Obituary of Paul Rosen

Paul was born on May 23rd, 1920, on Longfellow Ave in the Bronx, NY to Louis and Mollie Rosen, immigrants from the Ukraine. After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1938, he worked in machine shops and took night classes in engineering and mathematics at CCNY. On October 5th, 1941, a mutual friend introduced him to a young woman named Lottie Laub. She was the love of his life and they married on September 30th, 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. In Germany during WWII he was a forward observer in the field artillery. As a non-smoker, he gave his army-issued cigarettes to fellow soldiers until he found out they were selling them. He then began saving them and at the end of the war traded the cigarettes for a 16mm Bolex movie camera. His first home movies were scenes of Germany at the end of the war as U.S. soldiers prepared to go home. He got permission to have free range of the ship bringing the troops home and filmed the voyage and their arrival in NY Harbor. After Paul came home from the war, he and Lottie had two daughters. To support his young family, he worked as a portrait photographer. He was a member of a progressive film group in NYC and worked on films for Henry Wallace?s presidential campaign, the NY Teachers Union, and other progressive causes. In 1954, the family moved to California and settled in Berkeley. He was employed selling industrial instruments before forming his own company. As a manufacturer?s representative, he used his problem solving skills to meet the needs of his customers in an array of fields ranging from agricultural processing, city utilities, and other manufacturing facilities. He was a lifetime member of the Northern California branch of the Instrument Society of America. He was a member of Toastmasters, the Berkeley Hiking Club, and the Berkeley Jewish Community Center, where he volunteered for many years with the seniors group. Throughout his long life, he never lost the idealism of his youth and remained a tireless supporter of progressive causes. He and Lottie had a rich life enjoying theater, concerts, museums and travel. He loved photography, chess, puzzles, and music. He also enjoyed telling jokes and stories, but above all, he loved people. He had a gentle and playful spirit, and his warmth and humor left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His children and grandchildren brought him great joy, and over the years his home was a gathering place for friends and family. Paul and Lottie shared a love that was rare, passionate and romantic up until the very end. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. He was predeceased by his older brother Jack and sister-in-law Nedda. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 70 years Lottie, his daughter and son-in-law Terry and Zig Ustaszewski, his daughter and son-in-law Susan and Louis Segal, and their children Kelly, Molly, Benjamin, Benjamin?s fianceé Terrina, and a large circle of friends and family. Donations in Paul?s name may be made to Jewish Family and Children?s Services of the East Bay Alameda County Community Food Bank Berkeley Food and Housing Project Funeral services will be at 10 am Friday July 26 at Home of Eternity in Mountain View Cemetery 5000 Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA A celebration of Paul?s life will be on September 28th 2013.