Obituaries are underwritten by Sinai Memorial, the Bay Area’s nonprofit Jewish funeral home.
Herta Jacobi
March 22, 1922–May 26, 2026
Herta Jacobi passed peacefully with her family by her side at age 104 on May 26, 2026 in Lincoln, California. Herta epitomized what it is to be a survivor; her kind spirit was indomitable to the end.
Herta was born in Vienna, Austria on March 22, 1922 to Otto and Elise Schreier. They instilled in her a great love for classical music, culture, and nature.
Herta was a Holocaust survivor. After being exiled from Vienna in 1939, she along with her parents and brother found refuge in Shanghai, China. She lived in the Shanghai Ghetto for nine years, married her husband, Manfred Jacobi, and gave birth to her daughter Judith shortly before they left by ship in 1948 for San Francisco.
Herta’s family was her greatest love and priority. She is survived by her two daughters Judith Schane (Dale) and Ruth Schlesinger (Bruce), her 5 grandchildren Tamara (Rex), Aaron (Melissa), David, Derek, and Daniel, and three great-grandchildren, her brother Paul, and nieces and nephews.
She was a gifted seamstress and lovingly stitched countless outfits for her family. Herta loved nature and hiking, was an incredible cook and baker, and voracious reader and lover of libraries, museums, and parks.She will forever be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and appreciation for life and all living beings. To know her was to love her.
Herta will be laid to rest at the Home of Eternity, Sinai Memorial Chapel in Oakland, CA in a private family service.
Beatrice Katz
July 15, 1937–April 28, 2026
Beatrice Katz passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026.
Born in Philadelphia, Beatrice grew up in San Francisco and later made her home in Marin County and then Santa Rosa with her beloved husband of 65 years, Donald Katz.
Beatrice lived a life centered around family, friendship, and creating a warm and welcoming home. She loved traveling the world, cooking, entertaining, and bringing people together with her warmth, laughter, and generosity.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Donald Katz; her children, Karen Katz, Lori Katz, and Paul Katz; and her cherished grandchildren, Aaron Katz and Parker Katz. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.
Donations can be made to Congregation Rodef Sholom or the charity of your choice.
Thornton L. Oglove
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Thornton “Ted” L. Oglove passed away peacefully at his Westside home in San Francisco surrounded by his loving family. He was 93 years old.
Ted was a Wall Street veteran known for pioneering “red-flag” corporate deviation analysis. He was a self-styled “sleuth” of financial accounting who often trained a skeptic’s eye on unjustifiably rosy corporate earnings statements. Ted authored and published his research in his influential, “Quality of Earnings Report” (“Q of E”) subscribed to by institutional and individual investors alike. Ted and his partner Bob Olstein quickly earned a well-deserved reputation as the “…watch dogs of Wall Street” and the “Q of E” report had no meaningful competition for 18 years. In fact, in 1975 Ted’s reputation and expertise garnered him an invitation to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, regarding disclosure requirements that advanced transparency in the sale and marketing of securities.
Ted was also known for his groundbreaking 1987 book, “Quality of Earnings: The Investor’s Guide to How Much Money a Company Is Really Making.” His book sold over 100,000 copies and was described by industry leaders as “the bible” of forensic financial accounting and presented timeless lessons on the pitfalls of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
More recently, Ted lectured for “Talks at Google,” UC Berkeley, and countless investors clubs on “across-the-board” deviation analysis and his view on the best way “by far” to invest in the stock market on a “long-term basis.” Ted also discussed his long-standing prediction that Berkshire Hathaway Corporation will one day unlock immense stock value by spinning off numerous corporate subsidiaries.
While some corporate insiders may claim he had a “bearish” view of earnings projections and accounting practices, Ted saved his kindest, most generous, and therefore most “bullish” outlook for the family, friends, and the community around him.
Ted was a native San Franciscan and 1950 graduate of George Washington High School, where he would be inducted into the Hall of Merit in 1990 and later endow a scholarship recognizing excellence in speech and debate, which was most recently awarded on May 28, 2026.
He received a BA from San Francisco State University and an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas Business School where he established a scholarship for first-year students who demonstrably excelled in “Critical Thinking.”
In 2007, Mayor Gavin Newsom, proclaimed Ted’s birthday to be “Thornton L. Oglove Day” in San Francisco in recognition of his “…outstanding citizenship and powerful example set through his determination, ethics and service to family, community, country, and humanity.”
On August 25, 1991, Ted married the love of his life Susan Merin-Oglove who was a retired actress, fundraiser, and real estate broker. Together the couple resided in Saint Francis Woods where they enjoyed raising grandchildren, visiting with nearby family, and forging enduring relationships with their neighbors and community.
Thornton is survived by his son David Merin, daughter Dana Gill, and grandchildren Nathan, Jacob, Naomi, Jasper, Maxine, Jackie and Terry.
Suggested donations can be made to George Washington High School Alumni Fund at sfgwhsalumni.org or Peninsula Temple Sholom at sholom.org/give.
Elisabeth Marmer Schlessinger
Dec. 7, 1944–April 5, 2026
Elisabeth Marmer Schlessinger, beloved wife, mother, sister, cousin and aunt, and adored grandmother, died in Berkeley on April 5, 2026 at age 81. Born on December 7, 1944, she was the daughter of Rose Braver Marmer and Milton Marmer, M.D.
After graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1962, Elisabeth enrolled at UC Berkeley, where she majored in English. In 1965, she met her future husband and the love of her life, Joe Schlessinger, through Operation Match, the world’s first computer dating service. They married in 1972 and settled in Berkeley. Elisabeth dedicated 40 years to the Oakland Unified School District, teaching English and then becoming a reading specialist.
Elisabeth had beautiful red hair. She loved children’s literature. She laughed easily and often, and delighted in many running jokes in the family — the sillier the better. She felt her Jewish identity keenly. She loved gathering family and friends in her backyard. She loved gallivanting around the world with Joe. She was a steadfast friend and devoted family member throughout her life.
Above all, Elisabeth was the deeply loving mother of Daniel (Kate), Emily (Ben), and Rachel (Nicolas), all of whom chose to live nearby as adults. Elisabeth was thrilled with grandkids Hazel, Iris, Tessa and Eliot, and treasured the opportunity to be an active presence in their lives. They affectionately called her “Beattie.” Sadly, Beattie did not live long enough to meet her newest granddaughter, Zelda Elise, who was named in her memory.
Elisabeth is also survived by older brother Steve (Ruth), younger brother Richard (Becca); her Braver cousins; and many others whom she loved dearly.
The family will honor Elisabeth with a memorial event on Sunday, June 21st at 3:00 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. Those planning to attend are invited to bring a memory of Elisabeth to share. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to her favorite charity, Save the Children.