Lois Samuel (Cosden) Dawers

Sept. 27, 1919–April 20, 2016

A native of San Francisco and 47-year resident of Piedmont, Lois was the daughter of Jacob (Jake) and Anna Samuel and younger sister of Edna Samuel (DeRoy) Liebman. Bright, gifted, courageous and giving, she enriched the lives of others throughout her life.

An artist since childhood, Lois created many beautiful, meaningful paintings, both large and small. At Presidio Jr. High School, she was student body president and valedictorian, designed the student body card, and was associate editor of the school paper. Later at Washington High School, she was vice president of the student body, president of the Honor Society and designed the school colors of Scarlet and Grey. After high school, she attended the San Francisco School of Fine Art (now the San Francisco Art Institute), where she won awards and practiced commercial art.

In 1940, on a trip to New York City with her mother and favorite aunt (Gussie), she was introduced at a dinner party to her future mother-in-law (Blanche Cohn), who quickly arranged for her son, William (Bill) Edward Cosden, to meet her. Shortly after her return home, Bill took the train to San Francisco to propose. They were married by Cantor Reuben R. Rinder of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco six weeks after meeting.

She much enjoyed living in Manhattan, where sons Larry and Bill (Jr.) were born, as well as Cedarhurst (Long Island), followed by Westport, Connecticut, where she did public relations writing for nonprofits and served as a board member of some. Additionally, Lois designed sterling silver items manufactured by Dunkirk Silversmiths, the company she, her husband and father-in-law formed, that had a factory in Meriden, Connecticut, and a showroom on Fifth Avenue in NYC. In 1953, Bill passed away at the age of 36, and she returned to San Francisco with her two sons. Once back, she continued doing P.R. with Little Theatre, nonprofits and Children’s Hospital of San Francisco, as well as worked as an advertising agency artist. In 1963, she married Edward (Ed) Conrad Dawers Jr. and loved living with him in Piedmont.

There she served on the board of the Piedmont Arts and Crafts Guild and was president twice. She was also on the board of the Women’s Guild of the Judah Magnes Museum, and represented Piedmont on the California Arts Council.

In 1996, two years after Ed’s passing, Lois’ great joy was in founding the Piedmont Seniors. This group operates through the Piedmont Recreation Department and has been called the “jewel” of the department. For 20 years, it has provided a way for seniors to meet and enjoy a variety of cultural and educational activities and outings throughout the Bay Area and has been beloved by its many members over the years.

Lois is survived by her sons, Larry (wife Marilyn) Cosden and Bill Cosden (M’Liss Greenlee), and stepsons Tom Dawers and Jim Dawers (wife Peggy); grandchildren Jake and Chris Cosden and stepgrandchildren Brittany Dawers, Danika (husband Charlie) Gould and Alex Dawers; nieces Lynne Braverman (husband Michael) and Lee Culver (husband Aubrey Moore); and nephews Jay DeRoy (Judy Gerard) and Larry Levinger (Connie Carroll). Larry and Bill especially wish to thank Lois’ dear, longtime friend Linda Huber of Piedmont, and Kathy Carlon and Pamela Maguire, who became like daughters to her over the years, and her wonderful Piedmont Court neighbors during her five decades living there, as well as the caring staffs of Aegis of Moraga and Vitas (Hospice) of Contra Costa. Also, many thanks to Mark Delventhal and Janet Epstein of the Piedmont Recreation Department and Helen Fleck and all their Piedmont Seniors friends, for their collective dedication to enriching the lives of seniors and keeping Lois’ legacy alive.

A celebration of Lois’ life will be held at noon Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, at Piedmont Community Hall (711 Highland Ave., Piedmont). Contributions may be made to the Alameda County Community Food Bank (P.O. Box 2599, Oakland, CA 94614).

Sinai Memorial Chapel

(925) 962-3636

Regina Feitelberg

Regina Feitelberg, born April 4, 1923, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, in San Carlos, after a long, happy life.

