Death announcements for the week of May 16, 2025

Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Joanne Saxe

May 30, 1943–April 22, 2025

Joanne Saxe, born May 30, 1943, in San Francisco to Greta Steigerwald and Paul Stuehler, died Tuesday, April 22.

A loving wife to Steven Saxe and mother to Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller (Michael) and Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe (Jaimee), Jo dedicated her life to building understanding between people through inclusion and interfaith work in Marin County. Having grown up in San Francisco as the daughter of refugees from Germany during the Second World War, she empathized with the outsider and had a passion for repairing the world. She could always be counted on to speak out for justice during her decades of service through multiple boards and committees, most of all as a Marin Community Foundation Trustee, on the Marin Interfaith Council, the Jewish Community Relations Council, as a board member of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, and active with Jewish Family and Children’s Services.

She and Steve were active leaders in the Creative Initiative Foundation, building a community dedicated to pursuing worldwide peace through building and healing relationships and taking action together.

She directed Green Circle, a program of the Nat’l Conference of Christians and Jews, teaching diversity and inclusion to elementary students throughout Marin. She also loved tutoring students of all ages.

Joanne attended Lincoln High and got her BA from UC Berkeley and MA in Special Ed from SF State. She and Steve met as BBYO teens and were married in 1964. With Steve she built a loving family, including grandchildren Sam Saxe-Taller and Shoshana, Aaron and Jonah Saxe.

Jo loved playing tennis, being silly, connecting with children, camping with her family, traveling the world with Steve and close friends. She continued to sing with gusto until the end of her battle with Alzheimer’s.

The funeral was held 4/25/25 at Rodef Sholom in San Rafael. The family invites contributions in Joanne’s memory to Congregation Rodef Sholom, Standing Together (Israelis and Palestinians organizing for a shared future), or a charity of your choice.

Irving Koppel

May 9, 1928–April 27, 2025

Irving was known for his wry sense of humor and his thoughtful, Socratic classroom discussions that challenged his students to think for themselves.

He was a proud “New Dealer” and democratic socialist who believed in the power of government to improve the lives of its citizens. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Irving participated in local politics and helped organize members of the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association to fight for improved salaries, smaller class sizes and health benefits.

Irving was also an active member of both Temple Emanu-El in San Jose as well as Temple Beth Torah in Fremont.

Irving was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 9, 1928, to Jewish Ukrainian/Lithuanian parents Eddie and Sophie (Kaufman) Koppel. He was also named Isaac in honor of his late maternal grandfather. Eddie Koppel ran an independent fruit and vegetable business out of a truck and moved the family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to his parents, Irving had a younger sister, Annette Koppel, and a younger brother, Stewart Koppel, both of whom eventually resettled in Los Angeles.

During the Great Depression, the Koppels moved nearly every year in order to find less expensive housing. As a result, Irving attended four different elementary schools in his predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

After graduating from Washington High School in the late 1940s, Irving attended both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and -Madison. He graduated in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Feeling restless, Irving set out for California where he received his teaching credential from UC Berkeley and taught in California public high schools from 1954 to 1988.

In 1968, Irving married Patricia Ann Taber, a Fremont high school English teacher originally from Bakersfield, California. Together, they raised three children and settled in the Warm Springs neighborhood of Fremont. Following their retirement, Irving and Patricia resettled in Durham, North Carolina, to live closer to their daughter and youngest son.

In addition to teaching and social activism, Irving enjoyed classical, Yiddish, folk, swing, opera, and musical theater, attending concerts and dramatic performances, watching movies, collecting stamps, reading history and historical novels, and participating in water aerobics.

Irving is survived by his wife Patricia, his eldest son, David, drama director at Washington High School in the Fremont Unified School District, his daughter, Danielle, director of Tejase Healing Arts in Carrboro, N.C., Elliott, director of marketing analytics at Red Hat in Raleigh, N.C., his grandchildren, Owen and Joshua, as well as his nieces Carol Hines and Kim Freeman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Sophie Koppel, as well as his siblings, Annette and Stewart Koppel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CalRTA91 (calrta91.org/grants) to support retired Fremont, CA, teachers. Mail contributions to: Scholarship, CalRTA91 P.O. Box 643 Fremont, CA 94537-0643. Donations may also be made to Student CA Teachers Association: studentcta.org

Rita Kaplan

One-of-a-kind Rita Sylvia Kaplan passed away on April 27, 2025, after a joyful life.

