Dorothy Freedman Bronk
Dorothy Freedman Bronk passed away peacefully on Dec. 9, 2014 in Palo Alto, CA, at the age of 94.
She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, attended Case Institute of Technology and graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor of science degree.
She met her husband-to-be, Theodore (Ted) Bronk, a pathologist, in 1939, while working in the clinical laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland. They had an extended separation when he left for military service in the Pacific, being totally out of contact for over three years while he was a POW in Japan. The couple married in 1949, moving first to Chicago, then settling in Amherst, NY
Dorothy was a truly caring, actively engaged mother, and was extremely devoted to Ted, to whom she was married for nearly 50 years. She was active in the Jewish communities of both Buffalo and Sanibel Island, Florida, helping to establish two congregations (including Temple Beth Am in Amherst) and working with Jewish Federation and Hadassah.
Dorothy had an extensive professional career in clinical microbiology. In Chicago, she served as the Director of Laboratory at Michael Reese Hospital under Dr. Israel Davidsohn, a nationally recognized authority in laboratory medicine. After raising her family, she returned to clinical practice, joining Ted at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, NY as the Chief of Microbiology, where they both worked until retiring in 1987.
Some years after Ted passed away, Dorothy moved to Palo Alto, enabling her to be closer to three of her four children, their families and several of her grandchildren. She was especially proud of the accomplishments of her grandkids.
She is survived by her children Peter (Susan Axe Bronk) of Newton, MA, Martin (Sallie DeGolia) of Woodside, CA, Joan (Richard Silberstein) of Monte Sereno, CA and James (Suzanne Becker Bronk) of Napa, CA along with nine grandchildren.
Donations in her memory may be made to the University of Buffalo School of Medicine or the Jewish Chaplaincy at Stanford University Hospital.
Ann Burger
Jan. 10, 1920–Jan. 17, 2015
Beloved wife of the late Herman Burger, devoted mother of Flora Kupferman and Sid Burger (Karen Lipney), cherished grandmother of Elana, Shoshie and LB, dear aunt of Steve and Fred Burger and their families.
After leaving Germany in 1938 and working in Sweden during WWII, Ann settled in San Francisco. She raised her family, volunteered in schools, temple and the Jewish Home. She enjoyed baking and was loving and nurturing to all.
Memorial service was held in San Francisco. Donations to Congregation Emanu-El, the Jewish Home, or your preferred charity.
Lois B. Epstein, M.D., D.Sc., 81
Lois Barth Epstein, M.D., a leading physician-scientist, died Feb. 6 at the age of 81 after a brief illness. Dr. Epstein served as a role model for others in her ability to balance a scientific career, her family, her art and her community service.
Epstein was born on Dec. 29, 1933 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Barth. In high school, she fell in love with science and the idea of helping people.
Epstein went to Radcliffe, where she met her husband, Charles Epstein, on a blind date. She graduated cum laude in chemistry in 1955 and entered Harvard Medical School. They married in 1956. Epstein graduated from HMS in 1959. After fellowships in Bethesda and Seattle, Epstein moved to San Francisco to join the Cancer Research Institute at UCSF, later becoming the Associate Director. She became a professor at UCSF in 1980.
Epstein was a pioneer in the research of interferons — proteins that play a critical role in the immune system. She treated thousands of patients and authored more than 100 papers. With her husband, she developed the first mouse model for Down syndrome, an achievement that has been the basis for a huge advancement in the world’s understanding of that condition. As important as her research was, Epstein placed greater importance in training and mentoring other scientists, particularly female scientists.
Following her retirement, Epstein reinvented herself as an artist, studying glass art at Pilchuck, Corning and Hui Arts. Epstein held many community board roles, including with the Marin Symphony and the Belvedere-Tiburon Library. She was elected to the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
Epstein was preceded in death by her husband, Charles. She is survived by her children, David (Abigail) Epstein, Jonathan (Andrea) Epstein, Paul (Jennifer) Epstein and Joanna (Dan) Bornstein. She is survived by six grandchildren and her brothers and sisters-in-law.
A memorial service was held at Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon, with interment at Mt. Tam Cemetery, San Rafael. Dr. Epstein’s family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to support the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, the Belvedere-Tiburon Library, or Harvard Medical School.
