Kenneth Joseph Colvin
Nov. 28, 1924–Nov. 4, 2012
In San Francisco at age 87. Kenneth was born in San Francisco, California to Morris and Tillie Cohn. He attended Alamo Elementary School and Lowell High School. Camp Tawonga was his magical haven for ten summers during his childhood years, and continued to play an influential role throughout his adult life.
While at U.C. Berkeley, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a Corporal in the Medical Corps. He worked as a Surgical Technician in six concentration camps and labor camps in Germany, Austria and Bavaria, where he set up emergency medical treatment for liberated Jews.
According to Ken, “Something good had to come out of the experience for me. Reality taught me that our Jewish people needed a homeland we could call our own.” He went on to dedicate his life to work for Jews worldwide, guided by the credo that no one shall ever forget the Holocaust. Ken was recognized many times for his tireless efforts for the State of Israel, receiving awards from Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir and others.
After the war ended, Ken worked for many years in the produce business, founding Colvin of California and Colvin Distributing. He met his beloved wife of 65 years, Thelma Colvin, and went on to raise three beautiful children, Francene, Cynthia and Larry Colvin. Family was the centerpiece of Ken’s life. He was a loving father, and spent many magical moments with the family at Lair of the Bear, playing sports, passing along Jewish traditions, going camping, and skiing and boating at Lake Tahoe.
As his children were growing up, he returned to U.C. Berkeley where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1960. Throughout his professional life, he remained actively involved in the Holocaust Liberators movement, and was a California delegate at the State Department in Washington, D.C. He served on 22 Boards in San Francisco, focusing on the Jewish community and Israel. He visited the Jewish state 33 times and established the Thelma and Kenneth Colvin Pre-Kindergarten School in Kiryat Yam, just west of Haifa. He also served on boards outside the Jewish community, including those of Mt. Zion Hospital and the Institute on Aging, as well as regularly taught swimming lessons to disabled youth.
His seven grandchildren were the love of his life. There was rarely a day that went by that did not include a phone call with at least one of them, no matter where they were in the world. He was the true anchor for the entire extended family; not a decision was made that didn’t include his input.
Ken was predeceased by his two brothers, Renny Colvin and Lenny Colvin, and his son-in-law, Matthew Wolf. He is survived by his wife, Thelma Colvin, his three children, Francene (Elliot Henderson), Cynthia (Stephen Bundy), and Larry (Kimberlee) Colvin, and seven grandchildren, Rachael, Kasey, Mollie, Jacob, Leah, David, Leah and Gabriel. He will be sorely missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.
Throughout his final days, his family surrounded him and showered him with the abundant love that he taught them daily. We are deeply grateful for the love and care given to him by his caregivers, Ron, Tess, Laurie and Eugene. We will all forever hold him in our hearts.
He died on Sunday, November 4, 2012. Graveside services were held at Salem Memorial Park, 1171 El Camino Real, Colma, followed by a memorial service at Peninsula Temple Sholom, 1655 Sebastian Drive, Burlingame.
It was Ken’s deepest wish that we honor him by supporting the Colvin Campership Fund, which allows many more children to experience the magic of Camp Tawonga. Donations may be sent to the Colvin Campership Fund at Camp Tawonga, 131 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105. We thank you for your loving support.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
“In this world of big and small,
There are all kinds of love,
All kinds,
All.”
— Ellen Lerner
Harold Davidson
Harold Davidson passed away peacefully in Palo Alto, CA at age 100 on September 24, 2012. Born in Lithuania, Harold immigrated to Springfield, Massachusetts when he was 18 years old. Upon marrying his beloved wife Florence in 1939, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he and Florence raised their family of four children. Retirement brought Harold and Florence to the California Bay Area where they became active members of the JCC in Palo Alto and Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City.
Harold was the beloved husband of the late Florence Davidson (d. 1988); loving father of Gerald (Marie) Davidson, Edward (Fonda) Davidson, Michael (Leslye) Davidson and Barbara (Charles) Weiss; adoring grandfather of Joshua and Susannah Davidson, Sarah Davidson, Aaron and Molly Davidson, Jessica (Timothy) Cummins, Benjamin and Rebecca Weiss; great-grandfather to Jonah Cummins.
The family requests that donations be made to Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
Emanuel (Manny) Diamant
Born in Giurgiu, Romania, Manny was the eldest son of a chemical engineer and his childhood sweetheart. When he was 8, the family moved to Constanta. After WWII broke out, the family was confined to the ghetto and Manny and his brother Bernie were unable to attend school. Manny taught himself Greek, Latin, German, Spanish, French, history, literature, mathematics and science. When the war ended, he sat for entrance exams to the University in Bucharest and was offered a seat in the medical school. It was his dream to become a doctor, but it was not to be. After a year the family immigrated to Havana, Cuba to await U.S. visas. The medical school was full, so Manny enrolled in the school of engineering. After several years, the family moved to New York. Manny earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Columbia and, later, a Ph.D. in applied mechanics from UCLA.
Manny met and married his beloved Judy in New York, served in the Army and moved to Los Angeles where he enjoyed a long career in the aerospace industry. In addition to defense contractor work, Manny worked on the Metroliner high-speed train and led the engineering team designing the second level roadway at LAX. Together with Judy he raised three daughters, was a founding member of Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay, and traveled all over the world. In his free time he taught mathematics and engineering. After Judy’s death in 1987, Manny married Bunny Black. They enjoyed 18 happy years together. Manny continued teaching and was a docent at the Skirball museum.
