- Legacy Giving Stories
- Named Endowment Funds
Established in 2025, the Jeri J. Masters Carob Tree Fund honors a remarkable life while strengthening expert services for people with disabilities.
Jeri J. Masters z”l lived a life of intellectual curiosity, creativity, resilience, and care for those around her. A college physics major who left school to marry and raised three children, Jeri had rich musical talent and devoted time to Jewish and other causes. Once her children were older, Jeri returned to college, eager to begin studies in sociology.
Jeri with her daughter, Nancy, and grandchildren.
“My mother had a keen interest in people throughout her life,” says her daughter, Nancy Masters. “She saw people’s potential, and she had a special way of nurturing it. People in her orbit took steps in their lives—returning to school, changing careers—thanks to the courage and confidence she helped them to find in themselves.”
Jeri’s academic plans were cut short when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Later, determined to continue living a full life, she moved from New York to Florida, where she built a warm community of friends.
Once Jeri could no longer manage without 24-hour care, she moved to Marin County to be cared for by Nancy. There, she lived with dignity in her own apartment and spent precious years with her young grandchildren.
JFCS was there to help. Week after week, for nearly a decade, Jeri met with a skilled JFCS counselor and enjoyed visits with a volunteer who became a close friend. That consistent, trusted care made a profound difference, offering comfort, belonging, and dignity amid the challenges of MS.
Nancy, who later joined the staff of JFCS and has served as Associate Executive Director since 2015, and her husband, Paul Cohen, established the Jeri J. Masters Carob Tree Fund as a heartfelt tribute to her mother’s legacy.
“My mother lived her life as fully as she could given her disabilities, and I am continually inspired by her spirit in the face of adversity. I have been wanting to do something meaningful and lasting in tribute to her memory that could become part of our family’s traditions, across generations. This fund feels just right,” says Nancy.
If you would like to establish a Named Endowment Fund, please contact [email protected] or 415‑449‑3858.