Jon W. Gruschka
Jon W. Gruschka, 77, of Foster City, California, died on March 12, 2015. Son of the late Alice Richter and Henry Gruschka, loving husband of Joyce Gruschka, loving father of Lori and Richard Gruschka and grandfather of Ryan Gruschka.
Born July 4, 1937 in Berlin, Germany, he spent nine years in Shanghai, China, before coming to the United States and settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and got his undergraduate degree in history and later attended the University of Missouri where he earned a master’s degree in social work.
Jon and his family moved to Foster City in 1967. He worked as regional director of BBYO from 1967 to 1970, and then worked for 23 years with the Department of Social Services in Santa Clara County as program manager.
He was a founding member of Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City where he served as president three times and developed and served as education director for the religious school for is first 13 years. In his retirement, he enjoyed bridge, his family and was active in the Jewish community.
Donations can be made to Peninsula Sinai Congregation, 499 Boothbay Ave., Foster City, CA 94404.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(650) 369-3636
Michael Paul Meltzer
Dec. 19, 1946–Feb. 8, 2015
Michael Paul Meltzer, son of Harold and Henrietta Meltzer, grew up in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., and died unexpectedly in Oakland, California, on Feb. 8. Michael is lovingly remembered by wife Norma (Naisa) Kaufman, daughter Jordana, father Harold, brother Jonathan, sister Deborah, and many relatives and friends. Michael was predeceased by mother Henrietta (Roth) Meltzer.
Michael had a zest for life, a child’s enthusiasm for learning, and a tremendous love for family and friends. From the moment 4-year-old “Mikey” gazed up in wonder at the stars during his first planetarium trip, to when he was licensed at 9 years old as Long Island’s youngest ham radio operator, to his winning first place 40 years later in a national Writers of the Future contest, Michael never stopped growing, wondering, exploring and deeply inspiring every person he knew.
Michael earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from U.C. Berkeley and his doctorate in environmental engineering from UCLA. As a socially conscious scientist, Michael started the pollution prevention program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he worked for 15 years and collaborated on several patents. He published books about solar heating and commercial fishing, wrote three space science books for NASA, and created many wondrous stories, books and screenplays.
Of Michael’s many accomplishments, the one he was most proud of, he shared with his wife, was their wonderful daughter, Jordana. Michael’s memory is a blessing that will forever be cherished by all those he touched. Donations may be made to Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley, CA.
Anita Steinacher
1923-2015
Anita Steinacher, a resident of Los Altos for over 60 years, passed away on April 23 surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by the love of her life Gerald Steinacher. She is survived by her brother Albert Horn and her children Linda Wolan (Steven), Yvonne Goldman (Les) and Bob Steinacher (Karen), her grandchildren Jennifer Wolan (Nick Seuser), Ben Wolan (Nicole Ng), Jonathan Goldman (Rhiannon), Sam Goldman, Erik and Deena Steinacher, and her beloved great-granddaughters Ruby and Tallulah Seuser.
Anita was independent, gracious and generous throughout her life. She involved herself in her community by starting cooperative nursery schools in San Francisco and Los Altos. She and Gerald were founding members of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills where she was bat mitzvah at 60 years old. She remained actively involved in the synagogue. Travel was her passion. She and Gerald traveled the world and they took the family to Hawaii and Alaska. Anita and her brother Albert Horn loved attending the opera and S.F. Symphony.
Anita was born on June 19, 1923 in Cologne, Germany, and she and Albert fled to England in 1939 after Kristallnacht. They joined their parents Karl and Hertha Horn in San Francisco on June 6, 1940. She married Gerald in 1946 and was married for over 57 years.
A memorial service was held at Congregation Beth Am. Donations can be made to Congregation Beth Am or the Gerald and Anita Steinacher Fund at Hebrew Free Loan.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(925) 962-3636