Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Jacques Maurice Adler
Jacques Maurice Adler, a beloved pillar of his family and the San Francisco Jewish community, known for his accomplishments as a plaintiff trial attorney and artist, passed away on Oct. 18, 2024, in Palo Alto, Calif. He was 89.
Known to most as “Jack” and his six grandchildren as “Paw,” he was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Milton Adler and Ruth (Pollock) and spent his childhood in Squirrel Hill. Although he moved to California at 13 and lived there for the rest of his life, his hometown left a lasting impact. Jack remained a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan and learned to bake at his family’s eponymous delicatessen, Adler’s.
In California, Jack graduated with honors from Los Angeles High School, where he first discovered a love of speech and debate. He then enrolled in undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with honors in 1957, before attending UC Berkeley School of Law, Class of 1960.
After being set up by friends in San Francisco, Jack married the late Carol (Mencoff) Adler in 1961. That same year, he was admitted into the California Bar Association and began practicing civil trial work, predominantly personal injury and medical malpractice, on behalf of plaintiffs. Devoted to the pursuit of justice and equality for all people, he fought for integration in local institutions and helped found the progressive K-8 school Live Oak. Jack and Carol had two children, Lisa and Michael, and the family later moved to Palo Alto, where they were members of Congregation Beth Am.
Jack spent over four decades as a lawyer, starting a private practice in 1973, and remained active in many legal associations throughout that time. In 1976, he achieved the rank of “Advocate” in the American Board of Trial Advocates and became President of the San Francisco Lawyers’ Club. Later, he became a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. He retired in 2005.
In addition to an accomplished career, Jack cultivated many skills later in life. In his 40s, he became a long-distance runner, completing a total of seven marathons. A skilled artist who began making ceramic bowls in the 1960s, he later experimented with other forms of pottery and took great joy in gifting Judaica and trompe-l’œil pieces inspired by Richard Shaw. Much of his work still adorns the Moldaw Residences and homes of friends and family. He also loved cooking, having taken classes with Jacques Pépin and other chefs, and began baking challah in his 60s, developing a coveted recipe now made nationwide.
Jack married Betty (Denenberg) Adler in 2001. The couple loved to travel, especially with their six grandchildren, and devoted retirement to exploring new places and developing Jewish traditions with their families. They were also dedicated members of Congregation Kol Emeth, where Jack regularly attended Talmud class. He also remained involved in the Jewish community, serving on the board of Brandeis Hillel Day School and committees at the Jewish Community Federation and Congregation Beth Am. In 2018, Jack and Betty moved to the Moldaw Residences, where he taught ceramics classes and was an active and beloved community member.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Denenberg Adler; his children and their spouses, Lisa Levy (Jonathan) and Michael Adler (Alison Good); Betty’s children and their husbands, Laura Wildmann (Hugo) and Cheryl Bader (Marc); and his grandchildren, Kayla and Isaac (Levy), Mira and Miles (Bader), and Marshall and Leah (Wildmann).
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Congregation Kol Emeth, Congregation Beth Am or a charity of your choosing would be greatly appreciated.
Hannah Ruth Blazewick
זצוקללה״ה
Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died: Luning, Nevada
Age: 81
Retired Merchant Mariner
Contributions can be made to the Library fund of Congregation Netivot Shalom or the General Fund of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav.
One thing she wanted to say to you all: “I told you I was sick.”
Leah Jacob-Garrick
1928-2024
Leah Jacob-Garrick of San Francisco, formerly of Shanghai, China, in San Francisco at the age of 96.
Leah (née Jacob) Garrick was the daughter of the late Isaiah and Rebecca (Becky) Jacob. Born in Shanghai, as was her father, she was the fourth generation to live there. The Sephardic family originated in Baghdad, Iraq, and migrated to Shanghai via Bombay, India, with the Sassoons. The Ashkenazi family of her mother came to China from Russia (the Crimea) in the early 1900s to Harbin and on to Australia, where she was raised and educated. Leah dubbed herself “Ashka-phardic.”
She lived through World War II under Japanese occupation and left for the United States with her sister Ritchie in 1947 prior to the Communist occupation of Shanghai. She had been back several times since. In the U.S., Leah lived for a time at the Emanu-El Residence Club, San Francisco, and was elected its President in 1956 under Director Mary Michels. As a Young Judaea leader, she received a scholarship from Hadassah to study for a year in Israel in 1957, the first of many visits, creating a lifelong love and support of Israel. In 1982, she established the Northern California branch of Volunteers for Israel and served twice in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as a Volunteer.