Manny was a brilliant, witty, kind, generous and compassionate father, friend and human being. He was gentle, humble and cared deeply for those who were suffering or in need. Friends and family alike delighted in his storytelling and the font of knowledge he brought to every conversation. His grandchildren adored him and thought he was the most entertaining companion they could ever wish for. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him. He was preceded in death by Judy, Bunny, Bernie and his daughter Randi. He is survived by Adrienne (and Dave) Weil, Melissa Diamant, grandchildren Elana, Natalie, Roxanne and Ellis, sister-in-law Alice Diamant and nephews Joel and Jonathan Diamant.
Donations in Manny’s memory may be made to Mazon or the City of Hope.
Lillian Brodsky Foreman
Lillian Brodsky Foreman of San Francisco passed away in San Rafael on October 30, 2012 at 95. Preceded by beloved husband Hyman of 67 years. Devoted mother of Robin (Russell) Brasso, Jill (John) O’Connell and Ronald Foreman; adoring grandmother of Bret (Dina) Brasso, Rachel (Diana) Brasso, Caitlyn and Jesse O’Connell, Daniel and Kelly Foreman; great-grandmother of Arianna, Sofia and Mia Brasso; cherished aunt to many.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents; spent childhood in Dayton, Ohio, and Chicago. Co-owned Paramount Music Company with Hy for 40 years; devoted volunteer at John Adams Adult School teaching literacy to adult nonreaders. Co-president of Bay Area Council of Soviet Jewry, rescuing dissidents and refuseniks from oppression.
World traveler; lover of the performing arts and languages; original ACT subscriber. Could eat a box of See’s Candies in one sitting. Above all, a magnanimous, passionate humanitarian who stood up for what she believed was right. We will deeply miss her.
Funeral services were held Friday, November 2 at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park Chapel, 1301 El Camino Real, Colma. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice preferred.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
Esther Jachimowicz
Oct. 11, 1925–Nov. 5, 2012
In San Francisco at age 87. Beloved wife of the late Nathan Jachimowicz for 58 years; loving mother of Myra (Alfred) Herpe, Rosalie (Sheldon) Past and Albie Jachimowicz; adoring grandmother of Barry (Janie) Herpe, Danny Herpe, Dena (Roger) Kline, Melissa (Daniel) Kertz, Robbie (Adelina) Past, Leah Jachimowicz, Joshua (Caitlin) Jachimowicz and Rachel Jachimowicz; dear great-grandmother of Samuel and Zachary Kline and Alyza Kertz.
Survived incarceration in Mauthausen Concentration Camp and the Lodz ghetto during WWII. Liberated by Russian armed forces and relocated in 1950 by a Jewish relief organization to Chester, Pennsylvania, where she and Nathan opened a tailor shop.
Moved to San Francisco in 1962 after finding relatives who also survived the Holocaust. Owner of Emerald Cleaners on Noriega Street for 35 years with Nathan.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Sinai Memorial Chapel, S.F., followed by interment at Eternal Home Cemetery, 1051 El Camino Real, Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024, would be kindly appreciated.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
Clare Lynn Montauk
Clare Lynn Montauk died Monday morning, October 29, 2012, at age 92, from the complications of an intestinal blockage. A few days earlier she had joyfully swum, shopped for groceries with her beloved husband of 71 years, Ernest, cooked dinner, watched the World Series, talked politics with her children and, as usual, enjoyed life to its fullest.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin, friend and so much more, Clare was born in 1920. Both her parents were immigrants from Central Europe. The older of two daughters, she grew up in New York City. After high school she worked for Young and Rubicam in Manhattan, met the love of her life, Ernest, married, and began a family. Daughter Susan was born in 1943 in New York, where Ernie worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but after WWII the family moved to Missouri to help Clare’s father establish his woolen business, and Lance was born there.
For two decades Clare and Ernest made their lives in Kansas City and then in Prairie Village, Kansas, during which Clare became active in Hadassah and B’nai B’rith Fellowship House as a volunteer teaching tolerance. The family’s prosperity and well-being rose as they changed businesses to match the economic times and changed homes to assure the best schools for their children, while maintaining the close friendships they formed along the way. With both children gone to college, they followed the business to St. Louis for a dozen years, and then Clare and Ernie retired to Berkeley, California. She and Ernie spent a half-year in Europe along the way, and Clare also traveled with Susan or Ernie to Europe, Central and South America.
Once ensconced in the East Bay, Clare and Ernie’s family circle was blessed by continual enlargement, since, eventually, almost every member of both their families ended up nearby. Clare cherished the close proximity of her younger sister Harriett, Ernie’s sisters and brothers, all the nephews and nieces, and of course Clare’s own children, grandchildren and, recently, great-grandchildren.
Clare was constantly present among a circle of friends — and admirers — in her activities at the Claremont Club. She was a superb cook, a stellar homemaker, a gracious hostess, a famously prudent shopper known for her lifelong thriftiness, and a beauty for the eye to behold. She was inordinately skillful at Scrabble, word puzzles, bridge and mahjong. She played an important role in the lives of her daughter-in-law, grandchildren and nieces, and, as time passed, her companionship, advice and growing wisdom were increasingly sought. Her inner peace and gratitude for a bountiful life served as an example for others. As one of her swimming companions wrote, “Clare was our model, our teacher in how to age with dignity, beauty, a keen mind, a warm word for all. She was grace and wore it without ostentation.”
She will be missed most by her husband, Ernest, her children Susan and Lance and his wife Krystyna, her grandchildren Iliana and Dobromir and his wife Basia, her sister’s children Kathi Roisen Goldenberg and Jill Roisen and their father Bill Roisen, her nephews and nieces and others from Ernie’s side of the family, members of the Ressler step-family, and a wide circle of friends. Her great grandchildren Kajetan and Nikodem, too young to miss her, provided immeasurable joy in these last years.