Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Alfred Dovbish
Oct. 31, 1932–Sept. 16, 2023
Alfred Dovbish passed away on Sept. 16, 2023 in Marin County, California. Al was born on Oct. 31, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts and is survived by his wife, Diane, his children Donna, Leslie, Michael and his grandchildren.
Al’s parents moved the family from Boston to Southern California shortly after Al’s bar mitzvah. It was during his teen years that he started his long and industrious career, first at a local grocery store during his high school years to help support his parents and siblings, and later as a dance instructor as he worked his way through college.
He graduated from the University of Southern California and obtained a law degree from Southwestern University. While Al had a busy schedule with school and work, he did manage to find time for pickup games of volleyball and football at Newport Beach and enjoyed the vibrant social scene while living on the Sunset Strip.
Early in Al’s legal career, he served as an assistant district attorney in Long Beach, but he ultimately realized his path lay as a sole practitioner. At this juncture in his life, Al moved his family to Marin County in 1972. He initially split his work between Northern and Southern California, but eventually established his practice exclusively in Northern California, where he continued to serve his clients into his early 80s.
Al led a very full life, and his interests and passions were countless. After the age of 50, he discovered a love for running and completed numerous marathons, including the Boston Marathon and several NYC marathons. It was hard not to miss him on Tiburon Boulevard as he made his way around the Tiburon Peninsula, most likely in training mode for the next marathon. Al was also a tennis player and an avid skier who once took advantage of the opportunity to ski with his family on the Swiss Alps on one of their summer vacations.
After settling his family in Marin County, he wasted no time in exploring nearby Lake Tahoe, and fell in love with all it had to offer. He bought properties and built a second home in Northstar in the early ’80’s and spent most weekend winters skiing Northstar and Alpine Meadows.
He loved to travel and explored Europe, Israel and Canada with his wife, Diane. He loved going to his daughter Leslie’s traveling softball games and tournaments and coaching her basketball team. In later years, he was a fan of going to his grandchildren’s sporting events. Al was a voracious reader, casual chef and was famous for his spaghetti sauce. But most of all, he loved being with his family and had a wicked sense of humor. And, he was proud of his shapely legs and would show them off whenever he could.
Zelma “Zel” Eatenson Kahn
Nov. 8, 1919–Sept. 22, 2023
Zelma Marcelle Eatenson Kahn (1919-2023) passed away from Covid-related breathing problems on the evening of Sept. 22, 2023 in Palo Alto, CA, just a few weeks before reaching her 104th birthday (Nov. 8).
Zelma, or “Zel” (as she liked to be called), was, as she had been for all of her very long life, aware and alert and cognitively “with it” until almost the very end.
Zel was born in 1919 and raised in Dallas, Texas. Her father, Sam Eatenson was from Berdichev (Ukraine); and her mother, Anna Lawrence Eatenson, was from Ployesti, Romania. She had two brothers, Sol Lawrence Eatenson and Ervin Eatenson.
After briefly attending SMU, Zel married Frederick M. Kahn (1917-1975) in 1941. After World War II, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where they started a cosmetics business whose main product was a hand cream called La Viola, which was specially formulated to heal dry skin in the high-altitude Colorado environment.
In Denver, they raised three children (Robert, Ted and Patti Kahn); and together with close friends, they helped found and build a new Jewish Conservative synagogue, Congregation Beth Joseph, which became one of east Denver’s leading traditional synagogues in the 1950s-’60s. Zel was active in Beth Joseph’s sisterhood and served for a time as its vice president.
The Kahns lived in Denver for 17 years, spent a year in San Diego, and then moved back to Dallas in 1965. Zel became a highly successful real estate agent in north Dallas, and she continued living there until 2011, when she moved to Palo Alto. Like many Dallasites — and many real estate agents — she was always stylishly and impeccably dressed.
Zel was the quintessential extrovert. She could walk into a room full of strangers and talk to each of them as if she’d known them all her life. An hour later she could tell you everyone’s names, life histories, occupations, number of children, etc. Her memory was phenomenal; even at the age of 103, she could memorize and repeat people’s telephone numbers.
A true Texan/Southern Belle, she never lost her habit of calling everyone around her “honey.” During the Vietnam War, a Denver friend quipped that all the U.S. had to do to end the war was send Zel over to talk to Ho Chi Minh, the leader of North Vietnam. Her friend said Zel would just walk into the room and say, “Now Ho, Honey, we just need to talk about this …”
Zel was happiest when surrounded by family. She gave a strong moral and ethical compass to all of her children. She had an unshakeable connection to the Jewish communities of both Denver and Dallas; before her passing, she was the oldest member of Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto. She was a strong supporter of Israel and StandWithUs, and she was honored several years ago for her lifetime membership in Hadassah.