She was affiliated with Congregation Magain David Sephardim and a Life Member of both Amit Women and Hadassah, and was very active in the local Jewish community.
Leah enjoyed opera, swimming and duplicate bridge. She retired as Director of Leisure League (a senior social group) of Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco, where she resided.
Jacob-Garrick traveled extensively (17 times to Israel) and lectured the world over to a variety of audiences about her miraculous life in Shanghai.
She is survived by her brother Jack (Marion) Jacob of Baltimore, nieces Regina Safdie (David) of Los Angeles, Miriam Safdie Butrimovitz (Jerry) of San Francisco, Debbie Finkelstein (David) and Shoshana Kohen (Meyer) of Baltimore, and nephew Rabbi Michael Jacob (Debbi) of Israel, and family in Israel, London, New York and Australia. Her sister Rachel (Ritchie) Safdie (Joseph) and nephew Eddie Safdie of San Francisco predeceased her.
At her request, private graveside services were held at Eternal Home Cemetery. Contributions to Israel causes preferred.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
David Baird Goldstein
1951-2024
David B. Goldstein, 73, died Oct. 18 at home after a valiant struggle with cancer. His life was defined by his closeness to family and friends and to his transformative work of protecting the environment from climate change and air pollution. His professional success was aided by his uncanny ability to explain complex and nuanced concepts to non-technical audiences of political decision-makers, his students, mentees and family members.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he attended Cleveland Heights High School and UC Berkeley, earning a BA and a Ph.D. in physics. At Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for 43 years, he was a tireless advocate for energy efficiency codes and standards for appliances, buildings and industry. He was instrumental in improving building standards in China, India and Russia. He was awarded a 2002 MacArthur Foundation fellowship and the 1998 Leo Szilard Award for Physics in the Public Interest. He authored “Saving Energy, Growing Jobs” and “Invisible Energy.”
David had numerous interests, chief among them his family, travel, photography, classical and rock music, the arts and Judaism. He met his wife, Julia Vetromile, on public transit. They became inseparable, marrying in 1980 and living in San Francisco. In addition to his wife, David is survived by his children Elianna Goldstein (Robert) and Abraham Goldstein (Alana); sister Joan Bendix (Jeff); and grandchildren Gabriel, Eli, Ariadne, Asher and Judah.
David’s funeral was held at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco.
Continue his legacy by performing innovative and creative work, listening with intention, loving fully, and developing further ways to reduce carbon emissions and repair the world. Donations can be made to Institute for Market Transformation or NRDC.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Jeffrey Paul Gradinger
Sept. 5, 1961–Oct. 6, 2024
In Loving Memory. Jeff Gradinger passed away at the age of 63 on Oct. 6, 2024 in San Mateo, Calif. He was an adoring father, beloved son, loving brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many. He can be best described as a man with a quick wit, a passion for books, sports and good conversation.
Jeff was the youngest of four children, born Sept. 5, 1961, in San Francisco, Calif. to Gilbert and Sally Gradinger. Jeff excelled at sports at an early age, always chasing after and adoring his older siblings, wanting to join whatever activity they were involved with. While his youth centered around baseball, his football talent earned him Aragon High School Hall of Fame induction and an All-Ivy award for his career at Brown University.
But Jeff’s real passion was his three children Alex, Lucy (Alex Grieve) and Gus Gradinger (Annie Sullivan). His time with them was cut short, but the memories are cherished.
In addition to his children, Jeff leaves behind his beloved mother Sally Gradinger, siblings Lori Gradinger (Annie Smith), Jodi Gradinger (Robin Wes) and Leo Gradinger (Melanie), his ex-wife Mary Gradinger, nieces and nephews Rachel Dunnington Groshong, Zoe Dunnington Alexander, Sam Dunnington, Dave Wes, Ari Wes, Nick Gradinger, Max Gradinger and Lucas Gradinger. Jeff was predeceased by his beloved father, Gilbert Gradinger, and his beautiful nephew Joseph Wes.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Junior Giants program through the San Francisco Giants Community Fund.
Loe A. Tolson
Dec. 4, 1917–Oct. 21, 2024
Our amazing Loe peacefully passed away, about two months shy of her 107th birthday. A native San Franciscan, she was born at St. Francis Hospital to Sadie (Sally) and John B. Swart. Loe remained mentally sharp until the end of her life, and she retained her amazing sense of humor. She was surrounded by her loving family when she left this world.
Loe survived the Covid pandemic without getting it; ironically, her father passed away in the flu epidemic of 1918-1919.
She was predeceased by her mother and father, her husband Herschel, brother Robert Swart and her lifelong friends: the Schlesingers, Melmons, Eisenbergs and Stroms (the bridge club). Loe passed away on the birthday of her friend Jewel Strom, best friends from age 4.
She attended San Francisco schools, graduating Lowell H.S. in 1934. She met Herschel through friends. After a short time attending Cal, she married Herschel at the Sir Francis Drake hotel on July 2, 1938. She briefly worked as a fashion model and did secretarial jobs on and off for a number of years. After Herschel passed away in 1994, she worked as a volunteer in the café at CPMC for over 20 years.
Loe loved cruises, spending over a year’s time on numerous trips to Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe throughout her life. Her first cruise to Alaska was in 1927, with her mother.
She was an excellent bridge player and, after all the members of her bridge group passed away, Loe continued to play with the daughters of her friends.
After living independently until early 2023, in an apartment on Vallejo Street, Loe moved to Aegis in Corte Madera, which was a wonderful place for her.
Loe is survived by her loving sons, Jon and Greg, and their devoted wives, Laurie and Roz. She was fortunate to have three grandchildren, Andrew (Ingrid), Leigh (Thaddeus) and Zack (Catharine), and eight great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Adam (Taylor), Solomon, Benjamin, Gabriella, Hannah Loe, Jacob and Liam.
When asked her secret to living such a long and good life, she said family is the key. Loe was an amazing woman who was important to so many people; she will be missed every day.
Arrangements were done through Sinai Memorial Chapel and a private funeral was held at Salem Memorial Park.
Donations in Loe’s memory to sherithisrael.org, bythebayhealth.org or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636
Miriam Trubowitch Manber
April 20, 1926–Oct. 20, 2024
The family of Miriam Trubowitch Manber is heartbroken to share the passing of their beloved Matriarch: Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Aunt. She passed at her retirement community in Boca Raton, Florida, at the age of 98.
She is survived by her three children and loving spouses; Neil Trubowitch (Yvette), Michelle Kuc (Yaakov) and Debbie Trubowitch Cohn (Barry). She was blessed with 10 wonderful grandchildren and their spouses. She was Nanny to Zoey (Dani), Roey (Miri) and Hela (Barak); Grandma to Zev, Jessica (Juan), Samantha (John) and Victor; and Bubbe to Sarah (Rostic), Elana (Asaf) and Yael. She was simply GG to her 12 great-grandchildren: Lotan, Omri, Netta, Arad, Shaqed, Ariel, Santi, Rapha, Adeline, Tamara, Maya and Leo. She was Tante to her beloved niece Judy Umansky (Paul), and a cherished cousin, friend and second mom to many more.
Born Miriam Selma Mazur, she was raised in the old Third Ward of Newark, New Jersey. She grew up during the Great Depression, going to public school and afterschool Yiddish programs. When WWII broke out, she attended NYU at just 16 years old as an English major, spending weekends working in her parents’ small clothing store on Prince Street.
In 1948, her best friend introduced her to a young Israeli, Josh Trubowitch, who swept her off her feet. They were married for 25 years, first living in Queens, New York, and then moving to San Mateo, California. When Josh changed careers to real estate in the mid-1960s, Miriam joined him and received her real estate license, as well. It became her career and passion for 35-plus years. She loved selling homes, especially to first-time buyers. Her clients became like extended family. She simply loved people!
Josh passed in 1973, leaving her a young widow, with her youngest daughter, Debbie, not yet entering high school. She was blessed to find love twice again: first marrying Hy Manber and later reuniting with her childhood sweetheart, Joel Kohn.
She traveled the world, including over 75 trips to Israel. She loved life and all it had to offer … theater, opera, ballet, food, fashion, business and politics. Her refrain was most often “this is the best ___!”
After retiring at 75, she moved to Florida to enjoy the sunshine and reunite with old friends from Newark and New York.
While always active in supporting Israel and the Jewish community (Temple Sholom, B’nai Brith Women, Hadassah, etc), nothing was more important to Miriam than her family (aka Miriam’s Marvelous Mob). Her milestone birthdays were grand celebrations with all family members in attendance. Nothing made her happier. She loved big and was loved even more in return. Miriam’s people-magic was legendary, and her big smile, quick wit and strength are already deeply missed.
A memorial service was held on Oct. 27 at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame. Contributions in Miriam’s memory can be made to yadsarah.org, latet.org.il/en or an organization of your choice.
Sinai Memorial
(415) 921-3636