Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Bradford Baruh
Dec. 15, 1925–Sept. 15, 2024
Bradford Goldman Baruh peacefully passed away on Sept. 15, 2024, with his family by his side. Brad was just 3 months shy of his 99th birthday, living in Hillsborough, California, with his loving wife, Kathy, of 53 years.
Born to Doris and Harold Baruh on Dec. 15, 1925, Brad grew up in San Francisco alongside his older brother, Morton. Brad was always proud of his heritage as a second-generation San Franciscan and fourth-generation Californian. The Baruh home, in Nevada City, California, still stands as a historical landmark dating back to the Gold Rush.
While attending Menlo College, Brad enlisted in the Merchant Marines just before he turned 18. During World War II, he served on the SS Lurline troopship, operating in the Pacific theater.
Brad, an accomplished athlete, had a true passion for all outdoor sports, especially snow and water skiing, with Lake Tahoe as his playground. In the 1949 Lake Tahoe racing regatta, Brad was crowned the Lake Tahoe Champion, winning the first-place trophy aboard his 28-foot wooden Hacker Craft, “Shooting Star.”
In 1968, Brad’s zeal for boats, sports and marine life culminated in one of his greatest accomplishments — the creation of a water park with marine-themed shows, Marine World in Redwood City, California. A day before his passing, the San Mateo County History Museum honored him in a new exhibit, “Peninsula Innovators Changing the World,” for establishing this unique adventure park. Brad felt honored to be featured alongside other Peninsula innovators like Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison.
Brad was a lifelong creative thinker and entrepreneur. In 1952, alongside his father and brother, they founded Baruh Liquors, distributing the Seagram’s brand, among others. By the 1980s, the family business was renamed Baruh Spirits, with Brad at the helm. After launching his new electric blue tequila brand, Tarantula Azul, it quickly became the most successful distilled spirit ever owned by the family. In 2015, Brad sold the company, ending his 63 successful years in the liquor business.
Family has always been the centerpiece of his life. Baruh gatherings, especially Christmas and Father’s Day, were always filled with fun, laughter and Brad in the middle of it all. His quick wit, genial sense of humor and storytelling skills made him the life of any party.
Brad is survived by his wife, Kathy Baruh, and three more generations of Baruhs. Five children: Judy (Brad) Colton, Jeff Baruh, and John (Denise Benatar) Baruh, Christina Baruh, and Brad (Heather) Baruh. Ten grandchildren: Bryan Colton, Tori (Jamie) DeCoite, Dante Baruh, Trevor Baruh, Parker Baruh, Anton (Amalia) Baruh, Ian Javer, Sils Javer, Jordan Baruh, and Hayley Baruh. Three great-grandchildren: Cole, Noah, and Tripp DeCoite.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Randie Lynn Baruh Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals supporting innovative research into immunotherapy, cancer genetics and relapsed leukemias: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals Foundation, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339; or San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063.
Hugo Beckerman
Feb. 27, 1925–Dec. 4, 2024
We are sad to announce that Hugo Beckerman passed away peacefully on Dec. 4, 2024, at the ripe old age of 99. He is survived by his loving and devoted family, which includes his three children and their spouses, Larry (Marie) Beckerman, Ruth (Roberto) Loret de Mola and David (Catherine) Beckerman, his six grandchildren, Aaron Beckerman, Leah and Josh Loret de Mola, Andrew, Caitlin and Daniel Beckerman, his sister Marion Friedeberg, niece Debra Hoiem (David), nephews Mark Friedeberg (Cathy) and Michael Friedeberg, and great-niece, Rachel Hoiem.
Hugo was born in Berlin, a Holocaust survivor, who lived underground during the war. His memories of Germany, good and bad, remained with him throughout his life. In 1946, he immigrated with his family to the United States, settling in San Francisco. He met his beloved wife, Jane, at the SF Jewish Community Center. Together, with family and their many friends, they shared 73 wonderful years before her passing in 2021.
Hugo proudly owned and operated Bekko’s, a successful linen and custom drapery shop in SF. He was a natural born salesman and businessman who loved being his own boss and meeting so many people.
He loved cars (driving until 95), music, art, playing cards, photography and especially woodworking. Self-taught, upon retirement he immersed himself in making toys and decorative items. Only three weeks ago, he was still making his popular wood boxes.
Hugo was a kind, very sharp, caring man with a great sense of humor. He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who lived a full and very well-lived life. We will cherish our memories of him forever.
