If members of Congregation Adath Israel were short of a person to make a minyan, they knew they could always call Samuel Reselbach.
They also knew they could rely on Reselbach, the president of Adath Israel, to do some of the physical work that was needed around the San Francisco shul.
“A lot of people don’t want to get their hands dirty and they say ‘we should do this,’ and don’t really do anything,” said Rabbi Jacob Traub, of the Orthodox shul. “But Sam would roll up his sleeves and just get it done.”
Reselbach, of San Francisco, died June 16. He was 85.
He was born in Lodz, Poland. The son of a painter, Reselbach barely finished grade school before following his father into the business. Ultimately, those painting skills may have saved his life.
Reselbach attributed his surviving the Holocaust to his work. He was in a number of different concentration camps, including Auschwitz, but he was always kept alive. He painted many barracks and also the offices of the camp guards.
“He would be fed just a little bit better, and share it with others,” said his son, David Reselbach of South San Francisco.
Other than a brother who survived and immigrated to Israel, Reselbach — who had seven brothers and sisters — was the only member of his immediate family to survive.
Reselbach married his wife Phyllis in Germany after the war. In 1949, they came to the United States, starting out in Stockton, because that’s where they received sponsorship.
Once he arrived here he never looked back, said his son. “He had such an appreciation for America. It was a dream come true for him to get here, and he appreciated everything about it. He blessed every moment he was here.”
Reselbach continued to work as a painting contractor and became quite successful. He was just as likely to contribute to the synagogue with his money as by doing manual labor, said Traub.
In addition to the synagogue, he was involved with the Holocaust Center of Northern California. After the death of his wife in 1986, he began speaking at high schools about his experiences, with his companion, Tauba Weiss.
Traub remembered Reselbach as an optimistic and upbeat person, jolly, even. He enjoyed having a good time at synagogue events, and was a dapper dresser, always putting on a classy suit and tie for an event.
He served as president of Adath Israel for the last four and a half years.
In addition to his son, Reselbach is survived by his daughter, Anna Hartmann of Foster City, and two grandchildren.
Contributions can be made to the Holocaust Center of Northern California, Morris Weiss Essay Contest, 121 Steuart St., S.F., 94105; or the Jewish Institute for the Blind, 15 East 26 Street, New York, NY 10010.