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Miriam Esther Newman

June 6, 1925–Oct. 18, 2017

Miriam Newman died peacefully in her Rossmoor home in Walnut Creek on the morning of Oct. 18 and was buried at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette on Oct. 23, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She is survived by Stanley Newman, her husband of 72 years; her two sons, David (Ellen) and Kenneth (Kathleen); her grandchildren Benjamin, Brian, Adam and Kristin (Dylan); and great-granddaughter Madelynn.

Miriam was born in Pasadena, California, on June 6, 1925, the only daughter of Benjamin and Regina Edelman. Her parents each left Poland in the early 1920s and made their way to Southern California, where they met and were married. Benjamin, a skilled watchmaker, owned a small jewelry shop on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Growing up in a town with little Jewish presence, Miriam nevertheless formed a strong sense of her Jewish identity, which led her to a life-long commitment to Jewish community and organizations. She and Stanley were founding members of Temple Judea (now Beth Israel–Judea) in Daly City and B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek. She was a devoted supporter of Hadassah and Brandeis University.

She was also an avid duplicate bridge player, achieving Life Master status. She mentored new bridge players into her late 80s, continuing to make new friends throughout her life.

She will be missed by her family and the many friends whose lives she touched.

Idell Weiss

Idell Weiss passed away after a sudden illness on Oct. 24, 2017, at the age of 83. She will be deeply missed by her devoted husband of almost 62 years, Otto; her loving children, Paul Weiss (wife Allison), Karen Hanten (husband Mark) and Eric Weiss (fiancee Lydia Bigelow); adoring grandchildren, Jeremy Weiss, Naomi Fuller (Josh), Connor Hanten, Madison Hanten, Adam Weiss and Abby Weiss; and great-granddaughter Lily Fuller. Her extended family and many friends all appreciated her strength, thoughtfulness and mischievous sense of humor.

Idell was born July 6, 1934 in Los Angeles and moved to San Francisco when she was 5. She enjoyed spending time with her parents, Louis and Beatrice Rosenthal, and brother, Marty Rosenthal, going to the beach and riding horses. She also liked going to dances and dating.

After graduating George Washington High School, she attended UC Berkeley, receiving her degree in physical therapy from UCSF, and went on to work with veterans and neurologically impaired children. Always athletic, she was a competitive figure skater as a teenager, an avid tennis player and hiker as an adult, and in recent years enjoyed water aerobics, dance/exercise and Zumba. She and Otto were supporters of many Jewish charities, as well as the San Francisco ballet, symphony and opera.

After raising her three children and returning to work as a physical therapist, she took up fine arts and became a very talented and accomplished painter, collagist, printmaker and jewelry-maker, specializing in “Landscapes — Abstract and Representational.” Her works were shown in many juried shows, public spaces, galleries and the John Steinbeck Museum, and she actively participated with the National League of American Pen Women, San Francisco Women Artists and the Hunter’s Point Shipyard open studios.

A graveside service was held on Friday, Oct. 27 at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma. Donations in Idell’s memory may be made to Jewish Family and Children’s Services, or the charity of your choice.