Frederick Fox

In Mill Valley on July 28, 2013 at age 89.

Beloved husband of Cathy Brooks Fox for 20 years; loving stepfather of Philip Dressler; dear brother of the late Alexander Fox; uncle of Thomas Fox; brother-in-law of Barclay (Jacki) Brooks and Christy (Thomas) Snider.

Fred was born at home in Detroit, Michigan on August 18, 1923 to Adolf and Cecelia Fox. Fred attended the University of Michigan while waiting to be called up to the U.S. Army Air Corps. He trained as a belly-gunner and served in the jungles of Burma in the China Burma India Campaign during World War II. He was honorably discharged and returned to Detroit.

In 1957 Fred left the family business in Detroit and pioneered to found Fox Hardware on Fourth Street in San Francisco. The success of the hardware store, now a San Francisco institution, enabled him to bring his mother Cecelia, father Adolf, brother Alexander, sister-in-law Carole and nephew Thomas to San Francisco.

Fred believed in the potential of people. His first employee Howard brought his twin brother Horace to work at Fox Hardware and both remained for more than 40 years. Many wonderful employees followed. Some went on to become judges, doctors, lawyers, and some remained as supreme hardware experts.

Fred was generous to individuals and a pal to many. He was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the China Burma India Veteran’s Association.

Private family services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations to Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., SF, CA 94118 would be kindly appreciated.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

 

Howard Levin

Howard Levin, age 78, of Redwood City, beloved husband, father, & grandfather, died peacefully on Monday June 29, surrounded by loved ones.

He was born in Chicago. At age 12 he moved to Toledo. He and his wife, Gloria, moved to the Bay Area in 1984.

He was a realtor for Alain Pinel in Palo Alto. He retired to spend more time traveling the globe with his wife and to volunteer at the Packard Children’s Hospital Gift Shop. For the last seventeen years he served on his condominium association board and was elected President for three terms.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria; 3 children and their spouses — Scott and Lisa Levin, Wendie and Robert Lash, and Michael Bernstein and Julie Rose; and grandchildren — Mollie (and Adam) Lipp, Alexander Bernstein, and Eliot Lash.

Howard was known as an easy-going, fun-loving man with a great sense of humor. He loved wine and food and enjoyed attending Stanford Basketball, the SF Symphony, numerous theater & musical performances, and telling jokes.

Private services were held. Donations in memory of Howard can be made at etzchayim.org or lpfch.org

 

Ernest Ring

Ernest Ring passed away peacefully on July 30, 2013 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mina, his sons, Michael (Beth) and Bernard, grandchildren, Arielle, Aaron and Lauren, and niece Ayala and nephew Eric.

Ernest was born in Prague on February 23, 1923. After a happy childhood, Ernest escaped Nazi-occupied Prague at age 16 with his brother Hans at the onset of WWII, and eventually joined the British navy. After learning that his parents passed in the Shoah, Ernest moved to Israel and fought in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence. It was in Israel that he met the love of his life, Mina, whom he married after a brief courtship.

After the birth of their first son, Ernest and Mina immigrated to the United States, ultimately settling in San Francisco. Ernest worked as a mechanical engineer and supervisor first at the San Francisco Water Department, and later at the Municipal Transportation Agency, where he was instrumental in maintaining the cable car system.

Ernest was a charming, sharply intelligent man committed to his family and Israel. He loved to travel with Mina — together they visited six continents. Out of all the places he had been, he thought the Italian Lakes were the most beautiful. Ernest was also a gifted bridge player, and perhaps an even more gifted host.

He will be deeply missed as his family transitions from a family led by Ernest to one inspired by Ernest.

Private services were held at the Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice in Ernest’s name would be kindly appreciated.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

 

unveiling

Paul Martin Fish

October 25, 1927–August 18, 2012

The unveiling of the stone in memory of Paul M. Fish will take place on Friday, August 16, 10:30 a.m. at Eternal Home Cemetery gravesite.