Eric Schmier z’l spent his life caring for others in a quiet and unassuming way. In his childhood Eric connected to the spirit of philanthropy through Judaism. Raised in a Detroit suburb, his parents started the first reform temple outside the city in their basement. It was the center of Jewish life for many in their community, including Eric, who developed his mother’s dedication to serving others. As his brother Ken recalled fondly, Eric was a very special human being who sought out deeply personal ways serving others. Ken would know. Save for the years while Eric was in college… Read More

Siesel Maibach may still have a slight Southern accent from her childhood in Louisiana, but don’t let that fool you—she’s been in the Bay Area for many years. A successful art consultant for decades, you can view a sample of her work at JFCS’ assisted living community, Rhoda Goldman Plaza, where she placed 350 pieces of beautiful art. Siesel has served JFCS in a multitude of vital capacities over the past 40 years. As Board President in the 1980s, her leadership stewarded JFCS through challenging times. A longtime member of JFCS’ Endowment Committee, she has made an estate gift… Read More

Gerson Bakar z”l, a Beloved Visionary, Remembered You might not know of Gerson Bakar z”l by name but you have almost certainly seen his work in San Francisco. Levi’s Plaza, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the UCSF Mission Bay campus—these are just a few of the iconic San Francisco institutions that Gerson helped bring to life. Gerson, who passed away in June 2017, supported many charitable projects, yet it was giving back to his Jewish Community that brought him the most satisfaction. He once said, “Asking me why the ‘Jewish Community’ is important to me is like asking… Read More

For decades, Carl Grunfeld, MD, PhD, has been a well-loved and deeply knowledgeable JFCS supporter. He and his family have strengthened the organization in significant ways that will continue to be felt for generations. Carl is treasured by JFCS clients and staff, and he humbly acknowledges, “I’ve pretty much done whatever JFCS felt I could contribute to doing.” Carl has been a member of the JFCS Board of Directors, the Rhoda Goldman Plaza Board of Directors, the Palliative Care Taskforce, the Loans and Grants Committee, and the Program and Planning Committee, as well as chair of the Ethical Care Committee.… Read More

It’s not just because she’s something of an “investment nerd” that Barbara Otto was inspired to establish the Barbara Z. Otto Family Endowment Fund, her Named Endowment Fund at Jewish Family and Children’s Services. The international banking veteran wanted to make sure support for a cause she felt passionately about would carry on. That cause is helping young women gain access to higher education in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Barbara didn’t start out in finance; she double-majored in Spanish and Latin American Studies and Art History at Hunter College in New York City. She says,… Read More

Like many children who had a parent who survived the Holocaust, Lydia Preisler Shorenstein felt an obligation to find a way to honor her father’s memories and experiences, as well as to educate others about the tragedy of the Holocaust so that history would not continue to repeat itself. For Lydia, the call to action came when she and her late husband, Doug Shorenstein, visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., along with her family, including Lydia’s parents, Simon and Etelka. Simon Preisler was born in Fancsicovo, Czechoslovakia, to an observant Jewish family. A survivor of Auschwitz,… Read More