She loved being around children and dogs, and she adored Broadway musicals. She never lost her Dallas/Southern Belle ambiance and always used to end every conversation with, “God willing, and the creek don’t rise.”
Her funeral (in Dallas) was on Sept. 28, and we will hold a community memorial service at Kol Emeth in Palo Alto after Shloshim — 30 days of mourning — at the end of October.
She is survived by three children: Bob (Lynn Levy),Ted (Frona) and Patti Kahn (Bill Kornfeld); five grandchildren: Alyssa Ortiz-Kahn (Steven Ortiz), Ben Kahn, Yoni Kahn (Alison Rosenblum), Aaron Kahn, and Ilana Kornfeld; and three great-grandchildren: Niko and Theo Ortiz-Kahn, and Micah Taylor Kahn.
Donations in her memory may be made to Hadassah, the Jewish Women’s Zionist Organization of America.
May her memory always be for a blessing.
Marvin Levin
Marvin Levin passed away shortly after his 92nd birthday in Walnut Creek.
Marvin was born in San Jose, to Dan and Helen Levin, in 1931. He was a top athlete in high school, but left that behind to concentrate on his studies at UC Berkeley, where he was commissioner of the debate club and president of his fraternity, Phi Lambda Phi. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1952, and then attended UC Berkeley Law, earning his J.D. in 1955. He also became a CPA.
After practicing law briefly, he discovered one of his greatest passions: real estate. He built homes in Clearlake Oaks modeled on the Florida Keys, where residents could dock their boats right behind their homes; Clear Lake Keys remains a thriving community today.
In 1971, the founding partners of Consolidated Capital asked him for legal advice. He soon became indispensable to the team, was named president and helped grow it into one of the nation’s major real estate investment companies.
Since his J.D. and CPA certificate weren’t enough to satisfy his desire for a lifetime of education, he went on to earn an MBA from Pepperdine, a Ph.D. degree from Golden Gate University and an honorary degree from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology.
Following the sale of ConCap, he remained active in real estate, as well as in new businesses, through the 2010s. Over the years he mentored many young people, from the new generation of the debate club, to his students at UC Berkeley Extension, and to anyone who sought his advice.
His other passion was chess: Sometimes when he observed two players in the park or a coffee shop, he would innocently mention that he knew “how the pieces move.” In fact, he’d won a statewide tournament when he was 14. He played chess until shortly before his passing.
He is survived by his life partner, Jennifer Marsh. He was also father to Donna, Joni and Claire (of blessed memory), and grandfather to Maytal, Jacob, William, Sonia, Daniel, Elena, Cora, David, Anna and Levi.
Ruby Levin
July 1, 1929–Sept. 24, 2023
Over 94 years, Ruby Levin of Daly City, CA, lived a beautiful and full life. She was born to Hilda Hoskelis (nee Napolsky) and Louis Goldaber in San Francisco on July 1, 1929. Ruby was raised by her mother and stepfather, Joe Hoskelis. A graduate of Lowell High School, she married her beloved husband Stanley Levin at age 21 and went on to have three wonderful children: Jeffrey, Dana and David.
Ruby was passionate about tea parties, traveling and celebrations. She loved fiercely and was lovingly referred to at her funeral as a “force of nature.” Throughout her life, she instilled a strong sense of family and impeccable etiquette, regularly referring to Emily Post for advice.
Ruby passed away on Sept. 24, 2023, after a short illness. She is survived by her children Jeff and Pegi Levin (Brentwood, Tennessee), Dana and Ken Gribble (Kyle, Texas) and David Levin (Oakland, CA). Ruby’s grandchildren are Lauren Gribble (Kyle, Texas), Sam Gribble (Austin, Texas), Jesse (Jason) Santeiu (Brentwood, Tennessee), Gabriel Levin (San Francisco, California) and Sophia Levin (Brooklyn, New York). She is also survived by great-grandchildren Cairo Santeiu and Astoria Santeiu (Brentwood, Tennessee). Also, Norma Fiedotin (Oakland, California), her son David’s partner of nine years. We will love and miss our mom and Nana forever, but find comfort that she has been reunited with her beloved husband, mother, and dear daughter-in-law, Loren Siegel. May her memory be a blessing.
Donations in honor of Ruby’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society and the Jewish National Fund, where you may plant a tree in her memory. She is interred at Eternal Home in Colma, California.
Stefanie Steinberg
Stefanie Steinberg of San Francisco passed away peacefully on Sept. 24, 2023 at the age of 102, with her daughters and grandchildren by her side. Born in Breslau, Germany, (now Wroclaw, Poland), she immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. While in Europe, she was awarded an art scholarship at a prestigious high school of fine arts in Switzerland, and her life was defined by her incredible artistic talent and body of work. She met her future husband, Ulrich Steinberg, onboard the ship to America.
