Doris Bloom Coopersmith passed away on July 18, 2008 and was born Doris Melnetsky on February 11, 1914 on Henry Street on the lower East Side of New York City. The youngest of seven children, Judith, Abraham, Fay, Bee and Florence, all who predeceased her; and Mollie Diller of San Francisco. The family moved to Oakland in 1920 and purchased and operated a kosher grocery store at 5th and Grove living upstairs.
Doris graduated from Oakland Tech High School and San Francisco State, obtaining a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Education and a second Masters in Special Secondary Education specializing in physical education.
Growing up in Oakland, Doris loved athletics playing basketball, soccer, hockey and one year was chosen the most outstanding basketball player in the school; played tennis every day in Oakland, sometimes on tennis courts, sometimes on the street; taught basketball, football, soccer; worked at playgrounds throughout Oakland.
Doris initially taught in West Oakland at Cole School and Prescott School for eight years teaching all elementary grades, kindergarten through eighth grade.
Moved to San Francisco in 1945 and started teaching in the San Francisco School District. Doris was a public school teacher in San Francisco at Parkside School for 20 years and at Madison School and Alamo School until her retirement.
Doris married David Bloom on February 12, 1939 and had one child, Dana who was born in 1944. David Bloom died in 1972 and Doris married Paul Coopersmith in November of 1979. She and Paul traveled throughout the world and she became second mother to his children, Henry and Marshall.
Doris was a lifetime member of Hadassah who for many years wrote the newsletter for the Emanu-El Sisterhood and participated in the National Council of Jewish Women. A continual supporter of the Hebrew University and was involved in the Jewish Community throughout her life.
She was a memorable teacher to generations of San Franciscans and was a dynamic and dedicated teacher of elementary school who would always make the extra effort to insure the education of her students; often staying after school to provide free private tutoring.
She was an excellent seamstress and a wonderful and loving grandmother and great-grandmother who had a long and fulfilling life and will be missed by all.
Doris is survived by her devoted and caring husband Paul Coopersmith; her beloved daughter Dana and her husband Gary Shapiro; her cherished grandchildren Karen Shapiro and Anne Mulvaney; her four great-grandchildren, Evan and Robyn Mulvaney and Rachel and Robert Racco and her loving sister Mollie Diller; also survived by her many loving nieces and nephews.
Services were held on July 21 at the Home of Peace Cemetery Chapel in Colma. Those choosing to honor her life may do so with a charitable contribution to Congregation Emanu-El, P.O. Box 591510, S.F., CA 94159.
Cecile Miriam Samuel, on July 14. A San Francisco native, born 1909. Devoted daughter of the late Bertha and Joseph Samuel, loving sister of the late Vera Berg (Howard). Predeceased by nephew Jay Berg. Leaves affectionate cousins Helen Abrahm (Paul), Joanne Elefant (Roland), Alan Samuel (Lorraine), Howard Samuel (Jane), Gerald Samuel (Gertrude), the late Gil Gordan (Cynthia), and exemplary careworker Geneva Jones.
She earned a degree in Economics from U.C. Berkeley in 1931, and had an active career at a ship chandlery in the Financial District. She was an intelligent and charming woman.
Services were held under the auspices of Sinai Memorial Chapel. Burial on July 16th was at Hills of Eternity. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jewish Community Federation, San Francisco, California.
Gertrud (Trudy) Jean Small, a Holocaust survivor, was born January 6, 1918 in Vienna, Austria and died at home July 16, 2008 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. She was a happy child, enjoyed studying and attended a school for design and pattern-making in Vienna.
When she was 20 the Nazis invaded Austria and she was fortunate to immigrate to Britain where she found employment as a domestic. From 1940-41 she worked for the war effort and after WWII for a clothing manufacturer in Britain until emigration to the US in 1949.
Upon settling in Kansas City where her sister and brother-in-law lived, she met her future husband on a blind date in 1952. They were married in December of 1953 and after the wedding the couple moved to San Francisco.
She loved classical music, the opera and travel.
Trudy leaves behind her loving husband Henry of 541⁄2 years, sister Hedy, niece Suzanne, nephews Robert and Michael, and a great nephew Mark. She will be dearly missed by many family members and friends.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Monday, July 28 at 2 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. Contributions may be made to the B’nai B’rith Lodge in San Francisco or the American Parkinson’s Association.