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Friday April 13, 2007

Deaths

Ben Colloff in San Francisco on April 2, 2007 at age 94. Born in St. Joseph, MO. he settled with his wife Ruth in San Francisco after completing his medical training and service in the Army during WWII. He practiced orthopedic surgery for 50 years, during which time he served as both Chief of Medical Staff and Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Mt. Zion Hospital. During that time, he helped those in need by volunteering at clinics for indigent patients at Mt. Zion Hospital, San Francisco General Hospital and elsewhere. He performed many surgeries for no fee. He was very supportive of the Jewish community in San Francisco, helping many charities with contributions of both time and money. He was also a strong supporter of Israel, volunteering there to perform surgeries on both its Jewish and Arab citizens. After his wife’s death in 1986, he spent much of his free time at Lake Merced Golf & Country Club, which became like a second home for him. He played golf into his 93rd year. His dry humor, sparkling blue eyes and love of green golfing attire will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his sons Lauren and Ed, daughters-in-law Cathy and Edna, and his grandson Shamir. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Sun., June 24 at Lake Merced Golf and Country Club, 2300 Junipero Serra Blvd. in Daly City. Donations in his memory can be made to the Ruth & Ben Colloff Fund for the Study of Leukemia in Children at Stanford’s Lucille Packard Hospital, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304; the Jewish Home, 302 Silver Ave., SF/CA 94112; The Ben & Ruth Colloff Fund for Jewish Youth at the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart Street, S.F./CA  94105; or the Hebrew Free Loan Society, 131 Steuart St., Suite #425, S.F./CA 94105. Arrangements made by Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Elie Charles Elkaim husband of the late Phyllis Elkaim died peacefully at home on March 27, 2007 at the age of 77. Born in Casablanca, Morocco, he was a long time resident of Castro Valley. He was a tailor by trade, and an avid member of the Beth Jacob Congregation and the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club. Survived by five children Edith Filippi (Nick), Bill Elkaim (Jennifer), Elizabeth Elkaim, Estreilla Raddavero (Sergio), Vincent Elkaim (Shannon); three siblings Marie Levander (Gil), Meyer Elkaim (Helen), Suzanne Corbett (Arnold); and six grandchildren, Andres, Aaron, Noah, Chianti, Reese and Elizabeth. Services were held at Congregation Beth Jacob in Oakland on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Gan Mah Tov Preschool care of Beth Jacob.

Annabelle Winters passed away April 4, 2007. Annabelle Schickler was born in San Francisco on June 10, 1915 to Charles Schickler and Rose Gelles. Born at a little over a pound and a half (and a twin), the doctor had the girls put in the then newly invented incubator exhibit at the Panama Pacific Exhibition. Annabelle’s twin did not survive. She grew up at Homewood Terrace after her mother died in the 1918-19 flu epidemic. She lived at Homewood Terrace with her siblings, Bessie and Eugene. Another sister, Lee, was raised by her maternal grandparents in New York.

Annabelle attended Commodore Sloat and Balboa High schools. After Homewood Terrace she lived at the Emanuel Residence Club (now the Zen Center) at Page and Laguna. She worked at the 1939 Treasure Island World’s Fair. In 1947 she married Herman Winters (one of twelve siblings) and was happily married until his death in 1995. Annabelle was a career manicurist and retired in 1980. She is survived by her loving daughter, Rosalind Tolson and devoted son-in-law, Greg, and grandson, Zachary. She loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. In 1998 she moved to the Jewish Home for the Aged, where she was known by everybody from the nursing staff to the maintenance crew. The family thanks the entire staff of the Jewish Home for their loving and excellent care. Funeral services will be private. Donations preferred to the Jewish Home, 302 Silver Avenue, San Francisco 94112. Arrangements made by Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Frances Tandy, nee Kessler, age 95, died April 1, 2007 in Alamo, CA, beloved wife of the late Carl; loving mother of Arthur Tandy, Eleanor Tandowsky and the late David Tandy; caring mother-in-law of Bonnie Tandy and the late Richard Tandowsky; doting grandmother of Mark (Vicki) and Ross (Judi) Tandowsky, Rachel and Scott (Diane Smason) Tandy; proud great-grandmother of Mara, Nathan, Ellana and Hannah; sister of the late Ruth Kholos. Graveside services were held April 6 at Westlawn Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois. Contributions to ORT, Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506 or a charity of your choice. Arrangements made by Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Ruth Sandra Wolsztejn, age 61, passed away on March 8, 2007 at Eden Medical Center, after a courageous eighteen-year battle with breast cancer.  In spite of her disease, she continued to live a happy and productive life. Ruth was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1945. She first came to California to attend U.C. Berkeley, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree and witnessed the Free Speech Movement. An ardent Zionist, Ruth left for Israel, where she planned to stay. After one year, she returned to Arizona for the birth of her niece. While visiting home, she met her future husband Benjamin and decided to stay and attend Arizona State University to earn her master’s degree. Soon after, they married and settled in California. Ruth is survived by her devoted husband, Dr. Benjamin Wolsztejn, her loving son and his family and her loving daughter and her family. She was preceded in death by her sister, Judy Wortman. 

Ruth was a gifted teacher of English in New York and ESL in California. She was also the office manager of her husband’s OB/GYN practice where she put her Spanish skills to good use as a translator for Hispanic patients and employees. Ruth enjoyed a life-long interest in reading fiction and history.  She was an enthusiastic member of a Lake Chabot daily hiking group and was a proud participant in classes and prayer at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek. She was an attentive and supportive listener, at times contributing her own considered opinions and adding facts from her wide range of interests and knowledge. Although she had firm religious views, she had no need to impose them on others and enjoyed the differences in the people she knew. Her non-threatening, non-judgmental stance encouraged open communication. She was a loyal and supportive friend to many. Her greatest joy in recent years was playing and babysitting for her four grandchildren. She is sorely missed by all. 

In addition to her husband, who constantly sought new and better treatments to further her life, it is due to the work of Dr. Carlson that Ruth survived with cancer for so many years. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to further the research of cancer to: Robert W. Carlson, M.D. Research Fund at Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305. Arrangements made by Sinai Memorial Chapel.

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