Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Francy Karp
Sept. 9, 1945–June 3, 2023
Born Frances Marion Gimble on Sept. 9, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota, she was the youngest of four siblings. Tragically at five years old, she lost her father, who died of a heart attack shoveling snow. Living with her mother throughout her teenage years and early 20s she worked in her brother’s radio/television store to make ends meet. And tragically again, she lost her mother to colon cancer when she was 25. After her mother died she moved to California.
In San Francisco Francy met her husband, Larry Karp, at a Jewish event for singles. They soon married and had two kids, Howard and Sheri. She raised her kids while her husband ran their business with two other partners, a few furniture stores throughout the Bay Area.
She was a devoted wife and mother, known for her sweet, kind and gentle way. One of her hobbies was starring in a few television commercials for the family business. She loved swimming laps almost daily! Taking vacations to Minnesota to visit her family was one of her greatest joys.
She attended a weekly minyan at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo for many years.
Francy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago. Her family lovingly cared for her in the beginning stages and then she was cared for at a wonderful assisted living facility, Gordon Manor, located in Redwood City, CA.
She passed away peacefully on June 3, 2023.
In remembrance of Francy Karp’s life, the family asks that charitable donations be made to Peninsula Temple Beth El located at 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA, 94403 or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Nancy Lipsitz
Jan. 1, 1942–June 15, 2023
Nancy Lipsitz, born Jan. 1, 1942, in New York City, passed away June 15 in San Francisco, with her husband, Stan, and her two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, at her side.
Nancy was known by her friends and family for her Rosh Hashanah and Pesach dessert parties, her knitting skills, her love of “Jeopardy,” her ever-expanding hippo collection, her 30+ years as a volunteer with Chicken Soupers, her unwavering support for the University of Michigan sports teams (Go Blue), being a voracious reader, and being a volunteer at Beth Sholom. Trained as a social worker, she worked as a conservator at Jewish Family Services.
Her family and friends meant everything to her, and her loss has left a gaping, unfillable hole in the hearts of those who loved her. She was an irreplaceable mother, wife, and friend, compassionate, caring, and witty.
Services were held on June 18 at Home of Peace Cemetery in Colma. Donations in her memory can be made to Congregation Beth Sholom, S.F.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Ruth Rosenheim Solomon
June 10, 1935–June 13, 2023
Ruth Rosenheim Solomon was born on June 10, 1935, in New York City. Ruth was a force of nature. She was gifted with incredible energy, strength, and creativity. She attended the High School of Music and Art where she graduated second in her class. She attended Bard College studying drama, where the two most important relationships in her life developed.
The first was when she met John Solomon with whom she developed a deep and abiding love for 70 years. She also met her mentor, Jean Erdman, an ex-member of the original Martha Graham Dance Company. From then on, dance remained the primary focus of Ruth’s life to the very end.
In 1967 when Jean Erdman created the dance program at the Tisch School of Arts at NYU, she invited Ruth to help her found and shape the program as its Assistant Dance Director. Ruth became a recognized professional modern dancer and teacher in academia. As a result, Ruth was recruited to establish the Theater Arts Program at the newly founded University of California at Santa Cruz. Ruth continued to teach in her program until retirement in 1995. She created more than 60 works in her unique version of the modern dance idiom. Other aspects of her multifaceted career are represented by her publications about dance medicine and science, both in periodical and book form.
Ruth became a close friend and colleague of Dr. Lyle Micheli, who founded the dance medicine program at Harvard. For 39 summers Ruth volunteered in Dr. Micheli’s program where she taught, researched, and treated dancers. Her work in dance medicine received some of the highest awards including National Dance Association’s Scholar of the year for 1992, Dance Professional of the Year 1998 and Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science with her husband which she continued until 2021.
Ruth was a proud Jew who was incredibly devoted to Temple Beth El in Aptos, CA. She and Shirley Ginzburg ran the Sisterhood Gift Shop for almost 30 years. Ruth’s artistic design and appreciation of beauty were expressed throughout her lifetime, including curating Judaica for the gift shop, pottery, crochet, knitting, gardening, fashion and much more.
Ruth is lovingly remembered by her husband of 63 years, John Solomon, her children, Mardi Solomon (Gene Meyers) of Bellingham, Washington, and Rowan Solomon (Larissa Siegel Solomon) of San Francisco; and her grandchildren Eva Meyers, Noemi Meyers, Asher Solomon, and Talia Solomon.
Contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Sisterhood Fund at Temple Beth El in Aptos, CA.
Denise Schwarzbach
May 23, 1928–June 26, 2023
Denise Dora Schwarzbach passed away peacefully in her sleep in Daly City on June 26, 2023 at age 95. Beloved wife of Alvin Schwarzbach for 55 years, loving mother to Leslie, Karen and David (Tara) and cherished mémé to Daniel, Benjamin, Joshua, Adar, Kyla and Nava.
Born in Paris, France, on May 23, 1928, she was the adored daughter of Brandla and Alter Damenstein and sister to Rosa, all of whom she tragically lost in the Holocaust in July 1942.
Denise came to America in 1948 and quickly acclimated to her new life. One of her proudest accomplishments was being named “Quick Trigger Damenstein” and “Speaker of the Year” at her Dale Carnegie course.
Denise was a voracious reader and enjoyed her role as the head of the Friends of the Daly City Library annual book fair, volunteering at John’s Closet, serving as a Brownie troop leader, as well as being a member of Hadassah and ORT and other charitable organizations. A lifelong lover of beauty, Denise was a hairdresser for many years, a top sales representative for Avon and always beautifully coiffed!
She was an inspiration to so many and will be remembered with great affection.
Services were held on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Home of Peace Cemetery, 1299 El Camino Real in Colma, followed by a reception to celebrate Denise’s life and legacy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Schwarzbach Family Fund, c/o Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, 2150 Post St., SF, CA 94115.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636