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Thursday May 22, 2008

Deaths

Brandon Aaron Brier, 9/13/06 — 5/9/08

Brandon Aaron Brier unexpectedly passed away during his sleep on May 9, 2008, at his home in Belmont, California. His family is dealing with this tragedy with the support of family and friends. A private service was held on May 13, 2008. Brandon was born on September 13, 2006, and raised in the Belmont community. He was the happiest of children — always a smile and never a sour mood. He loved hugs from his Mommy, playing catch with his Daddy, music at his pre-school, Elmo DVDs, and the Wiggles on TV. He operated in two speeds, stop and run, usually carrying his little football with him. He brightened the lives of everyone he met. He was one of the favorites at Ganon Pre-School at Temple Beth El where he was known as the greeter who would announce “MOMMY” whenever a child’s mother would enter the classroom, especially lighting up when his own mommy came to pick him up. Other mothers would use Brandon as the incentive to help encourage their kids to school saying “don’t you want to see Brandon?” On the Monday morning after his passing, one of Brandon’s schoolmates said to his mother, “I want to play with Brandon today.” The family cherishes the memory that Brandon left this world with the loving last feeling of being kissed goodnight and tucked into bed by his mommy and daddy. Parents always love their children, but it is impossible for a child to be loved more than Brandon. He leaves a hole in all our hearts. Brandon is survived by his parents, Mark and Jill Brier of Belmont, grandparents Leonard and Sharon Silverman of San Bruno, and Sanford and Beverley Brier of 
Santa Barbara, uncles and aunts Bonni Silverman and Dominic Guastavino of San Mateo, Lauri and Michael Baker, Arnold Brier and Jill Feldman of Santa Barbara, and cousins Dylan, Tracy, Zoe and Ethan. A memorial in Brandon’s name has been established at Peninsula Temple Beth El, Ganon Infant Toddler Play Yard Fund. Those who wish to remember Brandon may contribute in his name to Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, 
San Mateo, Ca 94403.

Robert A. Forster, 61, died at home Saturday, May 17th. He was the beloved husband of Shelly; devoted father of Lisa Forster, Ashley Celiz and Nathan Forster; dear brother of John Forster, Ginger Howe and Pat Forster. Services Wednesday, 2:00 pm at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford, Berkeley. For further information, or to send a message to the family, contact Mandel Funeral Services of 
Northern California at 1-866-962-6335 or www.mandelfuneralservices.com.

Rose Berman Brendze Goloboy dies at 93

Rose was born in 1915 in a Russian Shtetl called Zvill in the Province of Novograd Volinsk Russia. She and her mother lived with their with maternal grandparents and she remembered that their cottage had a dirt floor and that everybody hid from the Cossacks who came on horseback with bayonets and scythes.

When she was five years old, her father, Abraham Berman (changed at Ellis Island from Baram), who had fled to America before she was born had sent enough money for her and her mother to come to America. They paid a gentile to take them to the Polish Border, and then they walked all across Europe at night. They stayed in safe places protected by HIAS, the Hebrew Immigration and Assimilation Society, during the day. Her little girl cousin died on the way. When they finally reached Brussels Belgium, they embarked on the “Crowland,” in steerage. She got measles, was taken from her mother, put into quarantine and they shaved her head. She was kept in quarantine alone until they landed in New York where she was brought to Ellis Island Infirmary and reunited with her family. Her voice recording of her experience and pictures of her and her family are in the
 Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

The family settled in Chelsea MA. Where her father, after years of house painting, opened and operated Berman Paint and Wallpaper. A picture of it remains in the Chelsea Book. The family spoke Yiddish, belonged to a synagogue, gave generous credit to painters, and looked to Rose to teach them things. While they enjoyed the community, music, flowers, the beach and blueberry picking, they did not have many years of good times before having to deal the trauma of World War II. They never heard from their relatives in Russia again.