Painting was Stefanie’s first and most prolific medium. She began her career in the U.S. painting on clothing. She was hired by Edith Head at Paramount Studios, and one of her assignments was to paint a gown to be worn by Joan Fontaine in the movie “The Emperor Waltz.” Edith Head was nominated for an Academy Award for costume design in that movie. Upon leaving Paramount, Stefanie continued her popular painting on clothing designs, soon starting her own company, Stefanie of California, that created one-of-a-kind garments. Another company saw the appeal and began mass producing similar items; her company faltered.
Active as an artist in San Francisco Stefanie created work in her studio that was widely shown in local galleries and museums: Lucien Labaudt Gallery, Congregation Emanu-El’s museum, San Francisco Art Commission Gallery, San Jose Museum of Art and the Oakland Museum. In 1979, the San Francisco Chronicle featured 12 of her photographs in its California Living section. Internationally she exhibited in Bern, Switzerland, the Museum Folkwang in Essen, Germany, and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.
Surviving her are daughters, Victoria Fuchs (Rabbi Stephen), Claudia Hughes (Rick), six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Her husband, Ulrich (known as Richard) predeceased her.
A memorial service will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to the San Francisco Women Artists, for whom she volunteered for many years, or the SPCA, where she adopted her beloved cat, Simon, or the charity of your choice.
Carol Diane Stern
Carol Diane Stern passed away on Sept. 22, 2023. She was born in Oakland, California on March 24, 1935 to Dr. Harry and Esther Horwitz. She attended Crocker Highlands Elementary School and Oakland High School. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1957. She taught California and U.S. history for the Oakland school system.
She met her life partner, Dr. Earl Stern, on Dec. 29, 1956 on a blind date at the Claremont Hotel. They were married on Dec. 20, 1959 in Piedmont, CA and they made their home in San Francisco. She joined Earl in growing his medical practice of pediatric ophthalmology in San Francisco, and for years managed his offices in Oakland, San Francisco and Los Altos.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Earl Stern; her three children, Grant Stern, Allison Stern (Gregory Lindae), Marshall Stern (Ceciley Bauman); her grandson, Devin Stern; and numerous friends and relatives.
Carol was a lover of plants and gardens, reading, cooking and handicrafts. She and Earl traveled the world many times over on adventures large and small. She is remembered for her keen wit, sense of humor, and loyalty to family and friends.
Services are private and any donations in her name would be appreciated by the UCSF School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, or the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
John Waisman (Yaakov Ben Ziskind)
1924-2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of such a wonderful man, John Waisman.
John was a dedicated father to Steve (Malca) Waisman and Shana (Jeffrey) Abela, of blessed memory. He was immensely loved and admired by his grandchildren Eric (Stephanie) Waisman, Sharon (Eric) Rabichow, Andrew Abela, Nicole (Michael) Burns and Adrienne Abela. And he was absolutely adored by his great-grandchildren Noah, Micah, Harper, Kylo, Cove and Avery, of blessed memory.
John was born in Sokolov, Poland in 1924. During World War II, he and his family lived and worked in a Siberian labor camp under very harsh conditions and in freezing temperatures. He always felt lucky that his father knew about horses, so his family was granted access to sleep in the warmer stables. But it was here, at the camps, where he met the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Marsha.
John and Marsha fell in love, got married and after the war they immigrated to Israel in 1948, where they raised Steve and gave birth to Shana. During that time, John proudly served in the IDF and fought in the 1957 war.
They soon decided to reconnect with family in America, so they made their way to San Francisco. The house they bought ended up being the one he lived in until just months shy of his 100th birthday.
There was no match for John’s work ethic. He was owner of Posman’s Bakery for many years and later a downtown coffee shop. When it was time to retire, he would still come to work with Steve at his health food store, always a smiling face behind the register. He ingrained that honorable work ethic into both his children.
In addition to work, he was also dedicated to his faith. Rain or shine, you could always see John making the three-block walk to his temple, Chevra Thilim. They could always count on him for a minyan. His dedication to his faith and love for traditions has carried down all the way to his great grandchildren.
John was a strong and resilient man who loved with his whole heart. The kind of man who drove his kids and grandkids crazy with his worry if you were going on a trip and didn’t call the second you landed, and then 30 minutes later the second you arrived at your hotel. He was a loving and devoted husband, who cared for Marsha her entire life. A man whose smile could light up a room, especially when his grandchildren and great grandchildren entered the room. A man who at 99 was still telling jokes at the Passover table.
He is laid to rest next to Marsha at Eternal Home in Colma and will forever be in our hearts.