Stan Felson

Stan Felson, a Holocaust survivor who rebuilt his life as a Bay Area developer and property manager, died March 29 in Oakland. He was 87.

Arriving in San Francisco after World War II, with his brother, Don, the only other survivors of their family, the two carved out new lives as builders and residential property managers in the East Bay, each with their own companies in Hayward.

Felson rescued his brother from the German-occupied ghetto of Gluboke, Poland, their hometown. The two survived by joining the Jewish Partisans, fighting in the forests. He recorded his story for the USC Shoah Foundation and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

He got his new start initially selling plastic bibs, diapers and tablecloths, first in San Francisco, then Petaluma, and Portland, Ore., where he met his future wife, Pearl Benson, a Toronto native.

They couple settled in Seattle, where three sons were born. He created his own business, Finetex Co. The name stood for fine textiles and his labels, with an artist’s rendition of one of his baby boys, proudly stated, “Made by American Workmen.”

The family moved to the East Bay in the late 1950s, where he turned to residential property development. He and his brother lived only blocks apart. Stan Felson’s company, Felson Properties, Inc., continues to operate under the leadership of his son, Jeff.

For years before his brother died in 2002, the two would take nightly walks. A humble man, Felson took pleasure in simple things. He once commented how much he loved the Odessa rye bread made by the Bay Area’s Semifreddi Bakery. “It reminds me of the bread my mother used to make,” he said.

Felson was active in the East Bay Jewish community as a longtime member of Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro and, later, Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland. His wife, Pearl, died in 2009.

He leaves his sons Leonard (and daughter-in-law Julia Rosenblum) of West Hartford, Conn.; Howard (and Efrat Campagnano) of Jerusalem; and Jeff (and Mimi) of Piedmont. He also leaves eight grandchildren, a first cousin, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held Friday, at Home of Peace Cemetery, Oakland, Rabbi Gershon Albert of Beth Jacob officiating.