Remembering Hugh Groman, master of hospitality who catered events for Barack Obama and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Groman, who died last month at 53, founded popular Berkeley catering and party platter delivery businesses and ran a downtown burger joint called Phil’s Sliders from 2011 to 2017.
Remembering Martin Paley, Berkeley philanthropic leader who headed San Francisco Foundation
In his 13 years leading the foundation, its assets grew from $50 million to $600 million. As a consultant and board member, he helped organizations including Ashby Village and the San Francisco Library live their values.
As part of our service to the community, Berkeleyside is honored to publish, at no charge, obituaries of members of the Berkeley community. Email a Google or Word document with the text and photo(s), preferably JPGs at least 1,200 px in width by 900 px in height, to editors@berkeleyside.org, and fill out the form at the bottom of this post.
With obituaries, we share Berkeley’s history through the people who lived it
Berkeleyside has published free obituaries written by members of the community for over 13 years. Here’s why.
Remembering Jonathan Gold, poet and advocate for the disabled
A highlight for Gold was the years he spent working for world-renowned disability advocate Ed Roberts.
Remembering Avrum Gratch, orthopedist who made perfect popcorn
Gratch was devoted to his family and friends, enjoyed photography and studied Hebrew, German, Spanish, French and Japanese.
Remembering Marc Pilisuk, a long-time Berkeley educator and activist who opposed the Vietnam War
Pilisuk and his family relocated to Berkeley during anti-war protests at Cal, where he taught at a community mental health program.
Remembering Lindsay E. Harris, a human rights advocate, adventurous cook and ballroom dancer
Harris taught Comparative Equality Law at UC Berkeley School of Law for two years, where she enjoyed teaching and mentoring a wide diversity of students, joined by equality law scholars from around the world.
Remembering Robert Bertero, Berkeley firefighter
Bertero was known for his mischievous sense of humor, dedication to sports/fitness and love of motorcycling.
Remembering ‘Wattie’ Taylor, architect, carpenter, writer, actor, model, activist
An Elmwood resident active in Quaker and Unitarian circles, Washington Taylor III was an often provocative character with a gentle soul.