Loving wife of the late Allen A. Feitelberg, Regina is survived by her beloved daughter Marilyn Jonah (Pete Hardy) and son Phillip Feitelberg (Donna); her adored grandchildren Carrie Stuart (John), Jeff Jonah (Miriam Sherman), Amy Levin (Aron) and Daniel Feitelberg (Brittany). Regina was the proud great-grandmother of Aria and Avery Feitelberg, Cooper and Karlsen Levin, Katelyn Jonah and predeceased by Jakob Jonah; and loving cousin of Pola Abram, Gina Kimelman and Anne Silver.

 Services where held at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Jewish Family and Children’s Services (Regina & Allen A. Feitelberg Endowment Fund), or Peninsula Temple Sholom.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

(650) 369-3636

Esther Friedman passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 12, 2016, just shy of her 100th birthday. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Nov. 30, 1916, and moved to San Diego when she was 6 years old. While growing up, Esther had many interests and hobbies and was a very skilled tennis player. After marrying the love of her life, Jack Friedman, she and Jack moved to San Francisco in 1935, had two children, Trude and Darrell, and enjoyed many happy years together until Jack’s untimely passing in 1965.

Esther was a voracious reader who managed the book department at Hale’s department store in San Francisco. She was also a longtime and beloved employee of 7UP Bottling Company.

Esther and her husband, Jack, were founding members of a San Francisco City of Hope chapter. She was also active in the Beth Israel Sisterhood and was president of the Kappa Nu Mother’s Club.

In 1991, she was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Steven Saribalis, with whom she spent many precious and joyous years until his passing in 2014.

Esther is preceded in death by her parents, Sarah and Sol Hamer, her cherished husband, Jack Friedman, her sisters Anne (Irving), Rosie (Al), and her brother Charlie (Betty). She was a devoted and loving mother to her children, Trude (Don) and Darrell (Felice), grandmother to Ken (Thana), Barry (Hendel), Jill (Brian), Marty (Vanessa), and Jake, great-grandmother to Alexis, Katarina, Sam, Josh, Sofia, Sarah, Nathan and Mia, and aunt and great-aunt to numerous adoring nieces and nephews.

Esther’s kindness, warmth and generosity will be missed by all who knew her.

The family is forever grateful to Esther’s long-term caregivers, Lydia Villanueva and Maggie Sigler, who helped make her final years comfortable and peaceful.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Esther’s name to the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation, 49 Stevenson St., Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105, or to a charity of your choice. Private funeral services were held.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

(415) 921-3636

Harry Recht (Chaim Mordecai) passed away peacefully on Sept. 19, surrounded by his beloved wife of 65 years, Sally, his sons Bernie and Allen, daughter-in-law Ditza, and grandchildren Talia, Ariana and David.

One of the last of the “survivor” community of San Francisco and a longtime member of Adath Israel, Harry would have turned 96 years old on Oct. 1.

Harry’s youth in Poland was interrupted when the war broke out in 1939. Harry had been a “yeshiva bocher” (one who attends yeshiva) in Kielce. He came from a very religious background. His grandfather was an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Itzhak Meir. Harry’s father, Dov Berl Recht, wrote stories for the Jewish press. His book “Hasidic Tales” can be found in the Main Library in Jerusalem.

Harry survived life in the Kielce ghetto and a number of concentration camps. He owes his survival to his older brother Morey, who kept Harry alive when he contracted typhus fever. One of the forced labor camps was Dora, where Harry assembled parts for the V2 rockets, which were used to bomb England.

Harry and Morey were the only ones in their large family to survive the concentration camps. They waited for five years for a visa to come to America.

On the boat to the United States, Harry met his wife Sally (yes, the original “Harry met Sally”). They settled in San Francisco, where they raised their family. He bought a small neighborhood grocery store with his brother-in-law Henry. Harry’s hard work enabled him to be the owner of coin-operated laundromats and some real estate throughout San Francisco.

Harry enjoyed going to shul on Saturdays and attending the rabbi’s weekly Torah study classes.

Harry will be remembered for his great sense of humor and his wonderful smile. He never complained, he never criticized, he never said an unkind word. Such a great man with such a gentle soul will be sorely missed by everyone.

Donations in memory of Harry can be sent to Adath Israel Congregation, 1851 Noriega St., San Francisco, CA 94122.