Peter Battat of Hillsborough died tragically in a car accident on March 17, 2008. He was 41 years old and was the beloved husband of Elizabeth Prince Battat, and adored father of Justin, Adam and Erik Battat, and a caring uncle to many nieces, nephews and cousins. Peter was a devoted son to Ralph and Eileen Battat; and the cherished brother of Dr. Lauren Gerson (Bill) and Margie Klapper (Jeff).
He was the son-in-law of Gayle Prince and Mike Epstein, and of Marty Prince. Peter attended Crocker Middle School, San Mateo High School, and graduated from the University of Arizona at Tucson. He joined his father Ralph, and family members Harry, Frank and Tommy Battat, at Liberty Gold Fruit Company in South San Francisco, where he was a highly successful executive. Peter enjoyed coaching his sons’ sports teams and playing golf, and was a loyal friend to many. His humor, energy and gift for friendship endeared him to all who met him. His family and friends will miss him dearly. Funeral services are March 21 at Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame. May his memory be a blessing.
Berkman, Herbert S. (“Herb”). In San Francisco on March 11, 2008, one week short of his 100th birthday, our beloved Herbert went to his final resting place. Herb was born in Oklahoma in 1908 and raised in Dallas, Texas. His father died when he was a toddler and he was raised in Dallas by his mother and a large extended family. At the beginning of World War II he enlisted and was sent to San Francisco where he met his love, Doris Shemano. After two years in the Navy and Marines in the Pacific, Herb returned to San Francisco where he and Doris married and had 52 years of wedded bliss.
Herb was associated 30 years with Max Sobel Wholesale Liquors. A member of S.I.R.S. and a life-time Mason, he was a recipient of the 1985 Hiram Masonic Man of the Year Award from Lebanon Pacific Lodge #136 F.&A.M.
In his retirement he spent most of his time helping others, volunteering at Newcomer High School in San Francisco and at the Jewish Home for 20 years. After his beloved Doris died in 1997, Herb moved to Goldman Plaza in San Francisco where he spent five wonderful years before moving to the Jewish Home in San Francisco in 2005.
Herbert’s two loves were Judaism and his family. Past President of Congregation Beth Israel Men’s Club and past member of the Board of Trustees of Congregation Beth Israel-Judea, he attended Shabbat services every week for over 50 years.
Herbert was the beloved father of Suzanne Berkman and Myron Berkman; father-in-law of Preeya Chim-in, and the proud grandfather of Davin Henry Berkman; beloved brother-in-law of Rose Anker and uncle of Gary Shemano, Sandra Kaufman, Francine Ullrich, Martin and Frank Berkman; beloved cousin of Jerry Tobias, and a large extended family all over the country. What most remains as his legacy was his love and positive attitudes at all times.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 14th at 1:00 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel-Judea, 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. with interment to follow at Salem Memorial Park, Colma.
The family requests contributions to the Jewish Home, 302 Silver Avenue, SF/CA 94112 or Congregation Beth Israel-Judea, 625 Brotherhood Way, SF/CA 94132. Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Mildred Linsey Freeman died peacefully on March 8, 2008 in Burlingame, CA at the age of 93. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1914, and grew up in San Francisco where she graduated from Lowell High School. She was married to Ben Freeman for 53 years up to his death in 1988. She was a special lady who possessed great dignity, compassion, and empathy. Her survivors include her son, Linsey, grandchildren Rona Watson and Lisa Meleanek, and great grandson Cole Watson. Her daughter Joy passed away in 2006. Donations can be made to the Hebrew Free Loan http://www.hflasf.org 131 Steuart Street, Suite 425, San Francisco tel: 415.546.9902, which grants interest-free loans to those in need. Thank you Mother, for being so wonderful to all of us!
Leonard Michaels. “An Angel has gone to Heaven.” Leonard Michaels, age 88 passed away on March 16, 2008. He was surrounded by his family and beloved wife, Elsa.
The longtime San Mateo resident was born November 1, 1919 in London, England. In 1937, he attended Jesus College at Cambridge University in England, where he studied mathematics and architecture.
