Ruth Feldman - 1920 - 2018
Ruth passed away in her home surrounded by her family and wonderful caregivers on December 15, 2018. She was preceded in death by her dear husband Louis Feldman, parents, Jacob and Fanny Schiffman, sisters, Clara, Ida, Helen, and her brothers, Julius, Arthur and Philip. Ruth is survived by her daughter and son in law, Marsha and Dr. Ronald Harris, her son, Rabbi Yisroel Feldman, grandchildren, David, Jonathan (Cecilia), Shana (Vance) and great grandchildren, Emily and Joseph plus nieces, nephews and friends.
Ruth was born and raised in Oakland, California. She went through the Oakland public school system and graduated from Oakland Technical High School and went on to attend the business school at Merritt College in Oakland. Ruth's family were in the clothing business and her parents were merchants in Oakland. One of her earliest jobs was working for the large department store, Capwells at 20th & Broadway and with her parent in their shoe store in Oakland. Ruth met and married the love of her life, Louis Feldman, in 1943. Together they opened their own men's and boy's clothing store on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. They then opened a store on McDonald Ave. in Richmond and finally their larger store, Jeffery's of Montclair at the corner of Moraga and LaSalle Ave. in Oakland.
Ruth was a talented homemaker, seamstress, and gardener decorating her beautiful homes in Berkeley, Oakland and Petaluma that she kept in pristine condition. She had beautiful penmanship and was always taking copious notes and writing letters to her family and friends. Ruth was brilliant, intuitive, strong, outspoken, opinionated and determined with a sense of humor and a tremendous drive.
She was a very successful businesswoman working along-side her husband in the stores and investing in the stock market. Active in the Montclair Business Association Ruth was responsible for establishing the post office in Montclair.
Ruth and Lou were avid baseball fans supporting their favorite team, the Oakland A's. Ruth and Lou were life members of Temple Beth Abraham sitting on and chairing many committees including the Men's club and the beautification committee resulting in the installation of beautiful stained-glass windows throughout the synagogue. Ruth is a life member of Hadassah and past president of the Oakland Chapter of Hadassah.
In retirement Ruth and Lou enjoyed traveling to Europe, Israel, Mexico and across the US. They especially enjoyed spending time with their friends and family. Ruth was very proud of their children and loved and enjoyed their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In 1987 Ruth and Lou moved to Petaluma purchasing a beautiful new home on the west side. Ruth was a member of the Petaluma Democrat Club and participated in two elections. She supported different local candidates and served on President Clinton's steering committee and corresponded with both the President and Vice-President. Ruth served on the Council of Aging for Sonoma County. She was a past member of the Petaluma Garden Club and Congregation B'nai Israel and very active in the B'nai Israel Sisterhood and Petaluma Chapter of Hadassah. Ruth will be tremendously missed for her wisdom, spirit, and many talents.
Donations may be made to Chabad of Petaluma 205 Keller St., Petaluma, B'nai Israel Jewish Center, 740 Western Ave, Petaluma 94952, North Bay Chapter of Hadassah, 740 Western Ave. Petaluma 94952 & Beth Medrish Gevoha of Lakewood, NJ. Services were held under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel, San Francisco.