Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Lynne Elman
May 26, 1964–Nov. 28, 2023
Lynne Elman, daughter of Joan and Josef Elman, was born on May 26, 1964, and raised in San Francisco, California. She passed away peacefully on Nov. 28, 2023, to the music of her grandfather Mischa Elman. Wherever she went, she loved.
Lynne truly loved life and loved people of various ethnicities, religious affiliations, and cultural backgrounds. She was a writer and performer known as “The Poetician.” She was a perfumer who facilitated workshops and was a certified expert in the therapeutic use of essential oils. Lynne owned a shop titled Scents-U-All in the lower Haight, and would later sell her essential oils and hydrosols to farmers markets. She loved to cook, eat, and understood the power of nutrition in healing others. Over the years, she traveled to India, Ukraine, Russia, Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, as well as Europe.
She graduated from Lincoln High School and was deemed the most fashionable. She loved sports and played basketball. She graduated from New York University in film and television, with an emphasis in documentary filmmaking to showcase the issues she cared about and underscore the people’s resiliency. She was an avid learner and took classes at City College of San Francisco. Lynne was also a mentor, cultural worker, and advocate to many people of all ages and embodied compassion, love, and kindness. She was surrounded by love and with much gratitude to the nurses, doctors, and all those involved in ensuring her care.
The family requests that you commit an act of kindness in her honor. Lynne is survived by her sister, brother-in-law, nephew, extended and chosen family, and you.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Leonore Steiner Foorman
Aug. 12, 1929–Nov. 28, 2023
Leonore Foorman passed away peacefully on Nov. 28, 2023, at St. Paul’s Towers in Oakland, Calif., at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Carl T. Foorman Jr., and her great-granddaughter Zoe Foorman. She leaves behind sons David (Robin) Foorman and Bill (Jackie) Foorman; daughters Ann Foorman and Gail Foorman (Craig Tovey); grandchildren Rachel (Omer) Ayfer, Max Foorman, Steve (Janine) Nutche, Nathan Foorman, Sean (Tessa) Foorman, Ben Foorman and William Tovey; great-grandchildren Zeki and Reza Ayfer, Levi and Evie Foorman, Janelle and Sydney Nutche, and Isla Foorman; niece Leslie Fink; nephew Peter (Shelly) Fink; and many dear cousins and friends.
Leonore (known fondly by many as Lindy) was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Ann and Bill Steiner and was the younger sister of Irene Fink. She attended the University of British Columbia where she majored in English and years later earned her master’s degree in health education from San Francisco State University.
Lindy was always adventurous and independent. She traveled to remote areas as a flight attendant on DC-3s for Canadian Pacific Airlines. She subsequently moved to San Francisco, worked for American Airlines, and met Carl (who had been widowed) and his three children. They were all married in August 1961. She instantly became a mom of three and then gave birth to Gail a year later.
Lindy and Carl had a wonderfully vibrant life together, had many, many friends and traveled the world. In addition to her work in the airline industry and in the field of health education, Lindy was also the originator of The Riders Guide, an “auto tape” tour company that guided visitors to several sites in Northern and Central California. She loved the outdoors, was an avid hiker, skier and beachcomber and was a lifelong member of Hadassah and the Sierra Club.
Her generosity of spirit as mother, grandmother, friend and matriarch will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hadassah, Temple Sinai of Oakland, Calif., or The Sierra Club.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Lewis Samuel Goldsmith
Lewis Samuel Goldsmith, a longtime Oakland resident and businessman, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 16 in Walnut Creek. He was 94 and had led an active, engaged life until the last moment.
Lew anchored a devoted extended family that gathered on Nov. 20 to pay tribute to the kindness, integrity and loyalty for which he was known.
For more than 40 years, Lew was a manager and later the owner of Collection Service Inc. in downtown Oakland, which was founded by his father-in-law, Louis Spencer, in 1923 and whose clients included prominent retailers and utilities. During those years, Lew was an active presence at the Rotary Club of Oakland and other civic groups.
