Julia ("Julie") Stevenson died of natural causes on October 9, 2017, in Hayward, California.
Julia was born on September 25, 1926 in Denver, Colorado. Her parents, Max and Anna Zuckerman, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Julia spent some of her early childhood in San Francisco (her family relocated after her father procured a better paying tailor position). However, after a few years, her family had to return to Denver - Julia's older brother had asthma and his physician told her parents that he could not improve if he continued to live in San Francisco. After three or four years in Denver, Julia's family again relocated - this time to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Julia graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1943, where she had been an all-state basketball player. She then immediately enrolled in a Denver business-career college. After completing this program, Julia worked as a legal secretary in Denver until 1953, when she and her good friend, Annie, took what they thought was going to be a short vacation to San Francisco.
Both Julia and Annie immediately loved the city and decided that they would stay. After quickly finding jobs, they notified their respective employers that they were not returning to Denver. Julia and Annie decided -straightaway- that the best place to meet future spouses was at the San Francisco Jewish Center (SFJC). They were correct - within the same year (1953), Julia and Annie both married fellows that they met at a SFJC dance. Julia married Jack Stevenson on October 8, 1953. They had two children, Tod (born in September 1954) and Melinda ("Mindy") (born in October 1958).
After the birth of her first child, Julia became a full-time housewife and was very much involved in her children's school and extracurricular activities. In 1961, Julia and Jack moved their family to the Westlake district of Daly City - Julia lived in that same Henry Doelger-built Westlake house until she died. In the 1960s and 1970s, Julia served as an officer of the Temple Judea (later Temple Beth-Israel Judea) Sisterhood. After Mindy died of brain cancer in 1996, Julia protected and supported Mindy's two then very young sons, Steve and Daniel Fishman. She remained extremely close to both her grandsons to the very end of her life. Julia was also a constant source of strength, encouragement, and love for Tod (as she had been for Mindy). In fact, Julia was (and remains after her death) a towering presence in her family, which includes her younger brother Robert (Patty), and her nieces and nephews: Lesli Weissman (Avi), Jamie Sands, Lindsey Beil (John), Jim Zucherman (Hilary), Mark Zucherman (Inez), Jerry Stevenson (Irith), and Harvey Schuck (Danielle). They (and their spouses) revered her - and she loved each of them.
Julia's lifelong phobia of hospitals and doctors was well-known throughout her family and circle of friends - they thought it was an endearing (but - sometimes - exasperating) quirk. Although she had been a stage 4 cancer patient since 2010, she declared after her successful 2011 cancer surgery, "That's it. No more doctors and hospitals for me." Julia died almost instantly - the way she wanted to leave. Her family and friends will always be so grateful that Julia (selfless, kind, independent, and humorous) was in their lives and that she was able to die on her own terms. In addition to Mindy, Julia was predeceased by her husband Jack and her older brother, Sidney (both of whom died in 1987). Julia was buried on October 13 - Mindy's birthday. Julia, Mindy, and Jack will - forevermore - be reunited on this special day.
Per Julia's request, her funeral was for family only. Finally, in lieu of flowers, donations to any reputable charity aiding victims of the recent hurricanes that devastated parts of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Texas or the fires that have caused so much misery in the North Bay would be a wonderful way to remember and honor Julia.