Rita grew up in San Francisco, California, with parents Isidore and Ann Goldberg, and beloved older brother Roy. The family of four lived above Isidore and Ann’s tailor shop in the Mission District. Roy and Rita were born four years apart on the same day and celebrated their birthdays together for 94 years.

Rita excelled as a student and was an enthusiastic and voracious reader. She was the first in her family to attend college, earning her degree in Political Science and Social Welfare at UC Berkeley. She brought her sharp intellect, passion for language, and clear sense of justice to her work as an ESL teacher’s aide at Burlingame High School.

When Rita met clarinetist Paul Kaplan in 1947, it was love at first sight. Rita and Paul were engaged two weeks later and married on June 20, 1948. They shared a fun-filled 70-year marriage together in San Mateo, California. Their two children, Doug and Laurie, remember a charmed childhood that was safe, loving, full of music, and … hilarious.

Rita and Paul took on the world together with unmatched zest for life. They shared a love of music, traveling every year to jazz festivals in Monterey, Avila Beach, and Sun Valley. Though they traveled around the world to over 40 countries, Rita’s favorite place on the planet was Yosemite National Park.

Like her personality, Rita’s favorite music and art were celebratory and bold. She loved “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Sway,” and Dixieland marching band jazz. Rita loved sunflowers, all things sunny yellow, brightly colorful clothes, and a festive martini. She brought this reserve of positive thinking and bravery with her when she endured a grueling treatment for lung cancer in her 70s, when she cared for Paul at the end of this life, and when she chose to use her final days to bring laughter and comfort to her friends and loved ones.

Rita was a loyal and devoted friend. She maintained decades-long friendships with dear childhood friends, and made new friends throughout her life over nimble games of bridge, discussions about books and politics, and Rita’s wisecracks and quips. Rita went out of her way to make others feel welcomed and included, always the first to introduce herself to new neighbors and pepper them with genuine curiosity about their lives.

Rita’s two children, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren will fondly remember her playing maracas and a tambourine in living room marching band parades, shouting answers at the television during Jeopardy!, and baking many batches of strudel and mandelbrot.

Harry Arnold Ratner

It is with profound sadness we, his family, announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Harry Arnold Ratner.

Harry was the patriarch of four generations. With absolute devotion, kindness, generosity and abundant love, he guided us all. Each of his five children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild were better human beings for his presence in their lives. His humility and strength of character were lessons to all who knew him of how to be a mensch. He was the foundation on which our family was built.

Born in San Diego to Sally and Nate Ratner, he left a thriving business to forge a new life with his bride of 62 years, Marcia Joy Ratner. It was a love story for over six decades. Harry was educated at Army Navy Academy in Carlsbad before going to UC Berkeley and Stanford. He received his CPA degree after attending post-graduate studies at San Jose State. Settling first in San Jose, then Saratoga and eventually Monte Sereno, he built his life around his family. A caring son-in-law to Marcia’s mother, Bettie Hirsch, who lived with them for 25 years until her death, he was also a loving and supportive brother to Marcia’s three brothers, Robert, David and Merrill Hirsch, who predeceased him. His brother Dr. Lawrence S. Ratner also predeceased him.

He will be lovingly remembered as a dear uncle to Morris and Caleb, Alicia, Randy, Ricky, Mandy, Daniel, Geneen, Melanie, Benji, William and Rachel. He was a beloved great uncle to Matthew and Becky, Kayla and Ava, Juli and Kolby. He was a cousin to many. The loving friendships Harry and Marcia formed over the years became unbreakable bonds that enriched their lives.

Harry was the most adored father of Mimi (Josh Gispan), Maralissa (Glenn Ordons), Morris (Christopher Dydyk), Dawn (Ratner Hakim) and Julie (Matt Sachse). Adored Papa to Emma (Jackson Fondriest), Jake, Gabriel, Abby, Hannah and Lailie. Pops to Nate and Jacob and a doting great-grandfather to Noah. He was a source of quiet strength with a limitless reservoir of unconditional love. He gave generations the wings to fly.

