Felix Oscar Kolb, MD, FACP
November 12, 1921-June 4, 2008
Felix Oscar Kolb, MD, FACP, of Mill Valley on June 4th 2008 at age 86. Beloved husband of nearly 42 years of Susan, father of Marc and Lisa, and grandfather of Kolby; brother of Theodore and Ruth, and son of late Leon and Hilde. He was a prominent endocrinologist, a prolific writer, and talented classical pianist, with a zeal for recounting stories and jokes to his cherished family and friends.
Raised in Vienna, Felix narrowly escaped the Nazi invasion to join his family who had previously immigrated to San Francisco.
He graduated from UC Berkeley and UCSF Medical School in 1941 and 1943, respectively, and was a licensed Medical Doctor before his 22nd birthday. From 1944 to 1946 he served in the medical corps of the US Army. After training with Dr. Fuller Albright at Harvard Medical School, he returned to UCSF in 1951 and also started a private practice. Until his retirement in 1999, he built a reputation as a renowned researcher, teacher and diagnostician. He held various academic and practitioner positions including: Associate Director, Metabolic Research Unit at UCSF and Chairman, Division of Endocrinology at Mt. Zion hospital. In 1999, he was named Emeritus at UCSF.
Felix authored or co-authored more than 160 published medical papers, including more than 40 original articles of clinical research. More recently, he served as Guest Editor of The Endocrinologist — In honor of Fuller Albright (2002) and authored Surviving a Health Crisis (2006) to share practical lessons he had learned from his recent ordeals with hospitalization.
An accomplished pianist, Felix performed many recitals throughout his life. In later years, he gave concerts on every fifth birthday, his last performed on his 85th before a hundred close family and friends.
A supporter of multiple philanthropic endeavors, Felix helped raise money for the Marin JCC CenterStage program, Jewish Children & Family Services (JFCS) and to the Foundation for Accelerated Vascular Research.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Foundation for Accelerated Vascular Research (www.favresearch.org/Supporting), or JFCS (http://www.jfcs.org) would be appreciated. A celebration of his life will held at Congregation Sherith Israel at 4PM on June 23rd.
Ruth L. Korn passed away peacefully in Daly City on June 13, 2008 at age 82. Beloved wife of Emil Korn; loving mother of Doris Korn-Walker; devoted grandmother of Michael Korn-Walker; dear mother-in-law of Thomas Walker; dear aunt and great aunt. Private arrangements made with interment at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma. Contributions to the charity of your choice preferred. Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Hubert “Hub” Rosenblum passed away peacefully on May 23rd at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home in Omaha, Nebraska. He was 81.
Hub was born on January 17, 1927 to Horace and Eva Rosenblum and grew up in Omaha. He graduated from Central High School where he was on the track team, and was stationed at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska from July 1944 until October 1945. While at Peru, Hub was a standout on the football team and participated in track.
After leaving Peru, Hub was sent by the Navy to the University of Wisconsin for one semester. He then transferred to the Great Lakes Naval Shipyard and was finally discharged from Mare Island in August, 1946.
Hub then studied accounting at the University of Nebraska. After graduating he earned his CPA and went to work for an accounting firm. Five years later, he took a controller position at a local valve manufacturer. Within two years, Hub began his own accounting firm.
During the 1960’s, Hub expanded his firm to include four partners with offices in Lincoln and Omaha. In 1975, Hub merged his company with Grant Thornton and remained with the company until taking early retirement in 1994.
Hub was an active civic leader. During his career in Omaha, he was President of the Omaha-Douglas County Health Department when it mandated dating perishable foods in grocery stores.
Hub served as President of Beth El Synagogue and was Treasurer of the Jewish Community Federation. He was also the Treasurer of Highland Country Club and helped found West Omaha’s Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Hub loved the Bay Area from his time on Mare Island and moved to San Francisco in 1983. He became a partner in the accounting firm Stadtler, Rosenblum and Saris (later merged with Rothstein Kass) and continued to be an active volunteer. After retiring, he became a counselor with the Small Business Administration’s Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE), helping small businesses succeed. He also served as a consumer fraud mediator with the San Francisco District Attorney’s office.
Hub was the President of Menorah Park, low cost housing for the elderly, the Treasurer of Hillel, and served on the budget committee of the Jewish Federation.
