Mini Fox, in San Francisco on Jan. 4, 2016 at age 92.
Dearly beloved wife of the late Henry Fox for 55 years. Beloved mother of Regina (and Moshe) Blum and the late Susan Fox. Adoring grandmother of Paul and David Blum, great-grandmother of Henry. Dear sister of the late Guta Wickens and the late sister-in-law of Bella Slamovich. Aunt of Allan Fox and Marvin Wickens.
Native of Poland and a Holocaust survivor. Founding member of Congregation Ner Tamid.
Funeral services were held at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. Contributions to Congregation Ner Tamid, 1250 Quintara St., San Francisco, CA 94116.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(415) 921-3636
Julius Mansbach
Sept. 13, 1913–Dec. 27, 2015
Julius Mansbach passed away peacefully on Dec. 27, 2015 in San Francisco. He was 102 years old. He was alert and active until nearly the end, having played chess just three days prior at the family home in the Laurel Heights neighborhood.
Married for 63 years to Ruth, he is the father of Larry (Bette) of Marin County and Bob (Jody) of New York City. He has four grandchildren: Arthur, Liza, Allison and Jonathan.
Originally from the town of Gudensberg in the Hesse region of Germany, he is the middle of three children born to Leopold and Rosa Mansbach. The family had lived in Germany for centuries, and the family tree extended back to the expulsion from Spain.
In the 1930s, the family relocated to Holland. In 1940, Germany invaded Holland, and his brother lost his life in the Rotterdam bombing. With increasing restrictions placed on Jews, Julius and his sister went into hiding in separate locations. His parents were deported to a concentration camp, as was his sister upon her discovery.
From 1942 to 1944, Julius lived with a Dutch family in the town of Oosterhaut. The Eikhout family hid Julius, and one of the Eikhout children, now in his 70s, still lives in the house.
Following the end of World War II, Julius remained in Holland for several years working as a street vendor. He then immigrated to America, and settled in San Francisco where he had an uncle. He took whatever work he could find, including door-to-door salesman.
He identified an opportunity in the wholesale industry, particularly in selling soft goods to retail stores. He established his own wholesale business, Mantex, on Sacramento Street.
Julius met his wife-to-be Ruth in San Francisco, and they were married in 1952. First renting a flat where Larry was born in 1953, they purchased a house just prior to the birth of Bob in 1955.
Julius had many interests, including soccer. He helped established the youth league Hakoah soccer team. Later in life, he was a fan of the Premier League. During the World Cup, he supported Holland and watched their matches with great interest.
Julius was also an avid chess player, and could often be found in the chess room at the San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute. Just two weeks ago, he was proud to have beaten a player half of his age.
Later in life, he developed in interest in stamp collecting, which he continued to pursue even past the age of 100. He also enjoyed his lunches at the Russian Center.
Julius will be missed by his family and many friends.
A memorial service was held at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco. Donations in Julius’ memory can be made to the JFCS Holocaust Center, P.O. Box 159004, San Francisco, CA 94115.
Gerald B. Rosenstein
1927–2016
Jerry (as he was known to his friends), resident of San Francisco since 1949, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 1, 2016. He was predeceased by his brothers Hans and Ernst, his father Max, and his mother Sophie Rosenstein née Bendheim.
Born in Bensheim, Germany, and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, he and his parents restarted their lives in 1945 in Paris, France, after surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, among many other concentration camps. (His early life is chronicled at www.jerryrosenstein.info.)
During the last 35 years, he frequently spoke to high school students here and in Europe, in English and in German, of his experiences during the Holocaust, and of gay rights, equality and human rights. Those close to Jerry know he was not shy about expressing his political opinions.
Jerry had a successful career in international trade that involved extensive travel in Asia and the Caribbean. After 1980, he stepped back from active management and devoted much of his time and resources to causes dear to his heart.
He is remembered as a longtime board member and active member and supporter of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), San Francisco Performances, the Merola Opera Program and the Holocaust Center of Northern California (now relocated to JFCS). He was also a proud member of ACLU, Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Watch.