A private family burial was held Monday, May 12, 2025, at Los Gatos Memorial Park, Shalom Gardens, followed by a memorial service for friends and family at Congregation Shir Hadash and a meal of consolation.

Donations in Harry’s memory may be made to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health at Stanford Medicine (my.supportlpch.org).

Judith Miriam Sadoff

1928–2025

Judith “Judy” (nee Kahn) Sadoff was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1928. Within a few years the family moved to Queens, N.Y. Judy treasured growing up among a large and close group of aunts, uncles and cousins. Judy attended Fort Hays State University in Kansas. She then came to the Bay Area and worked as a “computer” (a la “Hidden Figures”) at NASA, where she met and married Melvin Sadoff, an aeronautical engineer who also worked at NASA.

Judy was an active community volunteer and leader. Her work with Hadassah led to forming her earliest friend group in Palo Alto. She was active in the PTA and served as a Girl Scout leader. Later Judy played several roles at Congregation Beth Am, including serving on the board of directors. At Beth Am she also gathered another cherished group of friends, the Chai Tech Chavura, which became “extended family” for all in the group. Later Judy again worked at NASA as an assistant to the nurse manager of a biomedical space research program. Judy swam for exercise and loved gardening. Judy was a lifelong learner, a quiet feminist, genuinely interested in other people, caring and kind, a person of high character.

Judy created many opportunities for her children and grandchildren to develop the kind of family ties she had growing up. Judy modeled the importance of Jewish life and study and of L’Dor V’Dor through the way she lived her life.

Judy died on April 14, 2025. She was predeceased by her husband Mel and by her brother Daniel Kahn. Judy is survived by her brother Joel (Joyce) and her three children, Michal, David (Dana), Shoshana (Alex), and her grandchildren, Leia, Sarah, Dani, Katie, Ben, Coby and Noah.

Services have been held. The family would appreciate donations to Hadassah (hadassah.org) or to the Marder Endowment for Living Torah of Congregation Beth Am (betham.org).

Elaine Douglas Cahn

July 26, 1922–Jan. 9, 2025

Elaine Beryl Douglas Cahn died peacefully at home on January 9, 2025. She was surrounded by family. She was 102 and 5½ months, with plans to do more.

Inspiring. Iconic. Indomitable.

Born in Salt Lake City, Elaine often recounted an early memory in her hometown of Delta, Utah, at a very young age, sitting on a curb outside the local library reading a book. Her family moved to New York City when she was nine, where she pursued her life-long career as a research editor. She received a BA in English from Brooklyn College. She was the research editor for “Silver Platter” by Ellin Berlin (1957), wife of composer and songwriter Irving Berlin.

Elaine moved to San Francisco from New York City in 1956 upon marrying. She received two Master’s Degrees: English (1968) and Anthropology (1970s) from San Francisco State University. For over 20 years (1970s-1990s), combining interests, Elaine published a newsletter, Foodtalk (Library of Congress) “The Newsletter For People Who Enjoy Food For The Mind as Well As The Table,” in which she researched and wrote about the Cultural Anthropology of Food. Julia Child, Simone Beck, Narsai David and Nabisco were among subscribers.

In later years (1980s-2000s) she worked as a Volunteer Program Officer for the State Department’s International Diplomacy Council (IDC), combining research and editing with her love of cultures and international travel. She developed programs for international visitors — guests of the United States government to meet and learn about American professional expertise, in order to advance their fields and industries in their home countries. She spoke exuberantly of her job. The ultimate ambassador of foreign diplomacy, she befriended many whom she later visited during her travels in their home countries, including Morocco and Uzbekistan. Her career as a research editor and editor, in its many forms, spanned her life.

Elegant, erudite, eloquent, educated, exquisite. The consummate editor, Elaine was a woman of brevity, using few words to convey much. Modest about her wide array of life accomplishments, and private, she did not like much “fuss” made about her. But she loved language and words, in all their forms: played a mean game of Scrabble; played often, with family and friends. A tradition, she typically triumphed each game. When not reading a book, she could be found doing crossword puzzles.

