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Lottie Gutterman

May 14, 1924–March 8, 2015

At rest in Palo Alto. Beloved wife of the late Morris Gutterman, M.D. Loving mother of Janet, Myra and the late Jonathan Gutterman. A longtime member of Congregation Beth Jacob of Redwood City.
 Services were held at Hills of Eternity, Colma. Memorial contributions to Congregation Beth Jacob preferred.

Sinai Memorial Chapel (650) 369-3636

 

Eugene Koppich

May 15, 1923–March 8, 2015

Eugene Koppich, age 91, died peacefully on March 8, 2015 at Mills-Peninsula Hospital. Gene was the beloved husband of Rosalie and adoring father of Julia and Steven. He served in the Navy in World War II and then spent 50 years in the furniture industry, first owning a store on San Francisco’s Fillmore Street with his father, and then representing several lines of furniture to commercial customers.

As a native New Yorker who spent nearly all his adult life in the Bay Area, Gene was a man of divided sports loyalties. The New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers all were his teams.

Gene could never be accused of being a man of few words, nor would he duck a good political argument when one came his way. Sharp until the very end, he could recite phone numbers, addresses, and facts and figures about individuals about whom he had just met and those he had long known. He had his food idols and icons and he himself loved to eat. He was always quick to remind dining companions, “A good cook doesn’t need to use onions or herbs,” making satisfying his palate ever a challenge. We will miss him.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Peninsula del Rey, San Bruno Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Mills-Peninsula Hospital for their unfailing kindness. Private services were held. A contribution to your favorite charity is preferred.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

(415) 921-3636

 

Edith Kurtz

Dec. 6, 1914–Jan. 17, 2015

Beloved mother of Ira Kurtz (Louba), Leanne Kurtz and Leah Kurtz Sudran; grandmother of Gabriel Kurtz, Samuel Kurtz and Natan Kurtz (Tehillah); great-grandmother of Moshe Kurtz, Nathan Kurtz and Binyamin Kurtz; aunt of Carolyn Singerman, Kenny Fass (Ellen), Eugene Savin, Debbie Rosen (Michael), Marilyn Minard, Barnett Kurtz; great-aunt of Mishy Silvia, Mark Singerman (Mirka), Sari Goldberg (Moses), Billy Singerman; cousin of Adele Mendelsohn and Jack Fass (Diane), and friend and relative to many others.

Edith was raised in Oakland, California, and was part of the Clar and Fass clans which were active in Jewish communal affairs, including activism as strong supporters of the Labor Zionist Movement and the nascent Temple Beth Abraham. Edith was a lifelong supporter of the State of Israel and became the president of her chapter of Hadassah as well as encouraging her children and grandchildren. This led to her son’s service in the Israeli army, her grandson’s current candidacy as a rabbi by the Israeli rabbinate, her daughter’s becoming a Conservative rabbi, and her daughters’ and grandson’s activism on behalf of Israel.

Edith worked as a psychiatric social worker, and among the positions she held was one as a social worker at Langley Porter Clinic in San Francisco and one as part of a statewide team of professionals responsible for certification of nursing homes in California. Edith cared deeply about the welfare of the people she served and it was always more than a job to her.

Edith was the beloved wife of Nathan Kurtz who predeceased her, passing away in 1966. Edith raised her three children and worked at two jobs after Nathan’s death and was a model of a person who doesn’t shirk from the responsibilities that adversity hands us. Edith was a friend of many, including her lifelong friend Sheva Eisenberger and her friend Bess Sewelson. She valued and cherished her friendships. The most important values to Edith were her love of family, loyalty to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and her love of learning. She had a remarkable sense of humor and love of living and was blessed with a keen mind and spirit up to the end. Most of all she blessed those who were close to her with her unconditional love, which she expressed up to the end. She was truly an eshet hayil, a mentsh and a tzadeket.

The funeral was at Eternal Home Cemetery. Please make donations to Girls Town Jerusalem Bayit Lepletot, P.O. Box 5115, Jerusalem, Israel 91050.

 

Ira Kurtz

September 4, 1954–March 4, 2015

Beloved husband of Louba Burstein, son-in-law of Augustina Gredinberg, father of Natan Kurtz (Tehillah), stepfather of Elizabeth Burstein, Mark Burstein and Leon Burstein, grandfather of Moshe Kurtz and Binyamin Kurtz, brother of Leanne Kurtz and Leah Kurtz Sudran; uncle of Gabriel Kurtz and Samuel Kurtz, cousin of Carolyn Singerman, Kenny Fass (Ellen), Eugene Savin, Debbie Rosen (Michael), Marilyn Minard, Barnett Kurtz, Mishy Silvia, Mark Singerman (Mirka), Sari Goldberg (Moses) and Billy Singerman; cousin of Adele Mendelsohn, Jack Fass (Diane); and a friend and relative to many others.

Ira was born with a spinal defect, which required multiple surgeries, yet he volunteered to serve in the Israeli army and was a commander in the tank corps. He was a skilled electrician and loved to work in any capacity to build and repair homes. He was also a gifted student, and was in school studying for a degree. Ira had a wonderful sense of humor, a passion for the State of Israel and a love of the Jewish people.

He was a devoted son, helping his mother, Edith Kurtz, in any way he could. His love for his son, Natan, and his grandchildren was immeasurable. He was a loving and caring uncle to his nephews and a good friend and caring relative to many, many people. His strong, passionate and intelligent presence will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Please send donations to Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America, 1 Penn Plaza, Suite 6250, New York, NY 10119.