Paul Henry Rosenberg

May 14, 1945 – June 18, 2017

Paul, a proud native San Franciscan, was predeceased by his SF native parents, Irving and Ruth (Boehm) Rosenberg. He passed away, after a short battle with liver disease and a long battle with lung cancer. His death seemed to be painless.

He went to Lafayette ES, Presidio Junior HS, Lowell HS, and the University of CA at Berkeley.

Paul loved San Francisco and was involved in many aspects of city life. For 33 years he worked for the City and County of SF at the Dept. of Human Services. He made sure clients never missed their checks and that the computer system was up to date with the many federal and state regulatory changes. He was honored to helm the state’s pilot program for food stamp recipients to receive benefits electronically. Prior to working in SF, he worked for 8 years in the Alameda County Health Dept.

Paul was an avid SF historian, with specialties in the offices of Mayor and Board of Supervisors. Not only could he name every single member of the Board since 1850 along with the years that they served, he could tell stories about many of them. He was a longtime volunteer for Democratic causes and candidates. He volunteered for Phillip Burton and colored in his precinct maps after elections, he ran the Richmond Dist. campaign office for George Moscone for Mayor, and he volunteered on Nancy Pelosi’s first campaign for Congress. He was also an expert on SF public transit.

Paul spent many years as Sec.-Treas. of the Planning Assoc. of the Richmond. He was an early member of the Irish-Israeli-Italian Society. He was a co-founder of the Market Street Railway, where he served as president. He was a founding member of the SF History Assoc. When he retired, he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined Sixty Plus at SFSU where he served as treasurer and SIR (Sons in Retirement) where he was active on the board since he joined, including serving as the Big Sir. He was a member of Western Neighborhoods Project, Native Sons of the Golden West, the Westerners, the SF Civil War Roundtable, Retired Employees of the City and County of SF, and other groups.

We have lost a brilliant man, a real “mensch,” who had many friends from all over The City and beyond. The fact that he and his high school friends got together regularly, brought Paul tremendous pleasure.

Paul Rosenberg is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sherrie (Katz) Rosenberg, and their son Coleman, who is 27 years old, and countless friends and family. Paul was many things: husband, father, historian, music lover (who rarely missed the weekly organ concerts at the Legion of Honor), humorist, volunteer, master story teller, and so much more, but to describe him in just two qualities, he was a true friend and a true San Franciscan.

Funeral will be at Beth Israel Judea, on Sunday, June 25th at 12 followed by food and conversation. 625 Brotherhood Way, SF. The family will receive visitors & have a brief service on Monday & Tuesday from 6 to 9 pm, also at the temple.

Donations in his memory may go to the charity of your choice or the Lowell High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 320009, SF, CA 94132.