Alexander Carl Katten
Alex died at the Jewish Home in San Francisco on August 23, 2013 at age 77. He was born in Berlin on September 18, 1935. He and his parents survived WWII living in Berlin and he came to the US in 1953. He served in the US Army as a registered nurse and enjoyed his retirement in San Francisco. Alex is survived by his cousins Bert “Robert” Wolfgang Katten and Roma Katten of London.
Graveside services were held on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jewish Home.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
Ruth R. Kline
Ruth passed away peacefully in Oakland on Sunday, Aug. 25 at age 96.
Ruth was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Judah Goldman and Chana Leah (Nevyaski) Goldman on June 18, 1917. Ruth was the youngest of nine siblings and was the only one born in the United States. Judah and Chana Leah were born in Romania and Lithuania, respectively, and as youngsters moved to Israel before immigrating to the U.S.
Ruth grew up in Connecticut and worked for her brother’ s company, Goodlight Electric Company, which later became Noma Lites, then the largest manufacturer of Christmas tree lights in the world.
Ruth moved to San Francisco in 1945 where she met and married Richard Kline. They had one son, Jay, who was born on her birthday in 1947. She worked as a budget analyst and officer for the Army, Navy and Air Force over 27 years and was based at the Presidio. She attained a GS 18 rating which was extremely rare for a woman in that era.
Ruth was most happy when she was attending services or Torah study at Temple Beth Abraham, where she has been an active member since 1957. Ruth lived her life surrounded by all things Jewish: traditions, customs, literature and rituals. She traveled to Israel several times and toured China shortly after travel restrictions were lifted in the late 1970s.
Ruth is survived by her son, Jay, his wife, Susan, and their two daughters, Jennifer and Julie, numerous relatives in the United States and Israel, and dear friends.
Donations in Ruth’s honor can be made to Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland or Hadassah International.
Vicky Lorraine Prager
Vicky Lorraine Prager, 59, died peacefully Aug. 21, 2013 at her Mountain View home with family by her side. She was born on July 26, 1954 to Doris and Charles Prager in Oakland, Calif. She attended Miramonte High School in Orinda, UC Berkeley, and Yale Medical School, followed by a career as a physician in adolescent medicine.
Vicky faced her own medical challenges with personal courage, and by freely giving medical help to many. She lived with Marfan’s Syndrome and was a leader in the Marfan’s Foundation. She survived breast cancer only to succumb to the disease after a long remission.
Vicky was a staunch advocate for women’s health, Marfan’s patients, and all children who graced her life. She devoted much of her time as a medical consultant to family and friends.
A true Renaissance woman, Vicky loved to sketch and play piano. She was an active member of the greater Jewish community, in particular congregations Kol Emeth in Palo Alto and Netivot Shalom in the East Bay. She will be remembered for her compassion, love, intelligence, creative energy, profound empathy, grace, and courage.
She is survived by her husband Arthur Zingher and his children Zev and Elana, sister Madeline Prager and her children Aviva and Maya, stepmother Alice Prager, godmother Charlotte Oppenheim, step-siblings Barbara and Walter Loebel, and countless nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on August 23, 2013 at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Breast Cancer Fund in memory of Vicky Prager: Breast Cancer Fund, 1388 Sutter Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94109-5400. www.breastcancerfund.org.
Adeline Matzkin
Adeline (Fine) Matzkin passed away peacefully on August 23, 2013 in Valencia, California surrounded by her daughter Penni and son Terry. Addie was born in Philadelphia, grew up in Chicago, and had just celebrated her 92nd birthday.
Adeline adored her family: Terry (Judy) Matzkin and Cari z”l (Steve) Rodman of Danville, CA and Penni (Art) Perrault of Valencia, CA, her 6 grandchildren: Laurie (Aviv) Matzkin, Aaron Matzkin, David (Alia) Rodman, Lisa Rodman, Paris Perrault, and Artie Perrault. Adeline was preceded in death by Alexander Matzkin, her husband of 60 years. She will be dearly missed by her companion of the last 10 years, Marvin Bernstein of Walnut Creek, CA.
Her love of life was contagious; she was everybody’s best friend. When asked what she attributed her long life to, she always said “Positive attitude.” She dedicated her life to serving many Jewish organizations, including synagogue sisterhoods and Hadassah. Adeline’s smile, attitude and sparkling eyes will be missed by her Santa Clarita community where she lived these past 2 years and by her Danville community where she lived 9 years prior.
Donations in her name can be made to ALS Foundation (www.alsa.org), Hadassah (www.diablovalley.hadassah.org), or Red Cross (www.redcross.org).
Simon Prenovitz
7/30/20-8/24/13
Preceded in death by his wife, Edith Prenovitz.
Survived by his children: Dane Prenovitz and Robin Prenovitz Lewis, his son-in-law, Richard Lewis, and his grandsons, Ryan and Reid Lewis and their wives, Lauren and Danielle Lewis.
He was a long-time resident of Foster City and, most recently, Magnolia of Millbrae.
He was a Master Mason and was a member of Starr King Lodge #136.
Any donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children – Asiya Shriners, 1925 Elkhorn Ct., San Mateo, CA 94403.