After his beloved wife, Lois Goldsmith, passed away in 2006, Lew moved to Hercules in Contra Costa County, where he would share a “second chapter” with partner Linyi Wu. The retired duo tangoed in Argentina, rode the rails through China and frequented the Berkeley Rep and San Francisco Opera. They moved last year to Byron Park Senior Living in Walnut Creek.
Lew is also survived by son Steven Goldsmith (Kristin); grandson Jacob Goldsmith; brothers Jack Goldsmith (Barbara) and Ernest Goldsmith (Tanya); and cousin Sanford Davis.
He was laid to rest at the Home of Peace Cemetery in Oakland near his late mother, Clare Kahn Berger.
Jacqueline Nemerovski
Jan. 17, 1933–Nov. 7, 2023
Jackie Nemerovski passed away Nov. 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Jackie was an adoring and nurturing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a wise, inspiring and encouraging life partner.
As an executive, public servant and community leader, Jackie promoted excellence, accessibility and community support of arts and education.
For decades, Jackie’s home was open to family and to friends of all ages and backgrounds, to community service comrades and even to unexpected guests. Her kitchen always was a gastronomic gold mine.
Jackie’s affability, instant smile and gentle sense of humor generated a wide circle of lifetime friendships. Her uncanny appraisal of people she met helped advance productive careers. Her judgment was sought on the worthiness of causes and programs because she was known for her honesty and knowledge.
Jackie Schiff was born Jan. 17, 1933. Jackie and her older brother, Sam, grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. Oak Park was a leafy Chicago suburb with a progressive culture that nourished her inquisitive young mind. Her father, Abe, was an old-school family physician who made house calls, and her mother, Betty, was a typical “sergeant-major” homemaker.
In 1946, at Oak Park High School, Jackie met Howard Nemerovski. They co-wrote a teen events column for the village newspaper. Jackie performed in high school plays, and her favorite role was The Duchess in “The Pirates of Penzance.”
Jackie received a liberal arts degree in 1954 from the University of Michigan, where she majored in speech and television production.
After marrying Howard in 1955, Jackie supported his three-year Michigan Law School education, working as secretary to the dean of the graduate school.
They then moved to Dayton, Ohio, for three years, where Howard served as an Air Force legal officer. On the base, Jackie took lessons in water coloring and ceramics, and she continued to create works for years after that introduction.
Jackie and Howard moved to San Francisco in 1960. It was a return for Jackie, who had lived here during her father’s tour of duty as an Army doctor. Jackie recalled seeing President Truman entering the War Memorial Building during the creation of the United Nations. She celebrated V-J Day on Market Street with her father, who had returned from duty in the Aleutians. Jackie amusingly recounted those experiences for years.
In the city, Jackie embarked upon an exciting phase of her life: She raised two sons, Jim and Bob. She inspired and enhanced Howard’s law career, and for decades she served the local arts and education communities.
During those busy times, Jackie earned a master’s degree in arts administration. Her thesis envisioned a multi-faceted marketing program for nonprofit arts organizations. She became the membership secretary of S.F. Museum of Modern Art and promptly commissioned the computerization of all membership data, enhancing continuous personalized interactions with new and prospective members. Jackie’s success and management talents so impressed the MOMA board that she was appointed the first development director of MOMA.
Mayor George Moscone appointed Jackie to the Arts Commission. As president, she helped formulate the Street Artists Program, navigating the often conflicting interests and political activism of district merchants, the creative community, neighborhood alliances and public safety officials. She pioneered the program requiring developers to include public artworks in their construction projects. Under her leadership, the Arts Commission co-produced with the S.F. Symphony the annual summer concert series.
Jackie worked with Ruth Asawa to invigorate arts education in the city’s public schools, elevating it to its deservingly high status. They also advocated successfully for the creation of our High School of the Arts.
