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Dee Mae Blatteis
Aug. 5, 1926 – Dec. 23, 2017

Loving mother and grandmother Dee Blatteis passed away peacefully in San Francisco with her son Barry by her side. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, she then moved to San Francisco at the age of 18 where she met her beloved husband, the late Solomon Blatteis.

Dee is survived by her son Barry Blatteis, grandson Brandon Blatteis, and many, many cousins. In her final days she was visited by numerous friends and family.

Funeral services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, CA.

(Sinai SF)

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Sandra Joyce Goldberg
April 17, 1938 – Nov. 26, 2017

Loving wife of Joseph Goldberg of blessed memory, mother of Lawrence (Karen) Goldberg and Kenneth (Kathryn) Goldberg, grandmother of Tara, Rachel, Maxwell and Samuel Goldberg, sister of Judy Scott, aunt and friend to many.

A native San Franciscan and graduate of Washington High School and UCSF School of Nursing, Sandra quickly rose to head nurse of UCSF’s OB floor. She left nursing in 1965 to raise her two sons, but remained a leader and organizer in her local homeowners’ association and PTA. In the 1980s, she began a second career as a travel agent, first at St. Francis Travel and later Quinn Travel. She loved the work, traveled the world, and was loved by her many clients.

Sandra was creative, talented, thoughtful and generous. Her energy, enthusiasm, positive attitude and big, beautiful smile were blessings to all who knew her.
Donations in Sandra’s honor can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, ALZ.org.

(Sinai Lafayette)

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Frances Katz passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2017 in her home in San Francisco, CA.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, she moved to San Francisco at the age of 14 with her parents Wolf and Anna Haber. She was in the first class to graduate from Washington High School and from there attended the University of California at Berkeley.

Frances met Irving Katz, a sergeant in the Air Force, at a USO dance at the Jewish Center on California Street as World War II came to a close. They married in 1944 and lived together for 62 wonderful years in San Francisco. They had two children, Jeffrey and Robin (predeceased).

Frances is survived by her son Jeffrey, daughter-in-law Anne Katz, and beloved grandchildren Julia Katz, Daniel Katz and his fiancée Lauren Bruce, all of the city, as well as beloved nieces and nephews in the Bay Area, Connecticut, and New York. All who knew Frances will miss her quick wit and kindness. She is the last member of her generation of Katz and Haber families, and she will always be in our hearts.

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Phyllis Vera Koch 
Jan. 21, 1922 – Dec. 13, 2017

Phyllis Vera Koch, 95 of Palo Alto, California passed away on Dec. 13, 2017 in her home, surrounded by her family.

Phyllis was born in San Francisco to Reva and Albert Schynert. Her younger brother Irving passed away in 2003.

When Phyllis was 10 years old, the family moved to Palo Alto, which was considered “the country.” They lived in Barron Park and had a chicken and goat ranch. She attended Mayfield School and Palo Alto High School. Phyllis began drawing as a child and went on to attend San Jose State—the only college in the area offering commercial art in advertising. Two days after graduation she began her first job sketching ads in newspapers and magazines.

That same summer she met the love of her life — Harvey Nathaniel Koch — a young soldier stationed at Stanford for Military Language and Intelligence training. Three months later they were married—a wonderful marriage that lasted 50 years until Harvey passed in 1993.

Following the war, they spent two years in New York while Harvey completed his law degree, and their first child was born. They both loved California, and Phyllis was thrilled to return and be close to her family. Over the next few years they had two more children.
In addition to raising her three children in Palo Alto and later Los Altos Hills, she continued her love of art by participating in weekly oil painting classes for over 40 years. She also illustrated numerous brochures, programs, posters and cookbooks for the many organizations she was active in.

Phyllis’ love of music started as a young girl when she would play piano for school assemblies, and continued throughout her life. She loved attending the San Francisco Symphony and even attended a performance two weeks before she passed.

Phyllis was a founding member of Sequoia Hadassah, Congregation Kol Emeth and active at Congregation Beth Am where she remained a member for more than 60 years. She served on the Board of the Palo Alto JCC and was a loyal supporter throughout her life. She also participated in many activities as a member and lifetime supporter of the Jewish Community Federation.

Life at the Vi in Palo Alto turned out to provide Phyllis with an extremely active, fulfilling and fun atmosphere to live in during the last 12 years of her life. She was able to express her talents while providing enjoyment to the many friends she made there. She also continued her love of gardening, maintaining a vegetable as well as a flower garden. Sunday afternoons were spent at the piano playing for group sing-along. Her baked goods were a big hit amongst her friends.

