SAN DIEGO–As the world celebrates the going and coming of another year, from 2015 to 2016, the occasion will be a bittersweet one for Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s former rebbetzin, Jeanne Gold, and her brother Shelly Weissbuch.
It was another secular new year, in 1938, when Esther and her husband-to-be, Jule, were planning their own wedding for the next day. Jule was a professional trick roller skater, and she said “Yes”, only after telling him that it would have to be either her, or the skates!
Knowing how important celebrations were, as Mom always has been, Jeanne, the widow of Rabbi Aaron Gold said, “ I can just imagine how Mom checked all the details, so that everything would be just perfect for their wedding”.
In the years to follow, Esther was a perfect hostess, “She believed it was her responsibility to bring the family together, for celebrations and parties,” Jeanne said. Her Shabbat table was always filled with good food and good company.
For their 50th wedding anniversary, held on February 14th 1988, Esther wanted a kosher caterer from L.A., strolling violinists, then a renewal of vows with Rabbi Gold officiating, an orchestra for dancing and a full program with audience participation. In later years, Esther and Jule each celebrated 80th birthday parties, with much fanfare, and of course, lots of family and lots of food.
Esther & Jule moved from Santa Maria in 1974, to manage a 30-unit apartment building in Anaheim. At that time, Jeanne was living in San Diego, and Shelly was already in Anaheim.
Jule passed away in 2001, just 4 weeks before Rabbi Gold died. “It was a terrible time of loss for all of us,” Jeanne recalled. “We became widows at the same time”. Shelly worked very hard to hold us up and give us strength. Mom was also very strong. She continued to manage, by herself, the apartments until she was 92.
“After time passed, Mom wanted to go on a cruise, so we did. Besides her family and parties, Esther had some other passions such as, enjoying Barry Manilow concerts, and baseball games at Angels stadium. At one game, Torri Hunter broke his bat and the fat end flew up the stairs, landing in the aisle next to her seat. He wanted it back, she said “only if you come for dinner”. He didn’t and the bat is now amongst the other memorabilia. She also loved cruising, 17 in total, to Hawaii and the Caribbean, but mostly to Mexico and Alaska, many times. On one Alaskan cruise, prior to Jule’s passing, they took a helicopter to walk on a glacier. “She wasn’t fearless, but ‘oy vey’” Jeanne said.
Her main passion was her 3 granddaughters, Heather z”l, Melissa, and Rebecca. Heather died from cancer, too early, at age 36. Rebecca has two jobs and lives with friends. Melissa married Jason and they have his two children, Caitlin and Ryan, and the adopted sisters from the Ukraine, Lilia and Alexandra, now 10 and 13, respectively. She loved them all, and enjoyed being pampered by those two great-granddaughters, as she pampered them too.
As one who was always ‘doing’ for others, it was difficult for her to accept help, saying, ”I don’t want to be a burden.” Eventually, she became too frail to do everything for herself, but she always dressed well, had perfect hair and manicured nails. “She was a lady and an inspiration,” Jeanne said.
Esther Weissbuch was a generous woman, not only to her family but also to the many causes she enthusiastically supported. Among them was the Sheila Sporn Chapter of the City of Hope. She and Jule were the hospitality chairpersons for over 20 years. Then she sold Entertainment books to raise funds for the Duarte-based medical center. “You are surely the queen of Entertainment books”, wrote Joanne Ling, Director of Development,at City of Hope.
To her family she was a queen, a matriarch and a mentch. She was a loving and generous roll model for all who knew her and loved her. She remembered so many people with birthday and anniversary cards and wishes.
At her 100th birthday party there over 100 people for lunch. And she kvelled!
On another kind of New Year, on this last Rosh Hashanah, tEsther Weissbuch, died at the age of 100 years. She was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1915.
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Preceding provided by the Weissbuch & Gold families