Over the years, Jackie served on many boards, including the S.F. Education Fund (president), Alumnae Resources, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, the Capp Street Project, the Urban School and the Community Music Center.
With her friend Ruth Stein, Jackie formed and operated the Needlepoint Gallery on Sacramento Street. Jackie introduced the pleasures of needlepoint to novices and counseled veterans on new techniques. She also prepared the artwork on many needlepoint canvases and produced finished needleworks for her home and as gifts for family and friends.
Jackie was an avid reader of novels and enjoyed movies and British TV mysteries. Jackie “discovered” the Fromm Institute. For three decades, she learned and revisited history, science, graphic arts, literature, music, philosophy, theater and movies.
For years, Jackie and Howard enjoyed exploring art galleries and acquiring modern art works that they “just couldn’t resist.”
Jackie and Howard regularly attended museums, art exhibitions, S.F. Symphony concerts, Philharmonia Baroque concerts, rock and jazz concerts, the Monterey Jazz Festival, Smuin Ballet, ACT, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival and live theater here, New York and abroad.
They traveled widely with family and friends, visiting Cuba during the early embargo and Israel, Ukraine and Russia during peaceful times. Jackie, dubbed by her family and friends “The Human GPS,” had a rare ability to navigate the ancient streets and alleyways of cities all over the world.
Throughout her productive life, Jackie’s family always was her first love and the principal focus of her energy. Her loss is felt deeply by Howard, Jim, Maxine, Bob, Shari, Jessica, Daniel, Odelia, Jason, Lola, Jasmine and Leah. Throughout Jackie’s last year, she received loving attention, assistance and emotional support from Milika Kaulave, our exceptional caregiver.
All of us have been blessed by Jackie’s presence in our lives. We miss her greatly, but we find comfort in countless joyful memories of our Jackie.
Jackie’s remarkable life will be celebrated at Temple Rodef Sholom in San Rafael from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
If you wish to donate in Jackie’s memory, please consider the Fromm Institute Endowment Fund, Temple Rodef Sholom (San Rafael) and By the Bay Hospice.
Doris Reiner
1925–2023
Doris Reiner, a woman of remarkable versatility and spirit, passed away at the age of 98 on Nov. 21 in San Jose, Calif. Born in 1925 in Philadelphia, Doris led a life that spanned continents and industries, leaving an indelible mark on each.
Doris grew up in Philadelphia and later in Bayonne, N.J. She met her first husband while in high school. During summer vacations, she attended a program at NYU, mastering shorthand and typing, skills that would lead her to work as a legal, medical, and public relations secretary in over 100 different offices.
Her professional journey took her to various institutions such as Oakland City Hall, Wall Street in NYC, Standard Oil in San Francisco, Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, Cedar Sinai Hospital, Northrop Aerospace, and Walt Disney Studio. Doris’ career path reflected her diverse interests. She also worked in London for Gwenda Crone and the Rolls Royce Company and even had a stint as the social Hostess for Grossingers in the Catskills.
Her passion for design led her to study interior design at the New School of Interior Design. Doris showcased her talent working for Breuners in Lafayette, Calif., and Bullocks in Los Angeles. Her distinctive designs even earned her a feature in the Oakland Tribune home section in 1976. Her sense of style was unique.
Her involvement in the film industry included roles as an extra in notable productions like “Fabulous Baker Boys,” “Baby Boom,” “The Iceman Cometh,” and “Living Large.”
Retirement didn’t slow her down. Doris remained connected to the arts as a dedicated volunteer for Theatre Works of Silicon Valley. In Mountain View, she could often be seen strolling with her three-legged pit bull, Freeway, who she dressed in baby onesies.
An avid reader with an extensive collection spanning diverse subjects, Doris had a unique tradition: When she gave away a book, she promptly replaced it. Married three times, Doris leaves behind a legacy embraced by her daughter, late son, three grandchildren, a sister, two nephews, and cousins across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California.
