Samuel Engel died Sept. 3, 2009 in Saratoga. Sam was born May 1, 1929 in the town of Miory, in what was then Poland. In June of 1942 the Nazis murdered the Jews of Miory, including Sam’s parents and brother. Sam ran away during the liquidation and hid in the forests and swamps of the region, along with a few other survivors and Partisans, until the Soviet Union regained control of the region in 1944.
After the war he went to Austria, where he completed his education and worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering. Sam emigrated to the U.S. in 1955, came to California in 1962 and settled in Santa Clara County in 1965, where he worked for over 20 years at Lockheed Missiles and Space and completed a Masters in Engineering at Stanford.
During that time he also started a successful real estate investment and property management business. Though seriously ill for most of the last eight years of his life, he battled his disease with great courage and spirit — no doubt some of the same will to live that allowed him to survive the Holocaust.
He is survived by: his wife of 51 years, Miriam; son Isaac (and Ruth) and their children Jonathan and Ilana of San Diego CA; son Alan (and Rachel) and their daughters Sarah and Daniella of Piedmont, CA; and son Leonard (and Lainee) and their two sons Benjamin and Noah of San Carlos, CA.
Bernard Holtz, in San Francisco on Sept. 11, 2009 at age 91. Beloved husband for 59 years of Edith Holtz; loving father of Lana and Howard Goodman, and Barbara and Tom Rauchwerger; cherished grandfather of Rachel Goodman, Alan Goodman, Adina Rauchwerger (Brian Chaikelson) and Dani Rauchwerger. Dear brother of Rita Shafer and nine late siblings. Brother-in-law of Jake Siegel and Harriet and Martin Mushel and the late Robert and Sylvia Trachtenberg. Loving uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Bernard was co-owner of the Pioneer Army and Navy Store. He was a longtime member of Star King Masonic Lodge. He was a vice president and a longtime active member of Congregation Chevra Thilim. Services were held at Eternal Home Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Bernard may be made to Congregation Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave., SF, CA 94121.
Sinai Memorial Chapel.
Betty Skootsky, age 97, of South San Francisco, passed away Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, wife of San Francisco native David Skootsky, loving mother of Stephen and Anne (Watson), she enjoyed world travels with her sister Jessie Jaffe, devoted her time to ORT as a charter member of the Peninsula chapter from the 1950s to 1990s, and was hostess to memorable family gatherings. Besides her dearest love, her family, she enjoyed plays, lectures, reading, cooking, history, and traveling.
She will be missed by many, including her grandchildren, Heather Watson of Glen Ellen, and Dan Skootsky of Los Angeles, nephew Steve Funk and nieces Natalie Strauss of Seattle and Sandy Cohn of Oakland, cousin Marion Colton of S.F., brother-in-law Arnold Skootsky, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.
Everyone who knew Betty is a little better for having known her.