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Frederick N. Firestone, M.D.
Dec. 6, 1931–Jan. 9, 2017

Dr. Frederick Norton Firestone was a proud, fourth-generation Californian, born to Dr. Frederick Firestone and Adrienne Norton Firestone on Dec. 6, 1931. He was raised in San Francisco and graduated from Lowell High School. He was a proud Eagle Scout who loved the outdoors and enjoyed sailing, skiing and hiking. A lifelong learner, he was always curious about the world, and strove to build meaningful connections wherever he went.

Medicine was his true calling. He earned an undergraduate degree in biological sciences in 1953 and a doctorate of medicine in 1956 — both from Stanford University. He was a thoracic, vascular and general surgeon who trained in Boston at Harvard teaching hospitals. Dr. Firestone served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army, and was Chief Resident of the 97th General Army Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany.
Dr. Firestone had a long and distinguished career as a surgeon, practicing for 20 years at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California, and at Costa Mesa Memorial Hospital, where he served as Chief of Staff. He continued practicing surgery for FHP Healthcare in Huntington Beach and concluded his career as a surgeon in the Midwest.

In addition to his passion for patient care, he was devoted to training and mentoring future generations of doctors, which he did for 25 years as a member of the clinical faculty of the University of California, Irvine. He was also committed to giving back to his local community. From 1972 to 1976, in conjunction with the Orange County Board of Supervisors, he led the design and implementation of the first Orange County Paramedic System. He also served as the president of the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the Orange County Surgical Society.

While medicine and healing were his life’s work, he was a true Renaissance man, well-read and passionate about the arts, music, history, local affairs, travel, wine and gourmet cooking. In retirement, he enjoyed an active life immersed in the arts in both Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Pasadena, California. Dr. Firestone was a docent at the Philbrook Museum of Art, the Tulsa Ballet Theatre and the Pasadena Heritage Society. The Firestones enjoyed local culture, playing bridge, travel and family visits.

Dr. Firestone is survived by his wife, Mary Henson Firestone of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, his three children, Julie Garlikov (Andy), Laurie Siedelman (David) and Dr. Daniel Firestone (Amanda), as well as seven grandchildren, his brother Richard Firestone, and his former wife, Anne Leipziger Firestone. He is also survived by Mary’s son, Jeff Bright, and a granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Boy Scout Troop 14, c/o Dr. Fred Firestone Memorial Fund, 132 10th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118.

 

William (Bill) Samuel Mauskopf
Feb. 13, 1936–Jan. 29, 2017

Bill Mauskopf of Saratoga, California, passed away on Jan. 29, 2017, while surrounded by his family. Bill was a family man, an athlete, and a champion bridge player, attaining the title of Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League. Bill grew up in Morristown, NJ, and graduated from Morristown High School in 1953. He attended Rutgers University where he played on the golf team and graduated with a B.A. in Business in 1957.

Bill was a loyal and proud employee of the Prudential Insurance Company where he worked his entire career, from 1957 to 1994, attaining the position of Vice President of Computer Systems in the Group Pension Department. He was the rare leader that was intelligent, precise, and compassionate, a combination that brought out the best in his team members.

As an athlete, Bill excelled at golf and skiing. An avid football fan, he was a New York Giants season ticketholder for over 30 years and a devoted fan of the Rutgers football team. Bill married Natalie Salzberg of Livingston, NJ, in 1969. They spent the next 37 years living in Springfield and subsequently New Providence, NJ, where they raised their children. In 2006, they moved to Saratoga, California, where they were active members of Temple Emanu-El in San Jose and then Congregation Beth David in Saratoga. Bill was a humanitarian, a devoted caregiver to his aunt and uncle, and a generous donor to numerous organizations, particularly those in support of Israel.

He is survived by his wife, Natalie, their two children, Eric (wife Sara) of San Francisco and Susan of Berkeley, as well as a granddaughter, Bryn Mauskopf, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Emanuel, his mother, Edith, and his brother, Robert. Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Bright Focus Foundation for Alzheimer’s disease research at brightfocus.org.