Doris Reiner’s life was a tapestry of experiences, a testament to her creativity, and the lasting impact she had on those fortunate enough to know her.
Tributes in her memory can be sent to TheatreWorks in Mountain View, California.
Daniel Shapiro
Nov. 16, 1924–Oct. 22, 2023
Daniel Shapiro was born Nov. 16, 1924 in Los Angeles. The son of Abram and Esther Shapiro, he attended Manual Arts High School, served in the Army during World War II and then attended UC Berkeley, where he studied civil engineering. While at Berkeley, Dan met Lois Rothenberg. They married in 1948 and moved to San Francisco, where they remained happily married for 60 years.
Having grown up in Los Angeles, Dan had a love of the beach. He and Lois purchased a condo on West Maui in the mid-1960s and returned there regularly for the rest of their lives. He enjoyed tennis, playing in a Saturday doubles game, often followed by animated political discussions. He enjoyed classical music, travel, crossword puzzles and a good cookie. He and Lois also had a tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Carmel with close friends.
Dan worked for Bechtel and then John Sardis & Associates, Architects and Engineers, prior to founding the structural engineering company now known as SOHA Engineers in 1965. His work focused on advancing building seismic performance with the goal of improving public safety. He led the effort to ensure that schools in San Francisco were earthquake resistant and was instrumental in the effort to pass the San Francisco Unreinforced Masonry Building Ordinance, the first ordinance to mandate structural retrofits of a particularly vulnerable type of building. He served as president of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) and the Applied Technology Council and as chair of the California Seismic Safety Commission. Towards the end of his career, Dan worked on commentary and guidelines for building seismic rehabilitation as a project director for FEMA. His professional awards included the SEAONC H.J. Brunnier Lifetime Achievement Award and the California Earthquake Safety Foundation Alfred E. Alquist Medal.
Dan had a generosity of spirit, sense of humor and strong moral compass that touched those around him. He died on Oct. 22, 2023, at the age of 98. At his request, there will be no funeral. There will be a gathering of family and friends in the near future to remember and celebrate his life. For information, contact [email protected]. Memorial contributions to organizations seeking social justice are preferred.
He is survived by his two sons, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Henry Haim Sibony
Jan. 15, 1921–Nov. 8, 2023
Henry Haim Sibony passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family at the age of 102 on Nov. 8, 2023 in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was born Jan. 15, 1921, in Mogador (Essaouira) Morocco, where he was the youngest son of eight siblings. After World War II, he followed his sister, who was a war bride, to the United States. He worked hard to support himself with various jobs and after five years became a U.S. citizen. In 1955 he returned to Morocco and, as luck would have it, he was introduced to Violette. They soon married and he got a job on the U.S. military base in Casablanca and began a 30-year career as a civil servant working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The job transferred him to Livorno, Italy, where he worked for 18 years and then to Virginia where they lived for 10 years before he retired. In 1998, Henry and Violette followed their children to California and settled in Walnut Creek. He was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley.
Henry was always ready for adventure and spoke multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic. He had a passion for opera and literature and was always happy conversing about history and art. He was loyal to his immediate and extended family all over the world. An eternal optimist, he was a beloved father, husband and grandfather who represented gratitude and dignity until his last day. He never turned down an invitation for a social event and was always present at any children or grandchildren’s sporting event or performance.
Henry is survived by his devoted wife of 67 years, Violette, his children Mel (Lisa), Deborah (Charles Koppelman), and Karen (Jason Pollack). Henry was also cherished by his grandchildren, David (Gabrielle), Lena, Walker (Danielle Parker), Gabriella, Jonah, Simone, Isaac, and great-grandchild Miles Koppelman-Brown.
Donations in his memory may be made to Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay (jfcs-eastbay.org) or Mazon (mazon.org).
Bruce Marshall Lubarsky
March 4, 1937–Sept. 16, 2023
Bruce Marshall Lubarsky, “Lubo” to many of his friends, passed away in his San Francisco home surrounded by loved ones.
