Celia Rita Bloom
Celia Rita Bloom, “Cee” (1927-2011) was a child of the Depression raised on a Petaluma chicken ranch, by her parents Sam and Sarah Soisher. Sam and Sarah met on Mt. Tamalpais while hiking with the Zionist Hiking Club. While attending U.C. Berkeley, Cee met and married Sidney Bloom. Later they returned to Sonoma County to raise their two daughters, Gail and Maxine, and give ranching a try. After moving to San Francisco, Cee was stricken by polio in 1955. It took months of rehabilitation to regain her independence but she met each of her challenges with dignity and grace learning to breathe on her own again and then walk.
Sid and Cee moved their family to one of the “Little Boxes” in Daly City in 1957. But that time of suburban tranquility was short-lived. Cee became a widow in 1963, again providing a role model of independence and self-reliance to every one who knew her. This became even more true when, as the effects of her polio reversed her mobility, she was no longer ambulatory.
It was through her self-education about post-polio syndrome that she met her cherished companion of 18 years, Peter Belton. With Cee’s specially equipped wheelchair-lift van, her motorized scooter and Peter’s electric wheelchair, they were able to go virtually anywhere, and did in the Bay Area. Their limitations did not prevent them from visiting museums, theater, opera, parks, restaurants and the list goes on. Peter passed away in 2007.
She will always be missed for her sweetness and heroic sense of determination.
Cee was blessed to have a caring family, besides her two daughters, Gail Bloom and Maxine Cohn, and their respective husbands, Ed Green and Michael Cohn, there are five grandchildren, Alyssa Ficke, Lauren Paul, Drew Bader, Sydney Soschin and Sarah Green, as well as three great-grandchildren all beloved by Cee. A private service will be held.
Cee was never one for flowers, so donations to San Francisco Jewish Community Center Senior Program would be appreciated.
Edward S. Mack, DDS
Edward S. Mack, retired pediatric dentist and third-generation resident of San Francisco, died Sept. 13 at the age of 93.
Edward graduated from Stanford University in 1938 and served his country during the Second World War as a Navy dentist. Returning to San Francisco, he created a successful dental practice implementing innovative techniques, the subject of a Time magazine article. He ascended to the top of his profession when elected president of the American Society of Dentistry for Children, named an ASDC “Great” and also received the American Dental Association Award of Excellence.
Edward Mack was the son of the late Anita and David Macowsky, and the brother of the late Milton Mack and the late Melville Mack. In 1945 he married the late Susan Brand from Scarsdale, and fathered three sons, Ronald Mack, DDS (Janet Mack) of Pacifica, Bruce Mack of Los Angeles, and Kevin Mack, DMA (Mary Ellen Mack) of North Haven, Conn. He was the proud grandfather of two boys, great-grandfather of three girls, and was beloved by family and many friends.
A service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. Contact Keslie Mack at (831) 224-4836 for details.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Dugoni School of Dentistry or the San Francisco Symphony.
May his memory be for a blessing.
Anita Rutheiser
On Sept. 9, 2011, surrounded by her husband and children, our beloved mother and wife passed away in Lincoln, CA. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 26, 1932.
Survived by her husband Robert, daughters Sharon Gallagher (Dan), JoAnn D’Ambra (Bruce), Marcia Kahan (David), son Mark Rutheiser (Jackie), 12 grandsons, sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Marvin Rachlin.
Anita will be remembered for her words of wisdom, bright smile, kind and charitable ways but most of all for the way she loved and cared for her family. She will forever be in our hearts. Services were held Sept. 11, 2011, at Home of Peace, Colma, CA.
Phoebe Silver
Phoebe Silver passed away Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at home in Concord, CA. She was 73 years old. She was born Phoebe Rose Korn on Sept. 22, 1937, in Washington, D.C., and made headlines by being born with two teeth. Her picture appeared in Life magazine and in newspapers around the country.
Phoebe grew up in Washington, graduated from high school in only 2 1/2 years, and worked for the federal government. She once personally delivered briefing papers to President John F. Kennedy at the White House.
She met Samuel Robert Silver, who was originally from San Francisco, and they fell in love. They married in Washington on Valentine’s Day, 1966, on a sunny day between two blizzards. The couple welcomed a son, Stephen Aaron Silver, in 1969. A daughter, Sharon Michele Robyn Silver, died shortly after birth in 1972. Phoebe and Sam were happily married and in love until Sam’s death in 1992.