The family is very grateful for the care provided by caregivers Katia Contreras and Marlyn Valencia. For those who desire, donations may be made to Jewish Family and Children’s Services.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Janet Kaplan
On Sept. 24, 2024, at 96 years old, Janet’s beautiful life came to a peaceful end in her sunny apartment, surrounded by her caretakers, with a lovely view of Mt. Tamalpais in the background. She was a life force to all who knew her, as she proudly proclaimed her independence and positive attitude even at the end.
Janet Kaplan was born at San Francisco’s Mt. Zion hospital and was the only child to Samuel Levite and Amelia Green, but she was never lonely, living very close to her grandparents, aunts and uncles. Some of her closest friends dated back to her early years of local public schools and Sunday School at Congregation Sherith Israel, where she would later be married. Her parents encouraged her to both study hard and to branch out physically into areas they had never been exposed to, such as swimming, piano, drama and tennis, all of which she continued for most of her life. As an 11th-grader at George Washington High School, she sat next to Myron Kaplan in chemistry class and by graduation they knew that this would be it. She chose the small rural UC Davis campus for college and received her BS degree in Home Economics, which launched a lifelong interest in and passion for food. Meanwhile, Kap joined the Navy during WWII, and they were wed on June 27, 1948.
The GI Bill allowed them to buy their first house in the new Outer Sunset District, where she worked part time in the food industry while Kap became a salesman for Gallo wine. When his territory was changed to Marin County, they, along with their two young daughters, moved to Larkspur and Kap eventually became a real estate agent in Sausalito. During their 15 years in Hillview Gardens, her kitchen became a classroom where she taught “quick gourmet-style” cooking classes for women and candy making workshops for kids. It was also a test kitchen for her two self-published cookbooks, “Crackers and Snackers.” They gardened, enjoying the large front and backyards the warm suburbs provided, swam at the local pool, and always took summer and winter vacations.
Family life was Janet’s focus, but she also made time for her friends playing mahjong, visiting museums, and doing volunteer work in their local hospital, schools and synagogue. They were proud founding members of Congregation Rodef Sholom and were fundraisers for its first building.
In 1969, as empty nesters, Janet and Kap decided on a lifestyle change and moved into their newly built duplex in Sausalito. Again, they added new friends to their ever-growing group, and now Janet learned to ride a bicycle at 40 years old so that she could join the couples’ weekend bike trips that Kap had eagerly engaged in. Although Janet had been the vacation planner up to this point, Kap decided they should take an independent bike vacation to Europe, packing bikes onto the plane and carrying minimal clothes themselves. They returned ecstatic after their completely successful seven-day trip to the Cotswolds and went on two more trips to southern Germany and northern Italy. Being on the cutting edge summarizes their love and passion for each other, but sadly their 33-year marriage ended when Myron was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and died in 1981.
Although devastated by his death, Janet at 52 years old, relied on her independent nature and competently carved out a new life for herself. Managing their property, volunteering at Hospice and the Sausalito visitors’ center kept her socially engaged with both old and new friends. Staying as busy as possible was her goal, so she began working for a friend’s catering business once a week producing dozens of batches of different cookie varieties. Exercise classes, singles tennis, eating in new restaurants and driving into San Francisco to maintain her closeness to her grandchildren kept her busy and happy. And any opportunity to travel, especially to new places, she enthusiastically signed on to. From local driving trips with friends and taking grandchildren on summer trips to tours to every continent including countries such as Nepal, India, South Africa and Japan, she never lost the enthusiasm for new and different life experiences.
At 80 years old, once again ready for a life change, she moved into Villa Marin to be surrounded by a community of both old and new friends. Actively participating in play reading groups, teaching mahjong, joining the paddle tennis club, flower arranging, and chairing the birthday committee were new social experiences that kept her busy and energized. And she always made time to bake cookies as a way to show her love and appreciation. Generosity, an energetic exuberance for life, love and appreciation of family while always maintaining a positive outlook are the qualities she will be remembered for by all those who knew and loved her.
