Hyman David Agid, age 93, passed away in Kentfield, California. He is survived by his children, Gwen and Bruce (Tara); his grandchildren, Aisha (Jim), Michele (Wayne) and Bruce II (Mia), Avi and Ehud; and his great-grandchildren, Taylor, Angel, Antonio, Sullivan and Sadie. He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen Zebel Agid, and his son, Brian Victor Agid.
Hyman was born on Jan. 9, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York, to Samuel and Rose Agid. He served courageously in the South Pacific during World War II as a decorated first lieutenant and navigator. He graduated from City College of New York with a degree in accounting. In 1953, he moved to San Francisco, where he worked for two years as a Certified Public Accountant in a national firm. In 1955 he went into business for himself and built up a very successful practice, which he continued until the very last years of his life.
Hyman was a great family man and a loving father. He married Helen in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, and the couple had three children together. He was observant and dedicated to his Jewish faith and spent many hours at Congregation Ner Tamid, where he prayed and studied throughout his life. His friends and family will always remember him as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, a brilliant scholar and successful businessman.
Funeral services were held Jan. 10 at Salem Memorial Park, Colma. Contributions can be sent to the Hyman D. Agid Memorial Fund at Congregation Ner Tamid, 1250 Quintara St., San Francisco, CA 94116 or any charity of your choice in his memory.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(415) 921-3636
Leonard A. Cohn
Nov. 4, 1935–Jan. 10, 2016
Leonard Asherson Cohn was born Nov. 4, 1935 in San Francisco. Len, as he was known to all, was a graduate of Burlingame High School (1953) and the University of California, Berkeley (1957), where he met his beloved Roberta, whom he married on June 15, 1957 at the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill.
He served in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia, in the Transportation Corps. After his time in the Army, he and Robbie returned to the Bay Area and settled in Moraga over 56 years ago, where they have lived ever since. His professional life began as a buyer for the White House department store in San Francisco. He continued a successful career as the VP of Purchasing for the women’s sportswear company Koret of California (1964-1990). He became the Executive Vice President at another women’s sportswear company, Joan Walters, until 1998 at which time he decided to retire from the garment industry. He did this in his desire to pursue another passion: real estate. He sold real estate in the Lamorinda area for the ensuing 16 years, working for Prudential, which then became Better Homes and Gardens.
Len loved life, which included rooting for the Cal Bears and the San Francisco Giants, as well as soaking up Broadway theater.
Serving the community was one of Len’s sources of great pride. His active involvement included a wide range of interests and boards of numerous organizations. His leadership included President of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Union for Reform Judaism’s regional board, as well as the UAHC Camp Swig (now URJ Camp Newman), Hebrew Free Loan, American Friends of the Hebrew University and Berkeley Hillel.
Other organizations in which he was involved included the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He seemed to be unable to find an organization to which he would not ultimately become a board member and, more than likely, its president. Nothing gave him more joy than his children and grandchildren and the time spent with his family all together.
He is survived by his sister, Janet Martin; his wife, Robbie; his children, Denise Cohn, Barry (Debbie) Cohn, Wendy Cohn Feldman and Mark Strauss-Cohn; and his grandchildren, Sarah Cohn, Elana Cohn, Yael Cohn, Jenna Feldman, Kyla Feldman, Justin Feldman, Eitan Strauss-Cohn and Harli Strauss-Cohn.
The family is deeply grateful to the medical staff at John Muir Hospital for their care and compassion. A memorial service was held at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette on Jan. 13. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the above organizations or the charity of your choice.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(925) 962-3636
Tom Szelenyi
March 28, 1928–Dec. 22, 2015
Tom Szelenyi, resident of San Mateo, died peacefully surrounded by his family after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, sons Mark (Janet) and Bob (Jennifer), and grandchildren Michael (Jenn), Jimmy, Jackson, Wyatt, Tyler, Jessica and Alivia.
Born in Budapest to a Jewish family, he was carried off to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944, at the age of 16, after the Germans invaded Hungary. He was liberated in 1945, returning to Hungary and later immigrating to the United States.
One of Tom’s many accomplishments was living the American dream, after arriving from Europe as a young man with literally only a few dollars in his pocket. Using his own brand of drive and determination, he built a successful international air freight forwarding company and employed his two sons for many years.
Tom had a deep love for everything Hungarian. He savored the foods of his childhood and ignored everyone’s suggestion to eat healthier. He loved to travel with his family and share the places and experiences of his early life.
After retirement, he volunteered at San Francisco International Airport as a Travelers’ Aide. He lectured in high schools about the Holocaust and his personal memories, and participated in the Holocaust Oral History Project.
Tom was an extremely determined and focused man. Always in pursuit of the best deal, he did not settle for less than the best, whether in air travel, cars, motorhomes, or boats. He was very exact in the way he led his life up to his last breath, which, blissfully, happened after a family event had just ended.
Private funeral arrangements. Contributions in his memory may be made to your charity of choice.
Sinai Memorial Chapel
(650) 369-3636