Phyllis’ life was deeply intertwined with her family—they traveled, played games, shared holidays, and just enjoyed each other’s company. She is survived by her three children: Andrea, Lizbeth (Harold), and Joel (Sharon). Grandchildren: Sydnee (Craig), Brandon, Jesse (Jessica), Joshua (Aki), Jessica (Thao), Melissa, Andrew, and Heather (Todd). Great-Grandchildren: Brynn Harlow, Chase James, Jasmine Bailey, Madison Rose, and Cameron Harvey.

A private service was held for Phyllis on Dec. 18 at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park. Donations can be sent to Congregation Beth Am—Phyllis Koch Music and Art Fund.

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Bea Mann
Dec. 7, 1914 – Dec. 31, 2017

Beatrice (Bea) Mann died peacefully New Year’s Eve from natural causes. She was 103.

Bea was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the eldest (and only surviving) of 6 children to Esther and Harold Smulyan. She met Sam Mann in Atlantic City, NJ when he came over to take out one of her sisters. Luckily for all of us, Sam fell in love with Bea and their love story began!

Sam moved to California to establish himself as an optometrist before returning to marry Bea in 1935. The couple then moved to San Francisco, bought a house and had their son, Roger. Two years later and now living in Stockton, CA, they had their daughter, Rosalind.

Bea was eager to get back to San Francisco, and after eight “long” years in the Central Valley she and Sam returned to raise their children in the St. Francis Wood neighborhood of San Francisco. Both children went on to attend UC Berkeley, get married and start families of their own.
With their children out of the nest, Bea and Sam sold their home in 1962 and traveled the world for six months before returning to the Bay Area and falling in love with Belvedere, CA. They bought a home on the Belvedere lagoon and became very active members of the community. Sam was an active sailor and community leader, and Bea was always by his side. On her own, Bea created her own florist shop in Belvedere and made a run for city council. Bea was the consummate entertainer; an invitation to a party at Bea and Sam Mann’s was not to be passed up. Despite their busy social and sailing calendar, Bea always had plenty of time for her children and grandchildren. Weekends with “Mama Bea” and “Papa Sam” were filled with sailing, biking, swimming, dinners at the “Yacht Club” and all the “silver dollar” pancakes you could eat—not to mention the endless games of charades and backgammon.

To know Bea was a real treat. Bea was never shy about letting the world know how she felt — a very refreshing (and rare) trait for a woman of her generation. Bea was also an avid sports fan. She loved her 49ers and her Warriors, and now that the Niners are back in winning form and her beloved Steph Curry is back on the court, Bea will forever be smiling.

Bea and Sam remained beloved members of the Belvedere community well into their 90s. After Sam’s death in 2005, Bea remained in Belvedere until shortly after her 100^th birthday in 2014.

Bea is survived by her son, Roger (wife, Joan) of Oakland, 6 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Sadly, she is pre-deceased by her husband, Sam Mann, her daughter Rosalind (Shoshana) Isaacson, her granddaughter Rebecca Roe, and her great-grandson Ben Floriani.

A celebration of Bea’s life will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Reutlinger Center in Danville, CA or to donor’s favorite charity.

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Barbara (Bobbie) Morafka
July 3, 1926 – Dec. 25, 2017

Bobbie Morafka, 91 years old, passed away peacefully on Dec. 25, 2017 in Redwood City, California.  She was the loving wife and best friend of the late Daniel (Danny) Morafka for 60 years. She was the loving mother of Gail (Mike) Morris and Jill Fetherolf who preceded her in death. Adored grandma of Nick (Sarah) James, Shannon Morris, Erin (Raul) Diaz and Cheyanne (Aaron) Rittler. Great-grandma of Julia, Anthony, Christian and Keira.

Bobbie worked for many years as a medical assistant for a group of eye doctors. She and her late husband were active in community theater and were also active in B’nai B’rith OT Am unit, and a member of City of Hope Doubles Chapter. She enjoyed her weekly mahjong games and a quick stop for an ice cream at McDonalds afterwards. Bobbie enjoyed dining out and frequent road trips to Reno and the Indian casinos.

Bobbie will be remembered for her gentle nature and kindness to others.  She was a treasured friend to many.

At Bobbie’s request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in her name, you may make it to the City of Hope. She will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.  We love you.

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Edith P. Rosenthal
Oct. 2, 1925 – Dec. 23, 2017

Edith Paul Rosenthal, 92, a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident, died in Pacific Palisades, CA, on Dec. 23 after a brief illness compounded by a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. One of twelve siblings whose parents were Russian immigrants, Edith was born and raised in Baltimore. She was number four in the birth order, and as a child, because she was so nurturing, she took on the role of caring for her younger brothers and sisters.

