checks payable to Julie Mitchell and mail checks to: P.O. Box 141 Clayton, CA 94517.
Robert Edmund Schwartz
Robert “Uncle Bob” Edmund Schwartz, 83, died peacefully on May 24, 2013 in Valley Village, Calif.
He was the beloved son of the late Mark and Gertrude Schwartz, born on January 23, 1930 in New York City. Loving brother of Esther (Bernard LaPedis). Devoted uncle of Michyle LaPedis (Karim Lazrak), Steve (Sandra) LaPedis, and Jack (Stephanie) LaPedis. Caring great-uncle of Gabriel Lazrak, Zachary and Emerson LaPedis, and Sarah and Ryan LaPedis.
He was a UCLA graduate, camp counselor, television film editor, collector, historian, genealogist, world traveler, skier, philosopher, writer, vegetarian and absolutely everybody’s “Uncle Bob.”
Services were held on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Eternal Home Cemetery Chapel, Colma. Charitable donations may be made in his name to the charity of your choice.