Phoebe was a loving, doting and devoted mom, and she and her son were lifelong best friends. Her happiest moments were her son’s birth, his wedding on April 29, 2007, and the birth of her grandson, Samuel Jared Silver, on Jan. 3, 2010. She volunteered as a teacher’s aide at her son’s elementary school in Annandale, VA. Her students loved her because she made learning fun and was always generous with hugs.
In 1980, Phoebe was a member of the first adult bat mitzvah class at Congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, VA. After she and her family moved to CA in 1984, she became active with Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek.
Phoebe excelled at trivia, loved to travel with her family, and enjoyed live theater, music and writing poetry.
She had a fondness for movies in which the characters grew as people. She had many pets over the years, including a parakeet named Pretty Bird and dogs named Freckles, Shadow and Lacy. Phoebe loved being a grandmother and doted on her grandson. “Sammy” visited often and would smile and run into her arms as soon as he saw her.
Phoebe was preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, Samuel; her parents, Sophie (Blum) and Philip Korn; and her daughter, Sharon. Her grandfather, Jakob Korn, died in the Holocaust. She is survived by her son, Stephen, daughter-in-law, Shoshana, and grandson, Samuel, all of San Francisco; brother and sister-in-law, Allen and Idella Korn of San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth and Joe Starr of Millbrae, CA; and many close friends.
Contributions in Phoebe’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Mildred Snitzer, 1033⁄4 years old, who was a forceful presence in the senior scene of the San Francisco Peninsula until the last few years of her life, died a peaceful death at Portola Place Board and Care facility in San Mateo on Sept. 9. An avid dancer and dance instructor well into her 90s, Mildred’s favorite expression was “If you don’t keep moving, they’ll plant you.”
She is survived by a stepson Mort Snitzer of Greensboro, N.C., a niece Diane Balter of San Francisco, a nephew Robert Bazell of N.Y. and a cousin Charles Levine of Napa. Plans for a celebration of her life around the time that would have been her 104th birthday are pending.
Born Mildred Robb in Pittsburgh on January 12, 1908, her father died 10 years later in the great influenza pandemic. She outlived two husbands and identical twin sisters, Beatrice Bazell of San Mateo and Iris Balter of Palo Alto. Mildred worked as a stenographer for the United Mine Workers of America in Pittsburgh. After her retirement in 1986 she moved to Palo Alto. She loved Northern California; it was only after the move that she began her intense interest in dance as a form of exercise, which she credited with providing her good health and longevity. She danced and taught line dancing at several senior centers. She made many loyal friends through dancing and celebrated life: at the Contempos and Cubberly. She survived a hip fracture at age 95 with such vigor that her struggle through physical therapy and return to dancing was chronicled in the San Jose Mercury News on Sept. 2, 2003.
She wanted her ashes to be buried with a Meyer lemon tree that symbolized the Northern California she adored so much.
Arlene Tobias Davis passed away peacefully at the age of 98 in San Francisco on Sept. 17, 2011. Beloved wife of 73 years of the late Ben F. Davis. Loving mother of Paul Davis, Patricia (Franklin) Amster, and Frank (Cheryl) Davis. Doting grandmother of the late Allie (Jennifer) Daneman, Michael, Elizabeth, Katherine and Thomas Davis. Loving great-grandmother of Benjamin, Tobias and Jessica Daneman, aunt of Nancy (Roland) Finken and great-aunt of Susan Finken and Debra (Terry) Kidwell.
A native and lifelong resident of San Francisco, she was born on May 10, 1913, to Mark S. Tobias and Ethel Shaen Tobias. She was a graduate of Girls High School in San Francisco, an avid follower and participant in many sports, including her love and passion for the 49ers and Giants, water skiing, snow skiing and tennis. She was very involved in raising her three children, including her service on the PTA at Lafayette School and as den mother with the Cub Scouts.
A world-class traveler, she loved to travel to Europe, spending time in London where she loved to shop. She also loved skiing with her husband in Switzerland, Sun Valley, Park City, Aspen and Vail. On her trips to the Middle East she enjoyed riding camels and spending time in her beloved Israel. She enjoyed her Mahjong club with her special friends, many of whom she knew since childhood. She captained her tennis team at the Rafael Racquet Club for many years. She was a prolific needlepoint artist and loved to share with her many friends her love for cooking.
Grateful thanks to her wonderful caregivers, especially Patricia Angeles and Remy Klein. Donations may be made in her memory to the charity of your choice. Interment private.
Sinai Memorial Chapel