Helen Mae Schlossberg Cohen

May 23, 1933–Nov. 25, 2014

Helen Mae Schlossberg Cohen, beloved wife of the late Gilbert M. Cohen and partner of Jack Goralsky; mother of Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen of Baltimore, Ellie M. Cohen (Miki Goralsky) of San Anselmo, Jeff Cohen (Philippe Castro) of Paris, and Debby Lee Cohen Molloy (John Molloy) of New York City; sister of Myrna (late Arnold) Goldberger; loving grandmother of Leah Minnie Goralsky-Cohen, Asaf Nathan Goralsky-Cohen, Liliana Schlossberg-Cohen, AnnaLeah Molloy, and Maria Minna Molloy. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and other loving family and dear friends.

Morton Wallace Friedman, M.D.

Aug. 10, 1924–Nov. 25, 2014

An internationally recognized leader in eye surgery, died at his home in San Francisco on Nov. 25 at the age of 90. Dr. Friedman was born in 1924 Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated with a joint B.S. and M.D. degree from the University of Iowa in 1948. He went on to do an internship and residency at the Los Angeles County Hospital while serving as a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve.

During his residency, Dr. Friedman met Faega Rodin, whom he married in 1950. Together they had two daughters, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Having received further retinal training under Dr. Dorhmann Pischel of Stanford, Dr. Friedman moved to San Francisco in 1955 to establish a retinal surgery department at Stanford Hospital.

When the university moved its medical facilities to Palo Alto, he joined the Department of Ophthalmology at UCSF, where he taught for 40 years, serving as a clinical professor of ophthalmology. He introduced the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope to the San Francisco eye community and was a leader in procedures developing retinal buckling for retinal detachments.

In 1962, Dr. Friedman was appointed chief of ophthalmology at Mount Zion Hospital, a position he held for 15 years. He was a member of numerous medical societies, including the American Ophthalmological Society, the American Retina Society, and the Gonin Society, an international retinal association. He also served as a member of the San Francisco Ophthalmological Round Table and the Society of Heed Fellows and as president of the board of Prevent Blindness Northern California.

The last years of his life were spent between his homes in San Francisco and St. Helena. His greatest pleasure was sharing time and ideas with his wife of 64 years, Faega Friedman, his daughters Rickie Ann Baum and Barbra Friedman, their spouses Rick Baum and Doug Loudon, his grandchildren Daniel Baum, Rachel Vranich, Abigail Baum, Zach Baum, Dylan Loudon and Ethan Loudon, and his great-granddaughter Nora Vranich.

Private graveside services were held. The family asks that any donations in Dr. Friedman’s memory be directed to the Jewish Home of San Francisco, 302 Silver Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112.

Sinai Memorial Chapel (415) 921-3636

Fred A. Hurvich

With sadness and with joy, we remember our beloved father, Fred A. “Rico” Hurvich, who took his last breath on Dec. 2.  Funeral will be held Friday, Dec. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Congregation Kol Shofar, followed by 2 p.m. burial at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael.

At Rico’s request, donations in his memory may be sent to the JFCS Food Pantry, the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance, Mazon or Marin General Patient Care.(415) 921-3636

Rheta Kurant

1917–2014

Passed away peacefully Nov. 28, 2014. Beloved wife of the late Harry Kurant for 62 years. Adored mother of Marge Block and Maddy and Frank Blumenthal. Amazing and loved nanny of Mindi McCuen, Neal Block (Ashley), Philip Blumenthal (Trish) and Risa Federighi (Mark). Cherished and playful great-nanny of Gabriel Federighi, Gianna Federighi, Hunter Block, Savannah Block and Adrianna Grayson. Best sister in the world to the late Sheldon Blickman, and sister-in-law of Margie Blickman and Freda Kurant Teller. Loved by many nieces and nephews.

To the special place that Rheta called home for the past 21⁄2 years, special thanks to Complete Senior Living, Vivian, Shema, Cassandra, Yardley, Zanele, Sesilia and Kady, a warm thank you. Loving thanks to the most caring caregivers Sylvia and Yenifer, who also called her Nanny. A founding

member of Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo.

Interment private. Celebration of Life was held Dec. 1 at Peninsula Temple Beth El. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Peninsula Temple Beth El Building Fund or the Senior Friendship Club or to Mission Hospice of San Mateo.