Rose became a citizen in 1932, went to college and got a law degree from Portia Law School, which is now Suffolk Law School. She married Irving Isaac Brendze, also a lawyer and helped him with his legal work in his office. She took leadership roles as President in the Jewish Charitable organizations Brandeis and Hadassah. Later, they bought the Shawmut Nursing Home in Chelsea and she became the licensed Administrator in charge of the home.

They moved to and live many years in Swampscott MA. After Irving Brendze passed away she met and married Charles Goloboy, another lawyer. They spent several years together in Swampscott and Florida. She served as chairperson of the Morse Geriatric Center Culture Program in Palm Beach, and while she was on the Board of the National Council of 
Jewish Woman, she was head of the Public Affairs and Legislation Committee that lobbies at the State Capitol for Women’s rights.

At age 85, she picked up and moved from Florida to Oakland Ca. to be near her family. She drove, surfed the Internet and communicated by e-mail and remained a political activist. She wrote a monthly column for the Clarion at the Claremont Retirement Community. Here is an excerpt she wrote in January 2004, that is timely in light of this year’s primary. “The Legacy of the 
Clinton Administration serves as a marker to measure what Bush has done, his efforts to woo back the social gains made by the American people. In every area, the accomplishments of the Clinton administration stand as a rebuke to Bush on the environment, the law, and the appointments to the courts, on women’s rights, on labor rights-and recently Congress voted to repeal overtime for workers, mainly the working poor. The record of the Clinton Administration should be made clear to people: Not only are we talking about 22 million new jobs, the longest expansion of economic prosperity in the country’s history, but we are also talking about the greatest rise in family income in real wages in a generation and a half, and a reduction of poverty by 25%, the greatest reduction since the Great society brought the elderly out of poverty.”

Rose was the mother of Marilyn Brendze Margulius of Berkeley CA. Authur Brendze of Sausalito CA., grandmother of David Margulius of 
San Francisco, Laura Margulius of Berkeley, and Alan Margulius of So. Burlington Vermont. She is the Great Grandmother of Lucas Ivan Dos Santos, and Holly, Clara and Issac Margulius. She is the sister of Minna Stone of Santa Barbara Ca. and stepmother of Bernie Goloboy of Marblehead, MA.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, May 14th, 2:00 pm at Sunset View Cemetery, 101 Colusa Ave., El Cerrito, CA.

Donations in Rose’s memory may be made to HIAS, 333 Seventh Ave., 16th floor, New York, NY 10004, 
The Ellis Island Oral History Project, Ellis Island Immigration Museum, New York, NY 10004 or the Social Action Committee of Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford Berkeley, CA 94709.

For information or to contact the family call Mandel Funeral Services of Northern California at (866) 962-6335 or www.mandelfuneralservices.com.

Lawrence Giller, age 81, died Tuesday, May 12th. He was born in New York City and resided in Napa for the past 15 years. He was the owner of “Rare Vintage Estates” Real estate brokerage, in Napa. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in WWII. He is survived by his life companion, Joyce Revis of Napa; his daughter Susan Barniske of Brawley, CA; his son Norman of Eaglesville, TN.; and his brother Edward of Hollidaysburg, PA. He was also predeceased by his Betsy Giller-Leinwohl. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jayson Barniske of Brawley, CA; Rebecca Giller of Eagleville, TN, and Ari Giller-Leinwohl and Judith Giller-Leinwohl, both of Scottsdale, AZ. Funeral services were held in New Jersey. Donations in his memory may be made to Congregation Shir Shalom, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476. For further information, or to send a message to the family, contact Mandel Funeral Services of Northern California at 1-866-962-6335 or www.mandelfuneralservices.com.

Izi Greif in San Francisco on May 17, 2008 at age 85. Beloved wife of Ignacy ‘Gim’ Greif for 59 years: loving mother of Claudia (Vladimir Brandwajn) Greif: sister of Hari Korn. Funeral services were held at Eternal Home Cemetery Chapel, Colma. Contributions to the Jewish National Fund preferred. Sinai Memorial Chapel.

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