Smart, handsome, and a marvelous storyteller, Bruce, a fifth-generation San Franciscan, grew up in the Sunset District graduating from Lincoln High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from U.C. Berkeley in 1959. While at Cal, his Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity brothers would affectionately nickname him “Lubo,” a name that he enjoyed and stuck with him the rest of his life.
After graduating from Cal, Bruce continued his education at U.C. Hastings College of Law, earning his J.D. in 1962. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1963. He was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1971. As a young lawyer Bruce’s civic mindset started with the Thomas A. Dooley Foundation and later the Edward J. Whelan, S.J. Society. He was a past national board member of the Jewish National Fund and a lifelong member of Hadassah, committed to supporting the hospitals in Israel. At the time of his death, Bruce was president of the Blum Foundation, served as a judge pro tempore in the San Mateo and San Francisco Superior Courts, was on the board of the San Francisco Historical Society and counsel at the law firm of Finkelstein and Fujii in San Mateo.
Bruce was a collector of first editions, 19th-century San Francisco memorabilia and maps. He had dozens of antique walking sticks that he often used as props for the stories he loved to tell.
He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Cynthia; his sister, Vicky; and three sons from a previous marriage, Alexander (Sharon), Aaron (Margo), and Noah (Yuri). He was the stepfather to Steven Castle (Michal) and Jeffrey Castle (Kai Chen) and the proud grandfather of eight ranging in ages from 5 to 20.
Loving and beloved, we will miss his wise counsel, wit and charm.
At Bruce’s request, a private service was held. To honor his memory, the family requests donations be made to The San Francisco Historical Society or the Anti-Defamation League.
Merrill Edwin Steinberg
Merrill Steinberg, “Bob” to many of his friends, died peacefully on Sept. 26 at age 95.
Merrill was a fourth-generation San Franciscan. He was born at Mt. Zion Hospital, attended James Madison Elementary School, followed by Theodore Roosevelt Jr. High School, where (lore has it) he won the city championship for the basketball team when he missed a rebound that hit him in the head and went into the basket at the buzzer. While his mother’s family had been co-founders of Congregation Sherith Israel, Merrill, like his father and grandfather, became a bar mitzvah at Congregation Emanu-El. After George Washington High School, he became the first in his family to attend college, matriculating at UC Berkeley, where he studied electrical engineering, and joined the Naval Reserve, choosing the submarine corps because reputedly it had the best food in the Navy.
While at Cal, Merrill met Cecile Gutten, from Petaluma, who would be the love of his life. They married in 1955 and shared 68 warm and loving years together, until his death. Merrill and Cecile belonged to Congregation Emanu-El, when they lived in San Francisco. In 1973, they moved to Hillsborough and joined Peninsula Temple Sholom.
After graduating from Cal, Merrill decided to attend law school. When he arrived at UC Hastings College of the Law, he was told that two-thirds of the first year class would fail out. Despite having to work full time to pay his way through law school, he graduated at the top of his class in 1952 and was admitted into the Thurston Society, then Hasting’s highest academic honor.
From 1953 until his retirement in 2000, Merrill worked at what became Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger & Melnick LLP in San Francisco, specializing initially in personal injury, then family law for most of his career. In the late 1960s, he litigated First Amendment cases on a pro bono basis for the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1976, he was elected president of the Northern California Trial Lawyers Association. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and served as president of the Northern California chapter from 1979 to 1980.
A generous supporter of many charities and causes, Merrill also joined protests for various policies — from the Vietnam War protests in 1969 to the March for Science when he was 90 years young.
In the end, he said family and close friends were what he really cared about most. He is survived by his wife, Cecile, his three children and their spouses (Lisa and Debby, Richard and Diane, and Robin and Roger), and six grandchildren who adored him (Benjamin, Miranda, Izak, Jason, Sam and Leah). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Anti-Defamation League.