Despite her father’s objections and a lack of money, Edith went to college, the only girl in her family to do so. After graduating from Towson State Teacher’s College, she became an elementary school teacher in Baltimore. Edith, her husband Leon and their two young children moved to Los Angeles for Leon’s job. There she earned her California teaching credential and worked as a substitute teacher in the Culver City school district. An active volunteer, Edith served as PTA president at her children’s elementary school. After two more cross-country moves, Edith eventually landed in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she and Leon lived for the next forty years. Kind and considerate, she always welcomed family and friends from across the country to stay in her home and treated all who visited like royalty.

A devoted wife of sixty years to Leon, who predeceased her, Edith is survived by six of her siblings, countless nieces and nephews, her son Michael and his wife Marleen Roggow of Marin County, her daughter Betsy and Betsy’s husband David Rosenthal of Pacific Palisades and grandchildren Adam, Sara and Joel.

Edith was laid to rest on Dec. 27, 2017 at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo next to her beloved Leon. Donations in her memory can be made to Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles or Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, New York, NY.

(Sinai SF)

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Loving husband, father, and grandfather Stanley Tick, 89, passed away peacefully on Dec. 19, 2017 from complications caused by Parkinson’s disease, which he bravely battled for the past decade.

He was born on Oct. 27, 1928 in New York City, where he attended Stuyvesant High School and Brooklyn College — the first member of his family to do so. He pursued a master’s degree in English Literature at Ohio State University and ultimately became UCSD’s first-ever PhD. A specialist in classic 19^th-century English literature, he was a dedicated, well-respected faculty member at San Francisco State University for over 30 years.

Along with his professorship at SFSU, to which he rode religiously on his bicycle, Stanley was a lifelong activist. He was extremely proud of his tenure as a member of the Northern California Handgun Control Coalition. Additional eclectic extra-curricular activities included membership in the Dickens Fellowship, avid tennis playing, stamp collecting and bird-watching. He traveled extensively throughout his life and was the founder of the local Schleppers hiking group which today continues, but only with strolling.

Stanley is survived by his wife of 60 years, Steffi; sister Ruth Berger of Oakland; daughter Katherine Tick (Fred Raker) of San Francisco; and daughter Judy Tick (Steven Ganz) also of San Francisco.

He is also survived by four grandchildren: Sam Tick-Raker, Emma Tick-Raker, Jacob Ganz and Eli Ganz, all of San Francisco.

The family would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Stanley’s extremely kind and generous caregivers for the past three years: Noemi, Linda, Marai, and Maria.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University Development, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, ADM 153, San Francisco, CA 94132. For check memo: IMO Dr. Stanley Tick – English/student support. To give online, https://lca.sfsu.edu/. Go to “Make A Gift”. Choose English. In comments section: IMO Dr. Stanley Tick – English/student support. Or give to Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, c/o Development, 710 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. On check memo, IMO of Dr. Stanley Tick or go to http://www.friendssfpl.org/support-us/ and note Dr. Stanley Tick in the tribute section.

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Samuel Nathan Weiss was born on May 25, 1946 in Germany and passed away peacefully at home with his beloved wife at his side on Dec. 23, 2017 in San Francisco.

Sam was the first child born into his family after the devastation of the Holocaust. Sam was born to survivors Tauba ‘תחי and Moishe Weiss ז״ל. Leaving Germany for a better life in the United States, the family settled in Petaluma, CA, and later moved to San Francisco, where Sam lived for the rest of his life. He married Sally, daughter of Sam and Judy Waserman ז”ל , in 1973.

Sam graduated from Washington High School and then San Francisco State University with a degree in graphic design. Sam owned and operated the printing company Heritage Press and, later, Advanced Typesetting.

Sam loved his family, raising and playing with his children, helping them grow up and start their own families, and later spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed activities such as swimming, cycling, and collecting watches.

Sam is survived by his mother Tauba; wife Sally; children Steven (Francine), Philip (Eileen), Amy Greenberg (Barry); grandchildren Yaakov, Yehudis, Megan, Yitzchak, Rebecca, Yocheved, Elton, and Jessica; brothers Norman (Karen) and Allen (Debbie); and many nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held at Eternal Home Cemetery on Dec. 26, 2017.

The family appreciates that donations in Sam’s memory be made to:

Congregation Adath Israel
1851 Noriega Street
San Francisco, CA 94122