Ephraim was born in Berlin, Germany. His early childhood was surrounded by Nazis and fighting with Nazi youth on his way to and from yeshiva in Berlin. When he was 8 he witnessed his father’s Jewish book store get destroyed during Kristal Nacht. He came to America in 1939, on The Normandie. He escaped with his mother and father, while his sisters were sent to Palestine years before. Most of Ephraim’s extended family were murdered during The Holocaust.
When Ephraim was in his early 20s, he moved to Los Angeles, California with his parents following his married sisters who were already in Los Angeles. (His brother in law was Rabbi Marvin Bornstein).
Joan was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her younger brother passed away when Joan was 13. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1944.
Ephraim passed the CPA exam and started his career in Beverly Hills, eventually becoming a partner at the firm where he was hired.
Joan graduated from Fairfax High School and later became a teacher, a physical therapist and finally a special education teacher in the 60’s.
Joan and Ephraim met in 1962 at a Cedars-Sinai singles event. And they married on September 29, 1963. They settled in Beverly Hills, each brining a child from a previous marriage. They then had Lisa in 1965, and Jerald, in 1967.
Members of Temple Emanuel on Burton Way they eventually found their forever home at Temple Isaiah in 1975.
The both participated in Board of Director and Trustee activities. Ephraim was Treasurer for many years, while Joan was on the Arts Committee and Education Committees.
Joan and Ephraim traveled the world together. They loved traveling, opera, musical theater, music, and art.
Lisa married and gave them 3 amazing grandchildren that they absolutely adored.
They were blessed to have 17 years with their grandchildren, who called them Bubbie and Baba.
Ephraim passed in May 2020 and just a few months later Joan joined her beloved in September 2020, both at the age of 90, under the care of The Jewish Healing and Hospice Center of Los Angeles. They were married 57 years.
They are missed.
