Obituaries

Leslie Sacks, founder and principal of Leslie Sacks Fine Art and Leslie Sacks Contemporary, died Sept. 26 after a long battle with cancer. He was 61. 

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1952, Sacks was the second of three children of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants to South Africa. While studying psychology and computer science at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, he joined the fight against apartheid. As a South African, Sacks also felt a profound affinity for the aesthetic linkage between African tribal art and the seminal movements of European modernism as reflected in the early works of Picasso, Braque, Matisse and the German expressionists. Forgoing his post-graduate studies, Sacks instead opened a gallery in Johannesburg, Les Art, surrounding himself with artworks by the European masters.

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 1991, Sacks opened Leslie Sacks Fine Art, Brentwood, and some six years ago acquired Bobbie Greenfield Gallery, now known as Leslie Sacks Contemporary at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Sacks’ most consistently consuming artistic passion was African tribal art, which he collected for three decades, amassing more than 400 pieces.

In addition to his vocal support for Israel, Sacks was an advocate for greater women’s rights. In 2010, Sacks founded Women’s Voices Now, a nonprofit that promotes freedom of expression for women in oppressive societies through its international film festivals.

Sacks is survived by wife Gina, sons Jared and Daniel, and stepsons Daniel and David

Selma Alschuler died Oct. 4 at 88. Survived by daughter Lourine (George); sons Fred (Amber), Herbert (Raffaella), Natt (Lynne); 8 grandchildren. Hillside

Joey Baker died Oct. 3 at 91. Survived by wife Mildred; daughter Jan (Mark Kaplan); sons Don (Dawn Hunter), Norman; 2 grandchildren. Hillside

Joyce Black died Oct. 4 at 75. Survived by husband Stanley; daughters Janice (Doug) Warner, Jill; son Jack; 6 grandchildren. Hillside

Shalom Cohen died Sept. 30 at 76. Survived by wife Doreen; daughter Elka; son Danny (Tammy); stepdaughters Wendy (Ken) Anthony, Lori (Roger) Lampert; 3 grandchildren; 2 stepgrandchildren; mother Shoshana; brother Zion; sisters Bracha (Johnny) Binkowski, Judith, Tikva. Mount Sinai

Elienne Eglash died Oct. 1 at 84. Survived by husband Louis; daughters Ally Abraham, Anna Abraham, Marla (Michael) Abraham, Andrea (Jerry) Elkind; 4 grandchildren; sister June Kalpousos. Mount Sinai

Bernard Feldman died Oct. 3 at 81. Survived by wife Janet; daughters Nanette (David) Klein, Karin (Michael) Madwed; son David (Robin); stepdaughter Hilarie Roope; stepson Chris Watson; 11 grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Liba Feuerstein died Oct. 2 at 76. Survived by daughters Judith (Sloane) Citron, Esther Netter; son David (Dalia); 11 grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Linda Geffner died Sept. 29 at 40. Survived by mother Susan; father David; sister Lori Mostafa; friend Lori Cooper. Hillside 

Harold Howard died Sept. 28 at 89. Survived by wife Geri; daughters Debora Jacob, Sherril; son Scott; stepdaughter Marla Armstrong; 12 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; brother Mickey. Hillside 

Irvin Kamenetz died Oct. 1 at 86. Survived by daughters Cheryl (David) Halpert, Francine (Russell) Hurst, Nanette (Derek) Rushing; 8 grandchildren; sister Rosalie Klein. Mount Sinai

Toby Kass died Oct. 1 at 98. Survived by daughters Diane (Norman) Glasser, Esther (Milford) Maron; son Danny (Susan); 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Regina Katz died Oct. 4 at 100. Survived by daughter Sara (Seymour) Ferdman; 4 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Grace Katzman died Sept. 27 at 94. Survived by sons Joel (Maralynn), Mark (Susan); 4 grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Samuel Krane died Oct. 1 at 72. Survived by wife Susan; son Jonathan; sister Rochelle Wolfe; brother Michael (Ellen); nieces; nephews. Groman Eden

Herbert Kravitz died Sept. 29 at 74. Survived by wife Eleanor; daughter Amy (Matthew) Licht; son Michael; 3 grandchildren; brother Sheldon; brother-in-law Walter Mosauer. Mount Sinai

Anne Levin died Sept. 30 at 49. Survived by husband Brad Chiet; daughter Hannah; sons Max, Sam; sisters Ilene Martin, Mary Salafia; brothers Brian, Daniel, Thomas. Hillside

Joseph Liebross died Sept. 29 at 96. Survived by wife Lillian; daughter Beverly; son Burt; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; niece Susie; nephews Marv, Sig. Groman Eden

Linda Ringer died Oct. 2 at 76. Survived by husband Alan; daughter Michele (Chris) Philpott; sons Jeffrey (Dawn), Marc; 4 grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Robert Roth died Sept. 27 at 67. Survived by sister Carol (Michael) Owens; nephews Craig (Aracely), Keith (Djamilla) Owens. Hillside 

Helen Schultz died Oct. 1 at 89. Survived by daughters Marilyn Walker, Iris; son Barry (Jose); 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Paul Seltzer died Sept. 29 at 99. Survived by wife Frances; sons Edward (Sylvia), Robert, Steven; 2 grandchildren. Hillside

 Sylvia Shub died Sept. 28 at 99. Survived by daughter Lois Horn. Sholom Chapels

Earl Siegel died Sept. 30 at 90. Survived by daughter Donna (Harmon) Siess; sons Barry (Marti Devore), Robert; cousin Kathy (David) Alaynick. Hillside

Leonard Solomon died Sept. 30 at 71. Survived by wife Patricia; daughters Leah, Rachel, Sarah; 8 grandchildren; niece Nancy. Mount Sinai

Caroline Stanton died Sept. 28 at 92. Survived by daughters Adele (Theodore) Rhodes, Denise (Bret) Smart; 4 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. Hillside

Lewis Stavis died Sept. 29 at 90. Survived by companion Frances Ehrmann; daughters Deborah (Jeff) Kurtz, Renee; son James; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; sister Siby Davis.

Linda Tuch died Oct. 1 at 71. Survived by husband Richard; daughter Wendy (Rich) Kellner; 4 grandchildren; sister Marilyn Weisberg. Hillside

Julie Wilson died Sept. 28 at 88. Survived by daughter Cheryl (Nace) Benun; 1 grandchild. Hillside 

Michel Winkler died Oct. 3 at 94. Survived by daughter Shelley; son Marvin; grandchildren. Sholom Chapels