She is greatly missed by her two daughters, Linda Mostovoy (Bob) and Nancy Kaplan Muir (Cameron), her three grandchildren, Ben (Shannon), Camille, and Amelia (Sheena), and her great-grandchildren Levi, Charlotte, Beatrix, August, Linnea, Florence and Kaplan. Her three caretakers Daisy, Marlene and Josephine loved her as their mother, and as independent as Janet was, she felt so happy and comforted by their presence. Donations in Janet’s memory can be made to: The Chronicle’s Season of Sharing, San Rafael City Schools and Congregation Rodef Sholom.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Sandra Kurland
Our beloved Sandra Kurland passed away on Nov. 25, 2024. She is survived by her husband David; children Lauren (Scott), Justin (Jocelyn), and Robyn; and five grandchildren. A former president of Kol Shofar and the SF BJE, Sandra was known for her warmth, humor and pragmatism. Even after her diagnosis in 2022, Sandra’s courage and positivity inspired everyone around her, reflecting a resilient spirit that defined her life. Donations in her memory can be made to PanCAN.
Ilene Serlin
1948–2024
Ilene Serlin passed peacefully on Nov. 26, 2024, after her brief, recent battle with an extremely aggressive and incurable metastasis of her original thyroid cancer, which was diagnosed three years ago. She led an incredibly rich and full life during those last years. She was an advocate for Israel and organized and planned to lead the first Trauma Mission of North American Psychologists to meet with Israeli Trauma Psychologists. She was also a dedicated member of Congregation Kol Shofar, where the community loved and cherished her. Ilene was an avid Judaism student and loved her immersion in Jewish spirituality and Talmud study. She initiated and led the Rosh Chodesh Women’s Chavera and other arts initiatives.
Dr. Ilene Serlin was a Professor of Psychology at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. She also was in private practice in San Francisco and Marin County. Ilene was a Council representative and Past President of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. She trained with Laura Perls and was on the New York Gestalt Institute faculty. Ilene was also on the editorial boards of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and the American Journal of Dance Therapy. She has published numerous articles and chapters in existential-humanistic psychology, particularly in the psychology of women and psychology and the arts.
Dr. Serlin had a long history with humanistic psychology. She was a student of Rollo May. In her career, Ilene built from the founders’ work, taking it in new directions. She applied humanistic and existential principles to dance, movement therapy and other forms of art therapy. She provided training in dance and movement therapy around the globe, cultivating a movement in dance and movement therapy in humanistic and existential psychology circles and beyond.
Ilene edited a three-volume set of books on Whole Personal Healthcare. She championed holistic approaches to health and mental health. Her work in holistic approaches to health care and dance and movement therapy deepened humanistic psychology’s connection with the body. Ilene also was a powerful advocate of feminist perspectives. Throughout her career, she advocated for greater recognition of women’s contributions. She illuminated the contributions of women who had been ignored.
In the later years of her career, Ilene increasingly focused on trauma. Her contributions to trauma drew from prior work on holistic healthcare and feminist perspectives. She collaborated with leading feminist psychologists, humanistic psychologists, and trauma psychologists to advance perspectives that deepened the recognition of humanistic contributions to trauma.
While Dr. Serlin’s contributions remained underappreciated in many spaces where she contributed, she still received numerous honors for her work. These included the San Francisco Mayor’s proclamation of Ilene Serlin Day on Sept. 22, 2018, and the Outstanding Accomplishment Award from the San Francisco Psychological Association. In addition, she was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and several of its divisions.
Ilene Serlin, PhD, BC-DMT, was a psychologist and registered dance therapist in San Francisco and Marin County, California. She was past president of the San Francisco Psychological Association and of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA). For years she conducted a private practice and facilitated training at the agency she founded called “Union Street Health Associates” in San Francisco. She was awarded the Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology for 2024 from Division 56 (Trauma) and the Division 32 Rollo May Award for Outstanding and Independent Contributions to Humanistic Psychology, both of the APA. She had many other accomplishments, such as the Distinguished Humanitarian Contribution award from the California Psychological Association for her remarkable work with Syrian refugees and her involvement with mental health organizations, from psychiatric emergency rooms to presentations and collaborations with colleagues at APA, the humanistic, trauma and art psychology communities, and in-person in places like Jordan and China. Dr. Serlin has taught at Lesley College, MA, Saybrook University, the California School of Professional Psychology, CA, the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich, UCLA, and the New York Gestalt Institute.