Jerry was a bridge player, music lover, avid traveler and nature lover with an unquenchable joie de vivre. He wanted to be sure that his many friends and large, extended family in the Bay Area and throughout the world know that they brought great joy into his life. And for us, he brought guidance, irreverence and great delight.
Funeral services and interment were held at Hills of Eternity in Colma. In accordance with Jerry’s wishes, a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
No flowers, please. Donations in his memory may be sent to Jewish Family and Children’s Services, an organization that was very dear to his heart and which provided him superb care at the end of his life. (Online at www.jfcs.org or mailed to JFCS, P.O. Box 159004, San Francisco, CA 94115).
Edward Sankin
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Edward Sankin, Elia ben Moshe Yankel v’ Perle Razran, our colleague, brother and friend. Edward passed away in San Francisco on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, with his loving wife, Rimma, and his children Karina and Daniel by his side. He is also survived by his sister, Faina Ayzenberg, and sister-in-law, Margarita Vilenchik.
Edward served Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha and the Russian-speaking Jewish community of San Francisco with pride and distinction for 22 years.
Edward was born on May 1, 1954 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Soviet Union, and was a graduate of the Pediatric Institute of Medicine of Leningrad, where he earned a degree equivalent to that of a medical doctor. He and his family emigrated from the former Soviet Union, arriving in the United States of America on July 12, 1989. He subsequently found his calling in the funeral service profession, graduating from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1993 and joining Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha in San Francisco at that time.
Edward loved family, friends, good food, vodka, music, a good boxing match and table tennis. He was a student of history and politics. He was always looking forward to the next road trip with Rimma; to be in the beauty of nature, as long as it might afford a visit to Las Vegas.
Funeral services were held at Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha in San Francisco, followed by interment at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma.
Per the family request, memorial contributions in Edward’s memory may be made to the Tikvah School of Music and Dance, c/o Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., San Francisco, CA 94118-1904.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(415) 921-3636
Rabbi Dr. Gideon Sorokin
1930–2015
Rabbi Dr. Gideon Sorokin passed away at home in Tiburon on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1930, he escaped with his family to British Palestine in 1938. He lived and worked in Israel, Italy and Switzerland before immigrating to the United States in the early 1960s. After several years working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in meat inspection and as a professor of meat hygiene, he settled in Marin County, establishing his practice as a veterinarian with offices in several cities in the county. He practiced veterinary medicine for more than 35 years, retiring in 1987 to focus more on real estate investment and travel.
Dr. Sorokin was intensely proud of his Jewish heritage. He served as cantor to a small congregation in Pisa, Italy, while he was studying at the University of Pisa in the early 1950s. He later studied privately and became a rabbi. He particularly enjoyed sharing his love of Jewish culture and religious traditions with those of other faiths.
Dr. Sorokin was an indefatigable world traveler, having visited well over 100 countries in the course of his life. As a result of his zest for life, openness to other cultures and his ability to speak seven languages, he easily made friends all over the world. He served as mentor, colleague and friend to many individuals at home and abroad, opening his heart and his home to people of all walks of life. He had a lifelong love of music, dancing, opera and theater. Together with his wife, Cherie, he was a generous supporter of the arts.
During his life he was the author of two books (“Tales of an Unorthodox Veterinarian,” Part I and Part II) about his veterinary career in Israel and the United States, and producer of two films and a musical theater piece about his family’s flight from Vienna and their early life in Israel.
Dr. Sorokin is survived by Cherie, his wife of 29 years, his son Sam of Orinda, his daughters Dafna Mizrahi of Los Altos and Lisa Bialkin of Novato, his stepson David Knowles of Albany, Isela Mendoza Cazares who was like a daughter to him, and their families, including eight grandchildren. His daughter Orna Sorokin and his first wife, Esther, preceded him in death.
His outgoing nature, intense energy and devotion to helping others will also be sorely missed by countless friends, artists, business associates, and acquaintances whose lives he touched.
The family is especially grateful to Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco and Marin and to Hospice By the Bay for the kindness and care they provided during his final months.
A celebration of life gathering will be held in February with details to be announced at a later time.