Sinai Memorial Chapel (650) 369-3636

Peter Harold Lipman

Peter Harold Lipman, 71, of Cupertino, California, passed away peacefully on Nov. 21, 2014 after a long illness. Born in 1943 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Libbie and Raymond Lipman, he was a graduate of Brown and Stanford universities in applied mathematics and computer science, respectively.

He was a proud father of three, nature lover, avid traveler and true pioneer in his profession of software engineering. His open door and warm smile invited co-workers and strangers alike. He was a legend in his profession, yet he humbly acknowledged others and took little credit for himself.

He is survived by his mother, Libbie Lipman, his wife, Corinne Lipman, his children Janna Lipman Weiss, Adam Lipman and Ethan Lipman, grandchildren Maya and Simone Weiss and Colin Lipman, his sister Joyce deLemos and his nieces and nephews. His welcoming smile truly lit up a room. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Contributions in his memory to American Jewish World Service or Mazon are welcome.

George Mintzer

1923–2014

George Mintzer, 91, passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Walnut Creek early on Saturday morning, Nov. 29, 2014. For the last two years, George had been living at the Kensington Assisted Living Facility in Walnut Creek, following 30 years as a resident of San Francisco.

George worked every day to give practical form to his ethical principles and his devotion to social justice. He was an active member of many communities, including a large and diverse extended family and the Jewish community of San Francisco’s Congregation Sha’ar Zahav.

George was born March 10, 1923 in New York City to immigrant parents. His father, Yitzchak, was a Jewish immigrant from Galicia, while his mother, Shoshana, emigrated from Odessa (both now part of Ukraine). George was the youngest in his family, with two older brothers and one older sister. As a boy he was sent to a religious school and received an Orthodox Jewish upbringing. He grew up working in his parents’ fruit store, and when they lost the store during the Depression, he worked on the family pushcart, selling fruits and vegetables in the street. His favorite part of the day was returning the pushcart to the stables, where he secretly enjoyed several perfect oranges from the cart, although his dad always worried that he was “eating up the profits.”

With the outbreak of World War II, George was drafted into the Army and trained as a combat engineer. He fought extensively in the European theater, including the winter darkness of the Battle of the Bulge. He built bridges and deactivated mines along the front lines and sometimes behind them, where he could understand the German soldiers’ conversations because of his knowledge of Yiddish.

George was the cherished husband of Phyllis Mintzer (nee Opal). They met at a school dance as teenagers, marrying when George was 20 and Phyllis was 18. At the time, the radical idea of a Hungarian Jewess marrying a Galitzianer was considered by many in the community as a “mixed marriage” with dubious prospects for success. They learned from and loved each other for 61 years, creating a warm and open home that welcomed friends, strangers, students and family members, certain that “there was always one more potato to throw in the soup.” George’s philosophy of life, his composure and compassion, his humility and humor made him a “mensch” par excellence.

Upon returning from World War II, George found a job as a draftsman and took engineering courses at night in the City College of New York. He graduated with a B.S. in electrical engineering and a determination to “build a better world” for his three children, Madeline, Irving and Barbara. His Jewish upbringing and his experiences in World War II left him with a passionate commitment to social justice that he carried, with Phyllis as his partner, throughout his life.

George and Phyllis were activists in the Long Island Jewish community, fighting for equal treatment in New York public schools for children of all religions. George became the plaintiff in a bitterly debated 1958 case on prayer in public schools, which created important precedents leading to the seminal 1962 U.S. Supreme Court decision that banned prayer in public schools.

In 1963, George moved his family to Palo Alto, California, where he helped to design power plants and other large industrial facilities for the Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco. He continued to work as an electrical engineer until his retirement in 1999. George actively supported Phyllis, a path-breaking religious educator in local congregations, but he always said, “I just carry her books and drive the car.”

During his time in San Francisco, George supported progressive causes, fought for equitable treatment of minorities and stood for a livable wage. He was well-loved throughout his life. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Phyllis; grandson Nathan McMahon; granddaughter Tatia Oden-French; and great-granddaughter Zora French. He is survived by his three children, Madeline Oden, Irving Mintzer and Barbara McMahon, their spouses, seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a large circle of loving relatives and friends.

Interment was at Hills of Eternity Cemetery, Colma. Donations in his honor may be made to the religious school, Beit Sefer Phyllis Mintzer, at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., San Francisco, CA 94103.