She has written more than 100 articles and chapters on body, art, and psychotherapy. Her dance and movement approach to psychotherapy, called “kinesthetic imagining,” was featured in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and applied in her practice and that of many of her students and colleagues. She also made major contributions to existential and humanistic psychology with her chapters in “The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology” (2015) (edited by Kirk Schneider, Fraser Pierson and James Bugental) and “The Psychology of Existence” (1995) (edited by Kirk Schneider and Rollo May), and edited the official “A History of Division 32” (Humanistic Psychology) (2000) (with Chris Aanstoos and Tom Greening), and most recently “Integrated Care for the Traumatized” (2019) (with Stanley Krippner and Kirwan Rockefeller). Dr. Serlin also participated with Kirk Schneider and John Galvin in a landmark interview with pioneering existential psychologist Rollo May titled “Rollo May on Existential Psychotherapy” (available through Psychotherapy.net). Finally, Dr. Serlin has written and presented extensively on women in humanistic psychology, including interviews she conducted with such pioneers as Laura Perls and Eleanor Criswell.
She would be the first to say that her legacy is not in her resume. Rather, it is the authenticity and profound human connections she achieved that we were privileged to witness. Jordanian, Turkish, Indian, Chinese, Israeli and other women everywhere related to Ilene as the sister/mother they never had. The joke in China is the Ilene Serlin 30-second rule. Women who she trains start crying within 30 seconds as she helps them find and create their voice and identity in a repressed society. Whether at Kol Shofar or in Dali, China, Ilene touched souls. She was a spiritual and academic leader whose legacy of healing will reverberate for generations.
Ilene dedicated herself to family and deep friendships. She was the “human glue” that united family members and created deep connections across a hybrid family network that reflected her soulful, free-spirited nature.
Ilene’s other claim to fame was as the beloved baby sister of her triplet sisters, Barbara and Erica. To us, she will always be our “Lench the Mensch” who danced her way through life. Her vibrancy, loving nature, intellect, generosity, and fierce loyalty will be sorely missed every day, but she will live in our hearts forever.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Jeff Saperstein, sisters Erica (Ken Kushner husband) and Barbara Serlin, nephew Andrew Kushner, cousin Jake Palmer, stepsons David (wife Valerie) and Michael (wife Allie) Saperstein, and her beloved grandchildren, Harry (17), Chloe (14), Ezra (7), Oliver (5), and Shira (3).
Donations can be sent to Congregation Kol Shofar, Rabbi Paul Steinberg’s Discretionary Fund in Memory of Ilene Serlin.
Marjorie S. Wolf
Marjorie “Marj” S. Wolf, former president of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay and well-known Jewish community volunteer, passed away quietly on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. She was 79 years old.
Marj Wolf received a degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Calif., in beading and weaving, followed by a Master in Public Health Administration from Golden Gate University. In 1966, Marj met and married Julian M. Wolf.
Marj had a highly successful 30-year career in health-care administration. As a senior manager for Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics, Marj designed and implemented new facilities at Kaiser Oakland Hospital and Medical Center. Marj held several senior management roles, often when women in leadership were scarce, including CEO of the Sierra Pacific Network, West Coast Regional Director of U.S. Veterans Administration and consultant to the Albanian Minister of Health.
Marj and her husband became involved in the Jewish community after the 1973 war, making their first trip to Israel in 1974. In the 1980s Marj became involved in the Federation including the Business and Professional Women’s Group as well as joined the Federation Board of Directors, then the Executive Board in the early 1990s. Marj’s presidency began in 2001, where she faced extreme difficulties for the Jewish community in the Diaspora and Israel with strength and grace, including when Marj was with a contingent of East Bay Federation members down the street from the deadly Sbarro Pizzeria terrorist attack on Aug. 9, 2001, in Jerusalem, when the September 11th terrorists attacks occurred in the United States and as antisemitism spiked thereafter. Marj’s dedication and commitment to the Jewish community never faltered; she showed it in her vast volunteerism, her lioness personality and commitment to her values and artistry.
Throughout Marj’s health care career and extensive Jewish volunteerism, she remained engaged in her art. Marj proudly participated in a weeklong Jewish Artists Renaissance in November 1999 where she displayed her woven tallits. Marj found much joy in designing tallits, bringing her closer to her Judaism, her art and individual recipients.
In Marj’s final years, months and weeks, her primary concern remained a strong and safe Jewish community in the Diaspora and in Israel.
Marj is survived by her children Joshua Wolf, Ruth Wolf Long, Beth Wolf Mora, Esq., and son-in-law Jeff Mora, and her much beloved grandchildren Dakota Wolf Mora, Adam Long, and Micah Long.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Marj’s honor to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee at JDC.org.
Funeral services for Marj were held on Dec. 1, 2024, at Mountain View Cemetery, Home of Eternity Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Ave., Oakland.
May Marj’s memory be for a blessing.