Joan Ruth Friedman
In Petaluma on Dec. 21, 2013 at age 83. Beloved wife of the late Jack Friedman; loving mother of Karen (Chuck) Erwin, Sheri (Bruce) Remail and Merilee (Matt) Guillory; adored grandmother of Timothy and Heather Erwin, Amanda Friedman, Jared Crocker and Jesse (Kasi) Crocker; cherished great-grandmother of Kaitlyn and Kevin Mackay; dear aunt and cousin to many.
Joan was devoted to her family and friends. She was a world traveler, adored art, music and theater. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Memorial services were held on Dec. 27 at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael. Donations to Jewish Family and Children’s Services would be kindly appreciated.
Sinai Memorial Chapel (415) 921-3636
Gerald Ganz
In San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2013 at age 82. Beloved husband of the late Brenda Ganz for 45 years; loving father of Lori (Peter Wolff), Steven (Judy Tick) and Andrea (Kerri Woodward); adoring grandfather of Jacob, Logan, Eli, Corey, Taylor, Alex and Sage; dear brother of Rozzy Smoller and the late Ronny Ganz.
Jerry was born in 1931 in New York City to Lawrence and Lillian Ganz. After spending his youth in NYC and excelling with his education at DeWitt Clinton High School and CCNY, he left for military service in Louisiana during the Korean War. Shortly after moving to San Francisco, he married his wife, Brenda, whom he met while living in Houston, Texas. Jerry was a CPA for years with the firm of Touche Ross & Co. and later as the financial adviser and consultant to both Benjamin and Mel Swig and to Walter Shorenstein. After officially retiring in the late 1990s, he continued consulting and working in the field of real estate until shortly before his passing.
Services were held at Congregation Ner Tamid in San Francisco, followed by interment at Salem Memorial Cemetery, Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., SF, CA 94105 (415-512-6290) or Save the Redwoods (415-362-2352) would be kindly appreciated.
Sinai Memorial Chapel. (415) 921-3636
Jeane E. Lapkin
1917-2013
Jeane passed away peacefully in San Francisco on Dec. 16. Jeane was a native San Franciscan and a beloved member of the community. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Maxwell. Jeane is survived by her children, Joyce (Dennis) and Philip; grandson David (Bonnie); loving companion of the last five years, Irv; and extended family and many friends. Send letters of condolence to family at The Sequoias, 1400 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94109. Contributions to Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, 3330 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94118, or the charity of your choice.
Private services have been held.
Mazie Gordon Miller
July 29, 1913–Dec. 18, 2013
Born and raised in the Bronx, when goats roamed the empty hills, Mazie was the daughter of immigrants from Poland. Her favorite place was her grandparents’ farm in Connecticut where she spent the summers. Always politically aware, Mazie spent her teens and entire adult life fighting for civil rights and the rights of working people. She had wanted to be an archaeologist but the Depression hit and she had to go to work right out of high school. Her love of history and other cultures stayed with her, and after retirement she traveled all over the world. Her last trip was to Egypt when she was 95, accompanied by her daughter Judith.
Mazie moved to San Francisco in 1944 with her family and was a regular symphony, ballet and theatergoer. She was a longtime employee of the City and County of San Francisco. She lived in Marin and Sonoma counties for the last 30 years, folk dancing and bird watching into her 90s and making new friends through this year. She leaves daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends on whom she had a huge impact. We admire her bravery, strength and devotion.
Memorial services were held on Dec. 22 at Sinai Memorial Chapel in S.F., followed by interment at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. In lieu of flowers donations to Memorial Hospice of Santa Rosa and Threshold Choir would be kindly appreciated.
Sinai Memorial Chapel (415) 921-3636
Maurice Ohayon
Maurice Ohayon (91) passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Dec. 19, 2013. Maurice was a beloved husband to the late Fanny Ohayon (Z”L) (nee Abecassis), loving father to Michael Ohayon, loving father-in-law to Stella, and doting grandfather to Abigail, Adam and Aidan. Maurice’s surviving brother David and sister Denise reside in Netanya, Israel.
Born 2/22/22 in Mazagon, Morocco, Maurice immigrated to San Francisco in 1967 where he helped galvanize the Sephardic community. He was a man of mitzvah and tzedakah, and a dear friend to many. Maurice loved to dance, tell jokes, and was an ever-present figure at Congregation Anshey Sfard. His presence will be missed by all who knew him.
Funeral services and interment were held at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma.
Esther Shub
1920–2013
Beloved mother of Linda Birnbaum and Liz Paris, wonderful mother-in-law to Dr. Neal Birnbaum and Dr. Marc Paris, and adored grandmother of Jennifer and Lauren Birnbaum and Seth and Eli Paris, passed away Dec. 16, 2013. Esther’s warm and generous spirit endeared her to all, and her family and friends will sorely miss her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heartland Hospice, 1050 Northgate Drive #300, San Rafael, CA 94903 or to The Redwoods 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA, 94941.
Dr. Bertram Solomon
Aug. 8, 1927–Dec. 15, 2013
Bertram Solomon was born in San Francisco on Aug. 8, 1927. He graduated medical school at the age of 21. He met his wife, Sylvia Solomon, at Mount Zion Hospital during his internship. He served as a doctor in a prisoner-of-war camp during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He was a physician for over 50 years in South San Francisco. He was a member of Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame for 58 years where he was a past president and a confirmation teacher.
He was loved and respected by his patients and by his temple community. He was known for his compassion and his sense of humor.
He is survived by his children, Karen Scheikowitz, Roger Solomon, Ted Solomon, Mindy Zych and their families, as well as his extended family, relatives and friends. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, patients and temple community.
Services were held on Dec. 18 at Peninsula Temple Sholom with burial at Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma.
Sinai Memorial Chapel (650) 369-3636
Andrew Weiss
9/14/1935–12/25/2013
A longtime resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
Andrew (“Andy”) was born in Hungary, immigrated to the USA in 1937 and lived in New Jersey. In 1964, Andy moved to California. Prior to his move, Andy served in the United States Air Force. Once he relocated to the Bay Area, Andy developed a strong, devoted work ethic and became a successful, self-made business owner. Andy not only worked hard for his customers, but also enjoyed interacting with them through timeless jokes, stories and political debates.
Andy’s zest for history, politics and Zionism fueled his passion for writing countless editorials and letters to the Contra Costa Times over many years.
His passion was reading and writing about Israel.
During his retirement, Andy enjoyed playing lots of table tennis (Ping-Pong) with his family and friends.
Andrew is survived by his devoted wife, Judy, of 45 years, and three sons, Peter, Mikey, David, David’s wife, Lisa, and two grandchildren, Isabella and Ethan.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Andrew’s memory can be made to Beth Chaim Congregation of Danville, California.