In 1940, he interrupted his studies to join the British Royal Navy. He was assigned to the ‘Fiji’, which patrolled the Atlantic and Mediterranean before being sunk by the Germans after nightfall. Everyone on board was instructed to abandon ship. He survived by swimming alone in rough seas toward two British destroyers that he spotted on the horizon. Upon returning to England, he became a navigation officer and reported to the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty. He was assigned to the Ultra Intelligence Unit, where he was one of three officers to receive incoming information from Bletchley Park where they were deciphering the German Enigma code.
In 1942, he married the love of his life, Elsa Michaels, with whom he had three children. After completing his naval service, he returned to Cambridge University and received a degree in Architecture. In the years following WWII, he worked in London designing public housing projects, and published his thesis in a book titled “Contemporary Structure in Architecture”.
In 1950, he brought his family to the USA aboard the ship Normandie. He worked for the architectural firm of Eric Mendelsohn in San Francisco for brief time, and then opened his own firm, working in commercial and residential architecture. He contributed several public buildings for the County of San Mateo, including the Downtown Beautification project, and the Central Park Recreation Center, which received a design award from the San Mateo County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Other projects include The Towers Condominiums, Peninsula Temple Beth-El, and Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame.
Michaels was a man with a huge heart, devoted to his family, compassionate, kind and generous to many. He had a gift with the English language, loved to read, learn and write special poems for family and friends.
He survived by his loving wife, Elsa of San Mateo; daughter Elizabeth Hearne and her husband John Hearne of Malibu, California; son George Michaels and his wife Cathy Baum of Atherton, California; son Peter Michaels of Redwood City, California, and three grandchildren Brendan and Megan Hearne, and Lauren Michaels, and step-granddaughter Jennifer Hearne, as well as in-laws Greta and Felix Wimpfheimer of New York, and Eric and Jutta Freudenstein of New York.
Private Services are scheduled for March 21, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations may sent to charity of choice.
Owens, Bertha J. Our beloved Bert passed away peacefully on March 17, 2008 in Burlingame, California. She was the adored wife of Sy Owens, who predeceased her. Bert was the devoted mother of Arlene Levin (Wally) and Dianne Shemano (the late Richard); grandmother of Michael and Debbie Levin, Aimee Shemano Krupp and Jeffrey Shemano; great-grandmother of Matthew Levin and Chloe Shemano Krupp. Predeceased by four brothers. Sister of Evelyn Lando.
Bert was a lovely, independent, warm and caring person. She lived life to the fullest and until the end was reading and working on her computer. She will be greatly missed. Her gracious and loving spirit remains in our hearts.
Funeral services were to be held at Home of Peace Cemetery, 1299 El Camino Real, Colma, on Thursday, March 20, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bert’s memory can be made to the charity of your choice.
Marion Russ. July 26, 1912-March 4, 2008. Marion died peacefully at her home in Mountain View, California on the evening of March 4. A memorial service was held Friday, March 14, at Congregation Etz Chayim’s Bey’t K’nesset, in Palo Alto.
Marion was the widow of Benjamin Russ, a CBS television technical director, and taught in New York City high schools and colleges from 1957 until her retirement and move to California in 1974. She had also been a radio amateur since 1932, her call W6UAJ. Though as a girl she dreamed of becoming a reporter or a fiction writer, the great Depression intervened. After marrying and raising a family, at age forty six she obtained a master’s degree in education and began a career as English teacher in New York City; for the next fourteen years she pioneered teaching courses in science fiction and the mass media. After moving to California, she became a leader of widows’ bereavement groups and was a consultant in writing skills to Palo Alto schools. A member of many bridge clubs, she participated in regional games. A poet of eloquent sensitivity, she captured in eulogies the essence of many friends and relatives whose deaths she mourned.
She is survived by her son Jonathan, a physician, his wife Louise, and their daughters, Melanie and Elisabeth. Also surviving are her grandchildren Jennifer and Benjamin Russ, children of her late son Dr. Kenneth Russ and his late wife Linda.
Donations in her memory may be made to Kara, 457 Kingsley Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, or to any hospice in Santa Clara County.
Baruch dayan ha’emet.