- Home
- About
- Datebook: Events Calendar
- Women's Philanthropy
- Subscribe to e-newsletter
- Young Adults
- Contribute
- Where Your Money Goes
- Professional Groups
- Community Resources
- Volunteer
- Local Jewish News
- Search
Jewish Community News
Obituaries: March 2007
Nella Hoffman
Nella Hoffman, born in Torino, Italy, passed away peacefully in her sleep
on January 25 after a three-year battle with ALS. Nella lived every moment
of a full and wonderful life.
In 1947 at age 17, she met and married a young British soldier, Eric Hoffman,
while he was stationed in Italy. The couple moved to San Francisco in
1949. She secured employment with I. Magnin’s as a stock room attendant
and soon after was promoted to a sales associate despite her limited ability
to speak English.
In 1953 the couple moved to San Jose and shortly thereafter opened Hoffman’s
Store for Men on the corner of Post and Market Streets which they operated
for 22 years before the historic building (the original San Jose Courthouse)
was demolished.
Nella greatly appreciated the arts, including the symphony, opera and
musical theater. She also enjoyed entertaining and having her family and
friends around her.
Eric Hoffman passed away in 1998. Nella is survived by her three children:
Susan, and her husband, Stephen Brenner, Steven Hoffman, his companion,
Melinda, and Ken Hoffman, and his wife, Carol, her nine grandchildren:
David, Carla and Andrew Brenner, Lauryn, Daniel, Derek, Eric, Alec and
Karina Hoffman, and her devoted and loving companion, Michael Zall. She
is also survived by her sister, Ada and her husband Mimmo Piperno, (of
Torino Italy), brothers-in-law Fred and his wife, Ina Hoffman and Hal
Hoffman and numerous nieces and nephews in the Bay Area, Canada, Australia
and Italy.
She was dearly loved and will be missed by all her family and many life-long
friends.
Bob Krandel
Bob
Krandel’s Feb. 26 memorial service at Temple Emanu-El was standing
room only. Rows and rows of attendees proved testament to the number of
lives he touched.
“When I was little I didn’t really understand what my dad
did, I just thought he went to a lot of meetings,” said son Steve
Krandel, referring to the tireless volunteer hours Krandel spent serving
on dozens of boards, both Jewish and secular. “Only when I served
on the Temple Emanu-El board with my dad did I begin to understand how
valuable his expertise and experience was.”
Bob Krandel, a former real estate developer, died Wednesday, Feb. 21 of
a heart attack while golfing in Palm Desert. His wife of 49 years, Ruth,
said that he was happy and smiling just before he died. At his memorial
service, his nephew, a series of close male friends, and then his son
Steve and wife Ruth, stood at the podium recounting stories of lifelong
friendship.
There were fishing stories with no fish, hunting stories with no game,
and always the message that it wasn’t about the activity, but the
company.
His vibrant personality and keen sense of humor along with his wonderful
smile endeared him to everyone.
Bob was not only good company, but he actively made a difference in the
world. “Some may think that Bob was not a religious man,”
said Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Dana Magat, “but they would be mistaken.
Bob actualized the essence of what it is to be a good Jew, as he did everything
in his power to make our world a better place for everyone. Bob understood
that how we treat each other and what we do for our society is far more
important than any personal religious ritual.”
Bob Krandel, at the time of his death, was president of Temple Emanu-El
in San Jose. In the past he had served in this position before, as well
as president of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, president of
Chai House, board member of Jewish Family Service, Crippled Children's
Society, Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Rotary Club of San Jose
and other organizations. In 1984, Bob was presented with the Distinguished
Citizen award by the city of San Jose.
His proudest achievement, said his wife Ruth, was helping found Chai House,
a senior housing facility with kosher meals, primarily for low and medium-income
residents. “Many people were on the original planning committee,
and they slowly dropped off because it was just so hard,” said Ruth.
Bob however, stuck with the project until it was a reality.
Born in Jennings, Louisianna, Bob moved to San Jose in 1958 after graduating
from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Bob Krandel is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ruth Krandel; daughter
Lori Ghan and son-in-law Jeffrey Ghan; son Steven Krandel and daughter-in-law
Shari Feldman Krandel; grandchildren Brent and Matthew Ghan and Kevin
and Kelsi Krandel, all of San Jose.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Temple Emanu-El,
1010 University Ave., San Jose 95126.
Comments from dear friends:
“Bob made me laugh.....always. Bob was my personal guide in New
Orleans...he choose every restaurant, meal, night club.....did we eat
and have fun. We together did community work and he was always there for
just about anyone who asked him.... the community will miss him... I already
miss him. Above all, Bob was my friend.” – Bernie Kotansky
Since I was able to speak, I always called Bob, “Big Bob.”
Not until recent years did I realize that it wasn’t Bob’s
size that made him “Big Bob” but his personality, charm and
charisma that made him larger than life. One day when I was in Fry’s
with my two-year-old daughter Sami, I ran into Bob and Ruth. Bob immediately
went to Sami and introduced himself as Big Bob, showed Sami the same “tricks”
he showed me as a child (and adult) and made a new friend just as he did
with me some 38 years earlier. From that time on, Sami always referred
to that man named “Big Bob.” – Joel Rubnitz
“In all ways, he was best of the best.” – Steve Greenberg
Obituary Submissions
If you have news to include in this column, please contact Cecily Ruttenberg. You can call Cecily at (408) 357-7505.
News
Information