Hub had a life-long love of sports, community involvement, devotion to helping others and most of all, his family. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Lipsey Rosenblum of San Francisco; sister Shirley Drooz of San Diego; children Marcy and David Ruback, Omaha, NE; Mick Rosenblum, San Diego; Mark and Laura Rosenblum, Golden Valley MN, step-children Janet Lipsey and John Harkin, Dan Lipsey, all of San Rafael CA; grandchildren Joe and K.C Ruback, Jake and Zach Rosenblum, Karolina Hobson and Dianna Sekowski, Noah and Jesse Harkin.
Contributions in Hub’s memory may be made to the Rose Blumkin Home of Omaha, or the Eastern Nebraska Wheelchair Athletic Association c/o Marcy Ruback.
Ilse A. Shelton in San Francisco on June 15, 2008 at age 86. Dearly loved wife of the late George G. Shelton. Beloved mother of Jacqueline Shelton-Miller (Craig Miller). Adored Oma to Aaron and Joshua Miller. Daughter of the late Aaron A. and Henriette C. Pick. Sister of the late Lore Lees. Born Ilse Adeline Sophie Pieck in Berlin-Spandau, Germany on July 23, 1921. Left Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport to London in 1939. Arrived in the United States in 1941.
Known as “Miss Pick” in retail circles, she worked for over 45 years as a retail manager and buyer for Lane Bryant. Past Sisterhood president at Congregation Emanu-El, and volunteer manager and buyer for the Congregation’s gift shop for many years.
Best mother, mother-in-law and Oma in the world. May her memory be a blessing.
Funeral services took place at the Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel. Contributions to Congregation Emanu-El, P.O. Box 591510, 2 Lake St., SF/CA 94159-1510 or Congregation Beth Shalom, 1301 Clement St., SF, CA 94118 preferred. Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Dorothy Tornheim on June 11, 2008 at 94 years of age.
A native of Chicago, IL moving to Pittsburg, CA in 1941, to Rossmoor in 1974 and resided at the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living for the last 5 years. She and her late husband William owned and operated the Antioch Men’s and Boy’s Store for 29 years. Founding members of Temple Isaiah and B’nai Israel in Rossmoor. Lifetime member and past President of Hadassah and B’nai Brith Women; member of ORT, Contra Costa JCC, and NCJW.
An avid bridge player and member of many Rossmoor dance clubs. Dorothy and Bill danced together well into their 80’s.
Loving mother of Mark (Bonnie) Tornheim, Tina (David) De Stephen; devoted grandmother of Lisa, Jeffrey, Darren, Daniel and Nicole (Rob Villapando); dear great grandmother of Benjamin and Ava.
Services were held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel, Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Isaiah and Congregation B’nai Tikvah.
Hilda Weil Born Nov. 9th 1911, died on July 4th, 2007. Hilda resided at the Carlisle in San Francisco before moving to Seattle, Washington for the last 2 years of her life.
The Yahrzeit memorial services will be held at Temple Emanu-El, Arguello Blvd in San Francisco on July 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm.
Louise Purwin Zobel January 10, 1922-June 9, 2008
Louise Purwin Zobel passed away June 9 in Cupertino at the age of 86. She was the widow of Dr. Jerome Zobel, to whom she was married for 55 years. Louise is survived by her loving children Lennie Harris (Tom) of Ventura, Jan Zobel of Oakland, Bob Zobel (Karen) of Florida, and Audrey Dollinger (Todd) of Oregon. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Rahbeka Hall Harris (Josh), Grant Harris (Jasmine), Rachael Thomas (Trent), Lauren Spitzer (Seth), Kevin Zobel, Sara Dollinger, and Seth Dollinger.
The daughter of Leo and Ethel Purwin, Louise was born in Laredo, Texas and grew up in Los Angeles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University in 1943 and in that year she also married the love of her life, Jerome Zobel. Louise and Jerry lived in San Francisco for a number of years and moved to Palo Alto in the mid-fifties. They remained residents there until 1991 when they moved to The Forum in Cupertino.
From an early age, Louise wanted to be a writer. Over her lifetime, Louise’s articles were published in hundreds of local and national magazines and newspapers. Louise taught writing classes at local colleges and universities and authored The Travel Writers Handbook. In 1976, she returned to Stanford to earn her Masters in Communications.
Louise and Jerry traveled extensively throughout the world, both for pleasure and work. While Louise wrote articles about their travels, Jerry took photos. Together they served as cruise lecturers on a number of ships and presented travel programs in various parts of the world.
Private services have been held. Donations may be made to Friends of the Palo Alto Library, Pathways Hospice Foundation, or a charity of your choice.