Verlayne Offenbach
Verlayne Beatrice Offenbach was born in San Francisco on Nov. 16, 1927 to Pauline and Anthony Shaves, the older of two daughters. She grew up in San Francisco and attended Lincoln High School and later graduated from U.C. Berkeley. It was there that she met Fred Offenbach, the love of her life.
On Feb. 4, 2015 at the age of 87 years, in her home in San Carlos where she lived for 60 years, Verlayne passed away peacefully while surrounded by loving members of her family. She is survived by her husband of 66 years Fred Offenbach, her sister Marilyn Rosekind; her daughter Karen Gourdin (Bill), her daughter Paula Schlesinger (Rabbi George), and her son Randy Offenbach (Elaine). She was a loving grandmother to six adored grandchildren. She was a doting matriarch to seven great-grandchildren.
She devoted much of her early life to raising her family in San Francisco, then after moving to San Carlos she was busy dancing, working as a teaching assistant at Brittan Acres, sewing, organ playing and being a wonderful companion to her husband. She was a past member of AAUW and ORT. Verlayne suffered for the last 15 years from osteoporosis yet always had a charming smile for all visitors, especially her family.
Verlayne was buried at Skylawn while her immediate family mourned her passing.
The family wishes to acknowledge the skilled and loving care provided by her doctor Dr. Gary Aron and the entire Pathways North Team, especially Karen Ashiku, RN.
Donations to Pathways Foundation or TheKitchenSF.org are appreciated.
Lillian (Libby) Berenson Rudolph
Oct. 15, 1920–Feb. 3, 2015
Born in Philadelphia on Oct. 15, 1920, Libby was the youngest of six children of Sam and Fanny Berenson. She was an adored child known as “Babe” to her older siblings, well into her 70s.
Libby graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1938 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Between the two graduations, she married Joseph (Joe) Rudolph in 1942 and started a family. During WWII she worked at the Quartermaster Depot as a job analyst. Later she worked with her husband in his busy pediatric practice and edited all of his papers (her girls thought she actually wrote them).
Libby was an intellectual. She enjoyed classical music (she attended the San Francisco Symphony the week before she died), literature (she was an English major at Penn), fine arts (she never missed a chance to visit an art museum), current events (she was a font of political information) and Jewish Studies. Her main love in life was her family: her husband Joe who died in 2003; her children Judie Siddall (David Hoexter) and Janet Rudolph (Frank Price); her grandchildren Michael Halpren, Jonas Halpren (Rachel Nico) and David Siddall (Diana Lohr); and seven great-grandchildren.
Libby moved from Philadelphia to Northern California in 2000 at the age of 79. She said it was like a foreign country; the place names, the climate and the informality, but she wanted to be near her family. She moved to the Vi in Palo Alto in 2007, where she enjoyed the ambiance, the people and her independence.
She died on Feb. 3, 2015 at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto at the age of 94, of pneumonia. She was cognizant and herself throughout her illness. Her daughters were with her at the end.
A funeral was held at Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City, CA 94061.
Margie Siegan
Aug. 8, 1915 – Feb. 6, 2015
At the age of 99, Margie, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt passed away. She was the matriarch of a large extended family, all of whom loved her, respected her and enjoyed her memories of family history. Curious about what was happening in the world, she always took a special interest in the lives of her family and friends.
An identical twin, she was born in Chicago, coming to Los Angeles at the age of five. After marrying Bud Bachman in 1936, she joined her twin sister and her husband, Adeline and Laurie Bolotin, in San Francisco. She loved to cook and entertain and was known for the parties she hosted with them in their home. After Bud died, she married Sidney Siegan. She spent the last five years at Rhoda Goldman Plaza where she made many new friends, who already miss her smile at breakfast in the morning.
Margie leaves behind devoted son and daughter-in-law Ron and Sue Bachman, loving niece and nephew Carol Ann and Harvey Edelman, grandchildren Hilary and Mark Kershberg, Keith Bachman and Jill Miller, and great-grandchildren Lauren, Brooke, Hannah and Benjamin. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews who loved her dearly.
A private family service was held at Hills of Eternity and a memorial service and celebration of her life was held at Temple Sinai, Oakland. She will be missed by many and will always be in our hearts and thoughts. Donations in her memory may be sent to your favorite charity.