Sign up for Weekday J and get the latest on what's happening in the Jewish Bay Area.

Mendel Feldbrill passed away peacefully on Aug. 29, 2017, at the age of 96. He is survived by his loving wife Mila, their two sons Leon and Bill, daughter-in-law Michelle and granddaughters Elexis and Ashley.

He was a devoted husband to Mila and they were inseparable for 72 years.
Mendel was a Holocaust survivor who was liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp.

By profession he was a tool and die maker and retired after 25 years of employment with Schlage Lock Company.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 5 at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Peninsula Temple Sholom Holocaust & Historical Projects Fund.

---

Arthur B. Gauss died peacefully at the Jewish Home in San Francisco on Aug. 26 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

A native of Chicago, Art settled in the Bay Area in 1949 and married his beloved wife Mimi, who survives him, 45 years ago.

Art will be missed for his gentlemanly charm, keen mind, wry sense of humor, perfectionism and generous philanthropy — a man ever highly principled in his professional, business and personal relationships.

He was the fortunate and loving father of Ilana Gauss of San Francisco and Ari Gauss (Hollis) of Chapel Hill, N.C., and adoring grandfather of Aaron Gauss, Chapel Hill, whose visits brought him tremendous joy and pride. Loving brother-in-law of Leonard (Janet) Stern and nephew William (Valerie) Stern and great-nieces Aidan and Carly Stern.

Art was the son of the late Frank and Jennie Gauss and brother of the late Martin Gauss. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in pharmacology at the top of his class and as a member of honor society Phi Kappa Phi for scholarly distinction, integrity and highest ethical standards, all of which define his entire life.

His Army dental assistant experience produced a scholarship at the University of Illinois School of Dentistry. Art relocated permanently to the Bay Area in 1949 to practice dentistry in the East Bay. He returned to Illinois to study orthodontics in 1960 and pioneered adult orthodontics in San Francisco, where he practiced at 450 Sutter for 35 years.

He was a president and lifetime member of the Northern California chapter of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity and president of the California Dental Guild, as well as a lifetime member of the ADA and CDA.

Art will be remembered as an ardent supporter of the Brandeis School of San Francisco, which bears the name of his parents, and recalled for his three passions besides family and dentistry: studying and generously sharing his understanding of the golf swing and the stock market, and philanthropy. He was a 40-year member of Lake Merced Golf Club. At various times in his life, he delighted in flying his airplane, dancing, driving and exhibiting his Mark II Continental, traveling with Mimi and, in his last years, being visited by his family, especially his grandson and his standard poodle, Rafi, at the Jewish Home in San Francisco.

He was longtime member of Congregation Sherith Israel, AIPAC, B’nai B’rith and American Jewish Committee and supporter of the S.F. Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund.

The family thanks the caring and conscientious staff of the Jewish Home, especially Shirleybee and Dolly, and doctors Jim Davis and Ed Hassid for their care and support for five years.

In lieu of flowers, Art would have welcomed donations to the Brandeis School of San Francisco Gauss Scholarship Fund, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Jewish Home S.F. or the S.F. Food Bank.

---

Henry H. Small

March 27, 1914–Aug. 19, 2017

Beloved husband of the late Gertrud “Trudy” Small passed away in his San Francisco home at the age of 103. He was born in Berlin, Germany, six months before the outbreak of World War I. He emigrated to New York in 1938 to escape the Nazi uprising. Henry served in the United States Army from 1940-45. After military service he traveled around the country doing various jobs.

Henry found permanent employment with three button/notion companies. He was a true traveling salesman, his territory the northern part of California to the Oregon border and a part of Nevada. He met his future wife Trudy on a blind date in 1952. They were married in Kansas City in 1953 and settled in San Francisco.

He loved classical music, travel, family and worldwide news broadcasts. Henry was a longtime board member of the Golden Gate chapter of the B’nai B’rith. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54½ years and leaves behind a niece, Suzanne (Robert) Thompson, nephews Michael (Julia) Lane and Robert (Isabel) Schick, and great-nephews Anthony, Gregory, Mark, Steven and Andrew. Henry will be dearly missed by many family members and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco.