Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Irene Brauer
Sept. 30, 1920–June 14, 2025
Irene Brauer passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025, surrounded by her children Judy and Bill and their spouses David and Nora. She was 104.
Irene was an only child who lived with her father Moritz, a horse trader, and her mother Sarah, a homemaker, in Wawern, a small village in southwestern Germany. The family moved to Trier, the urban center of the region, in 1935, when the antisemitic attacks in Wawern turned from verbal to physical. Fortunate beyond measure to be granted sponsorship by second cousins, the family left Germany on a cargo steamer bound for San Francisco in 1937. Irene was 17. On the voyage she met Katy, a German girl; and a Hungarian girl named Boeschke. The three became lifelong friends.
Irene always remembered the moment she arrived in the Bay Area. Early one morning, she and her mother were awakened by her father’s cries as they passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. “Wach auf, wach auf, wir sind in Gan Eden!” (Wake up, wake up, we’re in paradise!)
Losing friends and relatives and transitioning from a rural village in Germany to a major American metropolitan center with but a seventh grade education was no easy adjustment. Still, Irene made it well. She took English lessons and practiced in front of a mirror until she learned to speak English without a foreign accent — no small feat for someone who spoke only her native language until she was 18 years old. Not long after she arrived, Irene wrote and delivered a speech to the Commonwealth Club declaring her immense pride in being an American citizen — a feeling that resonated in her for the rest of her life.
Irene attended Heald College of Business to learn skills such as shorthand and typing. She worked for many years at Jewish Family and Children’s Services in San Francisco as a secretary and social workers’ assistant, and developed lasting friendships with social workers. She created a widows’ support program at JFCS, helping hundreds of widows manage and share their bereavement.
As a young woman, one enchanted evening Irene returned home from a JCC dance and excitedly announced to her parents that she had just met the man she thought she would marry. Both she and her future husband, Donald Brauer, had been reluctant to attend the dance; each had been encouraged by a friend. They fell in love and were married in 1940.
It wasn’t long until Don was inducted into the U.S. Army and sent to Okinawa in WWII, returning nine months after his son Billy was born. Irene and Don settled down to work and raise their family.
Life included Jewish holiday celebrations with elders, which were memorable musically and gastronomically. New Year’s Eves were celebrated with “the group,” a coterie of eight couples, most of whom had known each other since they were young. Irene’s special and much-adored contribution to the feast was her “famous” coffee crunch cake, which her daughter now bakes.
Soon after Irene and Don became empty-nesters with both children in college, the prospect of enjoying a more quiet life together was denied them when, sadly, Don died suddenly at age 51. Irene was just 46.
For the next 58 years, Irene rebuilt for herself a life of close friends, folk dancing, theater, symphony, opera, ballet, literature studies, memoir writing, travel, involvement in synagogue life at Ner Tamid in S.F. (including Sisterhood musicals) and Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland (including Torah study group); and above all, her family. She was particularly thrilled with her role as Granny to Sarah, Anna, Aaron and Noah, with whom she planned and enjoyed special time and activities individually.
For her last 23 years, Irene moved from her family home in San Francisco to St. Paul’s Towers, in order to be close to family. Among other group activities, Irene became the self-appointed “official” birthday songster, singing to individuals and the annual September (her month) birthday celebrants the special, personal happy birthday song derived from the Big John and Sparkie syndicated radio show of the ’50s! She had many friends and wonderful caregivers at St. Paul’s, and lived a rich, full life there.
What Irene loved most to do in life — and she did it so well — was sing. She sang in German and English, old songs and new songs, children’s songs, romantic songs, songs from musicals and movies, and more. Towards the end, the one song she loved most to sing she sang with her beloved Judy: “Sing, Sing a Song.”
Irene is survived by her daughter Judy (David), her son Bill (Nora), grandchildren Aaron, Noah, Sarah and Anna, and great-grandchildren Dylan and Sam.
Donations are preferred to: Irene W. Brauer Family Fund (Attn: Barbara Farber)
Jewish Family and Children’s Services. P.O. Box 159004, San Francisco, CA 94115
Elsie Dab
Elsie Dab passed away peacefully at age 97 on July 24, 2025. When she was 7, her family relocated from Frankfurt, Germany to San Francisco. Following graduation from Washington HS, she worked for the BofA. Elsie met her husband Paul through a JCC singles group. They raised their children in Daly City and then, in pursuit of sunshine, moved to Burlingame. She became a widow one year later.
Elsie had many passions: spending time with dear friends, homemaking, volunteering, traveling, exercising, dancing, warm sunny days with blue skies and baking. She became known for baking over 1,000 cookies for her sons’ bar mitzvahs. She was active at Congregation Ner Tamid, City of Hope and ORT.
Elsie is survived by her sons Michael (Susan) and John (Barbara), five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Donations in her memory may be made to Congregation Ner Tamid, San Francisco.
Bernis Kretchmar
1936–2025
Bernis Kretchmar, beloved philanthropist and community leader, passed away at 88 in June after a long illness. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Larry Kretchmar, MD, and family including three children, four grandchildren, countless friends and relatives and people whose lives she touched through her extensive community work.
Originally from Wisconsin, Bernis Moskowitz attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where one summer she met her future husband. Upon her graduation, the couple moved to Hanover, NH, where Bernis taught English to high school students in Vermont, and then to Rochester, NY, while Larry continued his medical residency. In 1964, the couple, now with three children, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Bernis would become a pivotal figure in her community.
Bernis and her family joined Congregation Beth Am, then in its first decade. An active member, she was very involved on various committees. In the 1990s, Bernis was instrumental in launching the LGBTQ+ support group Kulanu, meaning All of Us.
Bernis was an avid gardener and raised chickens before it was trendy. She loved to travel and was known for running into people at every airport she set foot in. She also delighted in being a shadchan, a matchmaker (at no charge), which resulted in several successful pairings.
For many years, after her kids went to college, Bernis worked for the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose as director of the Women’s Division. She was also one of three co-founders of the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival, now in its 34th year.
Bernis believed in tikkun olam (repairing the world) and building and supporting families and communities. She was very active in the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco and the Peninsula. For her 70th birthday she set up a Lion of Judah endowment which meant, as she said, “committing to the future.”
All told, she raised millions of dollars for philanthropy in the Bay Area, Israel and around the world. Bernis served on the board of El Camino Health Foundation for many years. In 2011, for El Camino Hospital’s 50th anniversary, she and Larry co-chaired the Sapphire Soirée, raising $500,000 for the Foundation. Bernis’ philanthropic deeds were recognized with awards, including the Los Altos Community Foundation bestowing upon her and Larry the John W. Gardner Building Community Award. She attributed her philanthropic spirit to her father’s strong community involvement in Milwaukee.
In addition to her husband, Bernis is survived by her children Julie (Doug) Roston, Laurie Kretchmar, Michael Kretchmar (Chuck Thomas); and granddaughters Rachel, Molly, Chelsea and Amari. Donations in her memory may be made to the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, Congregation Beth Am or El Camino Health Foundation. Not least, Bernis would urge you to vote in every election.
Stephan Krieger
Aug. 2, 1937–Aug. 22, 2025
Stephan (Steve) Jacques Krieger, a third-generation San Franciscan, died peacefully in the city he loved. He was born Aug. 2, 1937 in San Francisco and passed away there on Aug. 22, 2025.
Proudly married to Arlene, the couple met as children in religious school, began dating as teenagers, and married in 1958. Together they raised four children, and maintained a loving relationship throughout their almost 67 years of marriage.
After attending Lowell High School, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor’s (1959) and a Ph.D. in Physics (1963). After a post-doc at Carnegie Mellon, he had a career at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle campus. During his time there, the family enjoyed a sabbatical year at the University of Oxford in England.
When his father, Clarence, needed help managing the family’s real estate interests, Steve returned to California to assist him. He continued his work in Theoretical Nuclear Physics at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Whether engaged in complex conversations about physics with colleagues the world over, or navigating the intricacies of commercial leases and tenants’ needs, Steve unfailingly exhibited grace, kindness and compassion in his working and personal life.
Steve was a true Renaissance Man. He was an avid sportsman, known for his love of running, biking, backpacking, tennis and Pilates, as well as waterskiing and snow skiing, which he continued to do into his 70s. He was also talented in the kitchen, crafting his signature pommes frites and sharing his wine collection. His commitment to his 4 p.m. dip in the waters of Lake Tahoe will be honored for generations. Gifted with a sharp wit, and an ageless sense of style, he was, above all else, a family man.
Steve’s guidance and generosity shone brightly in his leadership and philanthropic work with the Jewish Home of San Francisco, and the American Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Steve is survived by his wife Arlene; his brother Dennis (Alice); his children Valerie (Thierry Jahan), Denise (Erik Migdail), Cindy (Stuart Friedman) and Todd; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Steve’s memory be made to the Jewish Home and Senior Living Foundation, Congregation Sherith Israel or the Hebrew Free Loan Association.
Harvey Lash
Sept. 19, 1926–July 19, 2025
Harvey Lash was born Sept. 19, 1926 and grew up in Elyria, Ohio. As a young boy, he met his future wife, Rose Gold. They dated in high school and married in 1946, following his discharge from the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He received degrees in medicine and dentistry at Ohio State University, completed a surgical residency at Cleveland City Hospital and a fellowship in plastic surgery at the Mayo Clinic and earned a Master of Pathology Degree from the University of Minnesota. In 1961, the family moved to Palo Alto where Harvey founded the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. He was also on the clinical faculty at the Stanford University School of Medicine and served as president of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgery in 1983. He authored over 100 scholarly papers and was a well-known medical innovator.
Harvey and Rose were kindred souls and devoted to each other. They shared common interests, especially musical theater and were season ticket holders of several theater companies. They traveled extensively. They made many trips to Israel and were among the first Americans to visit China.
Harvey loved music, especially Broadway musicals, and had a powerful singing voice. He was known for his rigorous exercise routine, which included lap swimming an hour each day and 400 situps daily. He was well known for his sense of humor and was able to tell long jokes, which he called “shaggy dog tales,” in English and Yiddish.
Harvey and Rose moved to the Vi at Palo Alto in 2009 and lived happily together there until her death on May 31, 2024. Harvey died suddenly and peacefully at Stanford University Hospital on July 19, 2025, just two months short of his 99th birthday. With his passing, we have lost a remarkable man who enjoyed life and gave unselfishly to his family, profession and his country.
He had a profound influence on his many friends and relatives and will be long loved and missed. He is survived by his two sons, Alan and Robert, their wives, Amy and Wendie, and two grandsons, Trevor and Eliot.
Stan M. Osofsky
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Stan Osofsky, beloved husband to Sergio Quintor. He peacefully departed this world on Aug. 24, 2025.
Stan is survived by his loving brothers, Gene and Alan Osofsky, as well as his cherished sisters-in-law, Hilary and Regina. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, who were a constant source of joy and pride to him, spanning both the Osofsky and Quintor families. Stan’s wide circle of cousins and friends were equally important to him, and he treasured their companionship throughout his life.
Born in Oakland, California, Stan spent most of his life in Northern California but was also a true world traveler. He and Sergio journeyed to many places, with a special affection for Buenos Aires, Argentina, which was the birthplace of his mother, Anita.
Stan earned his undergraduate degree from California State University at San Jose, CA. He completed his Master’s Degree in Real Estate at UC Berkeley, where his lifelong passion for learning took root. His professional career spanned several decades, largely in San Francisco, where he dedicated himself to helping small businesses secure office and retail spaces. His dedication to the success of entrepreneurs made him a champion for the underdog, ensuring that small business owners had the right location to flourish.
Stan developed a deep appreciation for the arts, a passion nurtured by Sergio’s influence. Together, they became avid supporters of up-and-coming artists, helping to promote their work within the vibrant art communities of California and Mexico.
An unwavering commitment to his Jewish heritage was at the core of Stan’s values. His love for Judaism shone brightly through his philanthropic efforts, particularly with Hillel, an organization he became involved with during his time at UC Berkeley and continued to support throughout his life. Stan also held a special place in his heart for Hadassah, his mother’s beloved organization, which advocates for women’s rights and support for Israel. Stan was also a “life” long member of Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro.
In celebration of Stan’s life and enduring legacy, his family kindly requests that donations be made in his memory to Hillel or Hadassah, causes that were close to his heart.
Stan’s warmth, generosity, and love for life will forever be remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will continue to inspire all whose lives he touched.
Henrietta S. Schwartz
April 24, 1929–Aug. 13, 2025
In Pleasant Hill on Aug. 13, 2025 at age 96. Beloved wife of Bernard for 51 years. Loving mother of Jeffery and Janice Schwartz, Mary Ruth and Ron Rudokas; devoted grandmother of Michael, Haviva and David Rudokas, Jamie Platt and Ian Donovan, and Jennifer Platt and Steve Lamb; beloved friend of Trude Froland. Past Dean of Colleges of Education for the State of California, Dean of the College of Education and School of Nursing at San Francisco State, Dean of Education at Roosevelt University, Education Professor at the University of Chicago and High School teacher of English and Drama. Services were held. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Carlton Senior Living of Pleasant Hill/Martinez preferred.
Sinai Memorial Chapel | (415) 921-3636