 

Gilbert Pavlovsky of San Rafael passed away peacefully on Feb. 1 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce Pavlovsky; his daughters Julie Rosenberg (Jacob) and Lisa (Jay Schulman); grandchildren Meital and Arielle Rosenberg, Adam and Ezra Schulman; and niece Pamela Mayer (Richard). Preceded in death by his son, Andrew (Stacey Torman), and brother, Harry.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends including his first cousins Pola Burk and Betty Szteinbaum and lifelong friends Gerald Adams and Stanley Lichtenstein.

Gil was born in San Francisco on Dec. 24, 1928, to Mary and George Pavlovsky. He was a gifted pianist with perfect pitch and started giving concerts as a young child. He did not attend school until age 7 to enable him to focus on his piano playing. He attended Lowell High School (’45) and went on to attend U.C. Berkeley (’49) where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He received his law degree at U. C. Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall).

Gil started working for the Federal Government in 1955 as an anti-trust attorney. In 1974, he was appointed to serve as an Administrative Law Judge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, retiring in 1999. He continued to work part-time as a judge after retirement, traveling throughout the country to hear cases. For many years, Gilbert also served on the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California.

Gil loved tennis, opera, bridge, reading, traveling, and lying by the pool in his beloved backyard in San Rafael. However, he was truly at his happiest surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 5 at Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael.

The family requests memorial contributions to Congregation Rodef Sholom, Jewish Family and Children’s Services or Hospice by the Bay.

 

Sarah (“Sari”) Virginia Calderon Shifrin
April 3, 1931 – January 27, 2017

Born April 2, 1931 in Centralia, Washington to Sam and Sue Calderon, Sari passed away peacefully at home in Palo Alto, California on Jan. 27, 2017 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

Sari grew up in Centralia, moving to Seattle for her senior year of high school and graduating from Seattle’s Garfield High School. In Seattle, Sari worked in her parents’ grocery store, where Franklin L. Shifrin, her future husband and the love of her life, first saw her. However, since she was only 16 at the time, and he was a mature 22, Frank looked and left. They met again about a year and a half later at a Junior Hadassah dinner, and Frank decided the age gap was shrinking. The couple began dating, and married in September of 1950.

Sari learned the art of homemaking as an army wife at Fort Lee, Virginia, where Frank was ordered to active duty shortly after their wedding. She delighted in learning to create a warm and orderly home. Soon after Frank’s discharge from the army, the couple moved to Palo Alto, California, where they have lived ever since, surrounded by friends and family.

In their own home, purchased with help of a GI loan, Sari and Frank became parents to two children, their daughter Terri Lynn Shifrin, and their son Charles Shifrin, and Sari delighted in her roles as wife and mother. As her children were growing up, Sari never missed a game or performance, was active with PTA and truly enjoyed watching her children grow. She was always a strong supportive force behind her husband, Frank, and they truly adored each other throughout their 67 years of marriage.

Sari loved people. Sari and Frank were active in the Jewish community, and in 1957, they and three other couples joined together to found Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto. Sari enjoyed membership in women’s groups, and enjoyed socializing with friends. She and Frank hosted and attended many dinners and parties, and Sari was never happier than when surrounded by friends and family. Her grandchildren fondly remember growing up with her lavish annual family Hanukkah celebrations.

She also loved travel, and she and Frank were fortunate to have been able to travel all over the world. They shared travel with their children as they were growing up, and later went with friends, or just the two of them. Sari enjoyed discovering new sights, new customs, and new friends throughout the world.

People who knew Sari comment on her kindness, her warmth, and the way she made everyone feel welcome. She lived with style and grace, a quiet but strong force in the family and in her community. Sari lives on in the hearts of her husband Frank, her daughter and son, her daughter-in-law, her four grandchildren and their spouses, her three great grandchildren, and many other friends and relatives. Her life was a blessing.

Sinai Memorial Chapel
(650) 369-3636

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