Sam and Linda Eisenberg of San Leandro are proud to announce the birth of their son, Max Benjamin, on Nov. 1, 2011. All grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends adore our new bundle of joy. Sadie and Dana Fischer of San Diego also love their new cousin.

Michelle Bear Daughter of Bonnie Frank and Alan Bear, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael.

Rebecca Cohen Daughter of Susan and Mitchell Cohen, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco.

Sam Holden Son of Kelly and Adam Holden, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville.

Natalie Lawton Daughter of Carol Lawton, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette.

Ryan Levy Son of Debbie and David M. Levy, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek.

Jillian Li Daughter of Michelle and Jiayi Li, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills.

Lily Amelia Majteles Daughter of Pamela and Robert Majteles, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Temple Sinai in Oakland.

Izak Sheinfield-Kandel Son of Minouche Kandel and Rick Sheinfield, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco.

Jacob Straub Son of Lisa and Marshall Leisten, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo.

Jack and Arlene Sarver of Walnut Creek recently celebrated their 60th anniversary among friends and family. Mazel Tov!

• Lawrence Goldberg, tireless booster of many causes, dies at 80

Lawrence Y. Goldberg

Lawrence Y. Goldberg (Larry), who served on the national staff of three Republican Presidential Campaigns as Executive Director of the effort to secure voting support from the Jewish community, and who served in the Nixon White House as a liaison to the Jewish community, died of cancer on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 at his home in Tiburon, Calif. He was 80.

Educated at Brown University and Harvard Law School, Mr. Goldberg spent his entire life actively participating in the electoral process, in helping to implement public policy, and in serving as a leader both nationally and in his local community. He participated in over 50 political campaigns at the federal and state levels. His major motivation was as a lifelong Zionist and the importance he attached to having both major political parties seek support from the Jewish community.

Mr. Goldberg was a National Co-Chair of Republicans for Clinton-Gore in 1992 because of his dissatisfaction with the policy toward Israel of President George H. W. Bush and Secretary of State James Baker.

Mr. Goldberg was Assistant Director of the Federal Preparedness Agency (a predecessor of FEMA), Assistant Director of the Community Services Administration (War Against Poverty) and a member of the U.S. Commission on International Education and Cultural Affairs (U.S. State Department). Mr. Goldberg was confirmed twice by the U.S. Senate for several of these positions.

Mr. Goldberg was long considered a reliable and wide-ranging authority on the political process. He delighted in political conversation. He transmitted his knowledge and insights to students at the Fromm Institute of the University of San Francisco, where he was a professor and taught a group of courses on analysis of federal elections and primaries starting in 2004. He also served as Vice President of Brandeis University.

An activist in the Jewish community, Mr. Goldberg held national leadership positions with the American Jewish Committee, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (National Executive Council), CAMERA (Vice Chairman), Anti-Defamation League (National Commission), UJA, HIAS and other organizations. While living in Rhode Island, he served as the Founding Chairman of the Community Relations Council and Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island. In California he was the founding co-chairman of the Interfaith Alliance of California.

Mr. Goldberg was instrumental in the fight to bring Jews out of the former Soviet Union, and served as the National Executive Director, Union of Councils for Soviet Jews.

Mr. Goldberg, who enjoyed warm relations with political and community leaders, also sought out ordinary citizens as well as political adversaries for discussion and friendship. His primary concern was always the best interests of the nation and the community.

During his last illness, Mr. Goldberg participated in the creation of materials for the palliative care programs of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services. He spoke about the importance of families planning ahead and described his own situation in an open and forthright manner.

Mr. Goldberg was born in Providence, R.I., on July 21, 1931, the son of Jean and Jesse Goldberg. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two children, David (Roslyn) and Melissa Bailey (Chris); two step-children, Jonathan Barker (Angela) and Lori Barker; and four grandchildren, Benjamin Goldberg, Amanda Bailey, Harrison Bailey and Adam Barker.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at Temple Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., San Francisco, CA.

Contributions to the Palliative Care Program of Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, or Jewish Community Relations Council.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

Morris Inkellis

A loving man with a positive attitude, Morrie, 95, died Jan. 26, 2012.

Predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Molly; survived by his children Steve (Barbara), Carol (Joel) and Ellen (Noel), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A member of Congregation Rodef Sholom, Morrie volunteered for the Novato Police Department and the City of Hope for many years. Donations in his memory may be made to the Redwoods, 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley 94941.

Morris Piotrkowski

In San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2012 at age 91. Beloved husband of Gittl Piotrkowski; loving father of Jack (Dora) Piotrkowski and Benny Piotrkowski; adoring grandfather of Judy, Barry and Larry.

Morris was a Holocaust survivor from Poland. He was a longtime member of Congregation Adath Israel and a strong supporter of many Jewish causes.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma. Donations to a Holocaust organization, preferred.

Sinai Memorial Chapel

Ethel Regan

Ethel Heller Pollak Regan died peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 29.

For almost 102 years she was the beloved mainstay of a large family. Born Ethel Heller in Chicago in 1910, Ethel enjoyed two almost 25-year marriages to Harry Pollak and William Regan. She had eight siblings, all with their spouses and families very important to her: Joe and Howard Heller, Adele Heller, Marvin Heller, Len Heller, who predeceased her, and her two living siblings, Al Heller (Elaine) and Bettie Lichtman (Mel).

Ethel had two sons whom she adored: Stuart and Richard Pollak. She is survived by Stuart and his wife Lee, their four children, Deborah Levy and her partner Paola Carvajal, Lauren Pollak and her husband Dieter Tremp, Harrison Pollak and his wife Natalie Friedman, and Kim Pollak. She is also survived by the two sons of Richard and his wife Marilyn, now married to Herb Scheffler: Steven Pollak, and Jeffrey Pollak and his wife Melanie. She was blessed to welcome and enjoy eight great-grandchildren: Joshua, Yonah, Max, Tenaya, Rachael, Helen, Jaana and Shayna.

As the matriarch of our family, Ethel will be missed and held — always — in the closeness of our hearts. Our deepest appreciation to all who mattered in her life, and in these final years, to her dear caregivers at Coventry, and especially to Lois, Sunday and Nimfa. A minyan was held at the home of Stuart and Lee. Ethel would have been pleased by contributions in her memory to Congregation Sherith Israel or the Hebrew Free Loan Association.

Sinai Memorial Chapel