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
