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Dr. Gerson Jacobs died March 4, 2017, at his home in Greenbrae, California, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilyn (n. Robinson), his sons Michael and Daniel, their wives Ellen Fuerst and Ronit (n. Makleff), five grandchildren, Allon (m. Hilla Wahnishe), Eadon, Leore Parkansky (m. Eddie), Rebecca, and Jonathan, two great-grandchildren, his sisters Ruth Perlmutter and Judith Rappaport, and their families.

Dr. Jacobs was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Israel and Leah (n. Rosenberg) Jacobs. As a teenager, he aspired to be an engineer. He was drafted into the Army in World War II and, after basic training, was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program at the University of Louisville School of Medicine to be trained as a physician.

After completing medical school, Dr. Jacobs performed research at University of Wisconsin at Madison and Marquette University, where he met Marilyn, fell quickly in love and proposed to her two weeks later. They married on June 24, 1951. Six weeks later, he was drafted again into the Army, serving as a physician in Korea for two years and receiving a Bronze Star for bravery in setting up a MASH under fire.

Returning to civilian life, Dr. Jacobs received his residency training in internal medicine at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and then practiced medicine in Philadelphia. In 1958, the family (by now including two sons) moved to Lucas Valley. Dr. Jacobs practiced internal medicine with the Marin Medical Group for five years, and then opened his own office at 599 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., specializing in the emerging field of cardiology. He founded the Coronary Care Unit at Marin General Hospital — the first coronary care unit on the West Coast — in 1963; served on the clinical faculty at UC San Francisco Medical School; and became a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology in 1970.

In 1964, the family moved to Greenbrae. In 1975, Dr. Jacobs founded a medical partnership, Cardiology Associates of Marin. He was frequently a leader of the medical community in recognizing opportunities for medical advances, and was much loved by his patients for his outstanding clinical care and kind, direct manner.

Dr. Jacobs was extraordinarily curious, and remained an open-minded thinker throughout his life. He was a passionate believer in our country and its protection of personal freedoms, a committed member of Congregation Rodef Sholom and an avid supporter of Israel.

After retirement, he volunteered at Rotacare and joined several men’s discussion groups that studied philosophy and explored current events. He and Marilyn loved their second home at Sea Ranch. His highest joy was being surrounded by family and friends and engaging in vigorous discussion and debate.

The family is grateful to Tawake Baravilala, Ning Ibe, Maria Flores and Hospice by the Bay for the loving care he received from them.

A private burial was held. Contributions in his memory to Congregation Rodef Sholom, Hospice by the Bay and Marin Community Clinics are welcome.

Natalie Lerner Norwick

June 7, 1924 – January 21, 2017

Natalie Norwick died on Jan. 21, 2017, at Community Hospital of Long Beach, of complications from pneumonia. She was 92. Known as “Nan” by family and friends, she was born Natalie Joan Lerner in Philadelphia to Dr. Jacob Lerner and Esther Ruche Lerner, immigrants from Russia and Romania. In addition to her older half-sister, Edythe, Nan had a younger sister, Mimi, and a younger brother, Robert, who preceded her in death.

Nan graduated from Olney High School in Philadelphia. In a time when women were discouraged from careers, let alone higher education, Norwick told her daughters and grandchildren later, she defied her father and “went away” to school — eschewing the close-to-home Temple University in favor of out-of-town Penn State University (then Penn State College) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetic administration and a minor in chemistry in 1945. She followed her degree with a dietetic internship in Illinois, and then worked as a dietician at the Jewish Hospital in Philadelphia (now Albert Einstein Medical Center).

Norwick met her husband, Walter L. Norwick, as a child growing up in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia, where her father was a doctor. And, Edythe had married Walter’s older brother Sidney before WWII. Nan and Walt wed on January 25, 1948, in a simple ceremony in Philadelphia. They settled in San Francisco and soon moved to the Monterey Peninsula to raise a family (3 daughters) and start a business, Walter’s Fashions for Men — in Seaside. The Norwicks were one of the founding families of Congregation Beth Israel in (then) Monterey, in 1954.

In her 50s and after her daughters were grown and gone, Nan worked as a travel agent in Monterey. After Walter retired and sold his Fremont Avenue store in 1985, Nan lobbied for life in a warmer climate; they moved south to Oceanside (North San Diego County), where they bought a home in the senior community of Leisure Village country club. There, they relished retirement and the busy, friendly community until Walter’s death in 2005. They were married for 57 years, and Nan even lived to enjoy (and spoil) four great-grandchildren. Besides her famous cakes and cookies, she showered her loved ones with her other talents: hand-knit sweaters, hats and blankets, and later, homemade quilts. Nan was also thrilled to see her beloved Giants win 3 World Series titles.

She is survived by daughters Constance (David Gottlieb) Norwick, Napa, Barbara (Rabbi Josef) Davidson (St. Louis, Mo), and Naomi Norwick (Long Beach); grandchildren Olivia (Sean) Herstein, Michaela (Myles) Bogner, Elana Davidson, and Jacob Davidson; great-grandchildren Adin and Joslyn Bogner, and Miriam and Nava Herstein; and many extended relatives and friends.

She was buried Jan. 25, 2017, next to Walter, on what would have been their 69^th wedding anniversary, at Mission Memorial Park in Seaside. Her family requested that any donations in her memory be made to the Natalie & Walter Norwick Scholarship Fund, Arrowbear Music Camp, P.O. Box 1294, Lakewood, CA 90714  (where their daughter Naomi taught music). For information: arrowbearmusicassoc.org