Always elegantly dressed, her keen eye for design shined. Elaine studied fashion design early on with plans to be a fashion designer. A magnificent designer and seamstress, her distinct style was celebrated by those who knew her. She modeled bold, timeless elegance.

An extraordinary chef, she stretched the boundaries of food and culture. She taught and inspired her family with her culinary sophistication and fascination of both. Creative, with a lovely hand in the arts, her many wide-ranging talents — she was recognized for her award-winning Palmer penmanship — radiated understated sophistication.

So did her love of language — and languages — which was furthered by international travel. The more exotic, the more it piqued her interest. An adventurous explorer, in early years she traveled to Paris and London solo twice on the steamship Queen Mary, and to Haiti alone. In later years Elaine traveled far and wide to over 50 countries on five continents. She lit up at her exotic travel destinations such as Tashkent and Samarkand, St. Petersburg, Cuba, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Jerusalem, Petra.

Elaine loved folk art, especially within her travels. On every trip, she visited markets — speaking enthusiastically of their vibrant cultural exchanges of information, goods and gathering, their remarkable textiles, crafts and folk art. Her love of farmers markets, food and cultures flourished at home, too, as a multi-decade regular at the Heart of the City Farmers Market next to the Main Library. She delighted in hearing different languages spoken and seeing custom dress. Farmers knew her well. A highlight: She arranged and accompanied IDC international visitors in agriculture to farmers’ strawberry and mushroom farms. Often, pre-pandemic, she would pop into the Mystery section (she loved mysteries and biographies) for a book after the market. During the pandemic lockdown and after, she spoke often of the two places she missed the most: the library and the farmers market, her “favorite destinations.” Excitedly, walking strong at age 101, she happily returned to both.

Elaine’s love of Ballet spanned from the 1930s throughout her life. Immersed in arts and culture, from frequent New York and London theater to about 90 years of Ballet-going — which she loved as much as books — she attended SF Ballet in 2024 at age 101 — to museums, opera, classical music ensembles, theater, Elaine loved cities, where arts and culture, public libraries and learning, and farmers markets thrive, she along with them. Instantly identifying classical music composers, operas, and more arts, her grace and brilliance inspired many.

Enthusiastic and curious, Elaine took classes at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning for decades up until her death. It was a mainstay. She attended Jewish Community Library lectures for decades up until her death. As a member of three book groups, one, “The Ladies Book Group” composed of authors and writer friends, met monthly for nearly 50 years. She was one of the last surviving members of both it and her Jewish Community Library book group.

Elaine’s last trip to the farmers market was in 2024 and to San Francisco Symphony Chamber Music at the Richmond Branch library in December 2024 at 102. Elaine often stated that the Richmond library was her “favorite destination.” She often talked about how “libraries were the greatest public institution ever invented.” She never missed an opportunity to emphatically proclaim that the “San Francisco Public Library is the best and best-funded library system in the United States.” She served on the Neighborhood Design Committee for the library’s addition project. She served on the BLIP Committee. Across three decades, she served as the Richmond District Library representative for the San Francisco Public Library’s Council of Neighborhood Libraries (CNL). She loved it. Elaine’s commitment and dedication through decades of esteemed service to the San Francisco Public Library System was born of her zest for reading, books and learning that remained central throughout her long life.

Honed over a century, and a tour-de-force, Elaine’s pithy wisdom and clever humor shone magnificently in her later years, punctuated by priceless quips, quick word plays and dry wit. Sharp as a tack and a wealth of knowledge up until her death, hers was a life well-lived, extraordinary in depth and breadth.

She will be deeply missed, and never forgotten.

Elaine is survived by her three children, D. Benjamin Cahn, Tara M. Cahn and A. Rachel Cahn, and three grandchildren, Dannah, Ben and Avi Cahn. She is also survived by daughter-in law Keren Cahn and son-in-law Jeff Pincus. Elaine’s late husband was Dr. Meyer M. (Mike) Cahn (d. 1983).

Thank you for honoring our mother’s wish for privacy by refraining from social media engagement platforms about her. The family can be contacted at [email protected].

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