Kenneth Wayne Fields, MD
Dr. Ken Fields passed away unexpectedly on the afternoon of March 14, 2016. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, on May 14, 1958, he graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in chemistry in 1979. He attended the University of Miami School of Medicine where he gained his MD in 1983, and from where he subsequently completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Dermatology.
Kenny met his wife, Stacy, during residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. After residency they moved to Naples, Florida, with their daughter Stephanie and elder son Joseph, and where their younger son Matthew was born. He lived and practiced in Naples for 23 years.
He was a loving father, brother and son. Kenny was an incredible role model and everyone’s best and most loyal friend. Since childhood, he displayed an innate talent for the arts and comedy. He was a gifted doctor and surgeon. He could make everyone laugh and had a joy for life. He was a brilliant, kind and gentle soul.
He is survived by his wife and children, mother Blanche Fields, older sister Dr. Connie Fields, twin sister Dr. Kathy Fields of San Francisco and younger brother Dr. Dan Fields, their families and friends. He will be sorely missed.
Memorial service to be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 18 at Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL 34109.
Funeral service to be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 20 at Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, 333 Southwest 4th Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432.
Vicki Lee Rushakoff
October 2, 1946 – March 8, 2016
A native San Franciscan, graduate of Lowell High School and University of California, Berkeley, Vicki was a loving wife, a devoted daughter and a caring sister. Vicki was a CPA who had an active accounting practice in San Francisco for over 45 years. Vicki is survived by her husband, Michael Weiner; her brother Robert (and Susan) Rushakoff; sister-in-law Arlene Warren; and her nieces and nephews, Joshua and Benjamin Rushakoff, Elizabeth (and Ralph) Uzzo, and Daniel (and Beth) Warren. Vicki was preceded in death by her parents Nadine and Oscar Rushakoff. Private services were held on March 11. Donations in Vicki’s memory may be made to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, or to a charity of your choice.
Sinai Memorial Chapel (415) 921-3636
Julia G. Seiff
11/4/32 – 3/7/16
Julia Seiff, Los Altos resident of 40 years and Bay Area resident of 60 years, loving wife, mother of two children, and grandmother of one child, passed away on March 7 due to complications from cigarette smoking and vascular dementia.
Julia was the wife of 32 years to the world-renown NASA scientist, the late Alvin Seiff, until his passing in December 2000 from a glioblastoma. After Al’s passing, Julia remained widowed for the rest of her life. Julia is survived by her brother Joel Hill, living in Bonny Doon, California; son Michael Seiff (Los Altos High School ’87), motorcycle mechanic living in San Jose, California; son Geoffrey Seiff (Los Altos High School ’89), technology executive for Sony PlayStation living in San Diego, California; daughter-in-law Jennifer Strainis Seiff, wife of Geoffrey Seiff; and grandson Alexander William Seiff (age 10), son of Geoffrey and Jennifer Seiff.
Julia grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was the middle child of three. Her parents were both in the arts; her father, Paul Hill, was a musical arranger for both television and radio jingles including “Ozzie and Harriet” and Dinah Shore. Julia’s mother, Dorothy Hill, was a painter and a sculptor, and some of Dorothy’s work is currently on display in San Jose. Julia also kept a framed $100 bill that Paul Hill received from Dinah Shore’s office in consideration for one of his musical arrangements in the 1950s, as well as a few of Dorothy’s paintings.
Julia had a quick mind and was gifted both mathematically and musically. She graduated U.C. Davis with a master’s in math, and earned a second master’s in music from San Jose State later in her career. Julia was a pioneer as a woman in a high-powered, technical career in the 1950s, working as an engineer for both Lockheed as well as NASA, although interestingly she didn’t meet her husband Al Seiff there even though they were both employed at Moffett Field during the same period. Another interesting fact: At one time, Julia had a role in the 1950s as a “Computer,” performing complex mathematical calculations, before the invention and/or popularization of computers.
Julia met Alvin Seiff in 1964 through a singles group, and they married in 1968. Julia had sons Michael in 1969 and Geoffrey in 1970. Once the kids were older, Julia decided to go back to work and taught both math and music at the community college level. She taught at Foothill, De Anza, Cañada and West Valley colleges, among others. She taught both sight-singing classes as well as algebra through trigonometry classes. Julia also composed an original piece of classical music, written for piano, violin and cello, which was performed publicly at the Foothill College auditorium.
Julia will be remembered not only for her talents and passions, but also for her warmth, empathy, and kindness toward others. Funeral services will be held on March 25 at 2 p.m. at Skylawn Memorial Park, 100 Lifemark Road, San Mateo, CA 94062.