Ksiel Wolf Sztundel

January 27, 1946 - July 26, 2018

Ksiel Wolf Sztundel, son of Avram and Cyla (nee Tine) Sztundel was born a refugee in Foehrenwald, Germany, a Displaced Persons Camp. His parents found their way to Foehrenwald in 1945 after losing all of their immediate family and nearly all of their extended family, their homes and livelihood as a result of the Holocaust. In 1949 they received sponsorship from a distant U.S. relative and emigrated to Milwaukee, WI, where beloved sister Golden was born. Growing up without an extended family, and being exposed to anti-Semitism deeply influenced Ksiel’s lifelong commitment to working for justice, confronting racism, and fighting for the rights of working families. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1968, Ksiel moved to San Francisco and found fellowship with prominent organizers of social justice movements. He was active in the labor movement while working as a printer at People’s Press, a longshore man at the SF docks, and a bus driver and cable car gripman for the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI). He played an active role in the Transportation Workers Union Local 250-A and served as Recording Secretary.

In 1992 Ksiel earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University. With his MSW degree he continued to support and advocate for American workers while being employed at the Institute for Labor and Mental Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He also taught Labor Studies at San Francisco Community College and Laney College in Oakland. Eventually he became a private consultant and for decades, contributed his valuable mediation skills to numerous Bay Area organizations.

Ksiel’s love of food, and lifelong friendships with outstanding chefs evolved into a partnership which became Eclectic Cookery, the first time-shared commissary in San Francisco. The end of his work career was devoted to assisting numerous first generation Americans, and new entrepreneurs at Eclectic, to achieve their dream of starting a food business.

A generous, loving, and kind spirit, Ksiel was unforgettable to all who met him, and cherished by those who called him a lifelong friend. His gregarious nature made him a natural community builder. He passed away surrounded by the love of family and friends. He is preceded in death by his half sister Shandel, half brother Leon, and his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer Jastrab, devoted sister, Golden, brother-inlaw Edward Lerman, their children Samara and Ben, and many cherished friends. Ksiel was a bubbameister extraordinaire and his humorous storytelling is especially remembered with fondness by his wife’s large family. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him, and those who benefited from his compassion and generosity. Those who wish to make a donation in Ksiel Sztundel’s honor can direct it to: Center for Justice and Accountability, and/or United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.