Phyllis Joseph

1938 -2018

On September 28, 2018, Phyllis (PJ) Joseph passed away at age 80. She was in her own home in San Francisco, with family by her side, as was her long expressed wish. Phyllis was born to Hershel and Zelda Freedman in Omaha, Nebraska on July 9, 1938. She attended University of Wisconsin, Madison where she met her future husband, Allan Joseph. Phyllis and Allan were married in September, 1958, both age 20. As Allan later said, they grew up together.

Phyllis and Allan moved from Wisconsin first to Virginia and then to the San Francisco Presidio where Allan was serving in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp until 1965. By then, their first two daughters Elizabeth (Buffy) and Susan were born. Phyllis and Allan and their young family moved to Marin County, settling in Mill Valley where their third daughter, Kathy, was born.

In addition to taking primary responsibility for raising their daughters, Phyllis was active in Mill Valley affairs. She served as a Mill Valley Park and Recreation Commissioner, and in 1973, she played an instrumental role in the start of the movement to allow girls to play in the formerly all male Little League. Though her motion to allow girls to play in Mill Valley was rejected initially, the case progressed until girls were included in Little League nationwide by the following year. Though Phyllis was no baseball fan, she was a big proponent of equality, and especially of giving girls opportunities not limited by their gender. As Phyllis’ daughters, we took that message to heart and are so grateful for her unwavering love and support.

Phyllis next decided to further her education and while her older daughters were in high school, she attended the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, earning her MBA in 1980, the same year that her eldest daughter graduated from high school. Some of our favorite family photos are of Phyllis and Buffy in their caps and gowns on the back deck in Mill Valley.

In 1981, with the two eldest off to college, Phyllis and Allan moved to San Francisco and started another chapter in their lives. Phyllis loved living in their Victorian house and being able to walk down Fillmore street to see the changing shops and people. In 2000 she began to attend classes for adults over age 50 at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco. Phyllis dove into courses in history, literature, film, music and philosophy. She made new friends with her classmates, and introduced some of her older friends into the program as well. At Fromm, she took the name PJ, and was an active part of the student community of 2000 students. She was elected to the position of President of the Student Association in which she served from 2003-2007, during which she also sat on the Friends of the Fromm Institute Board of Directors.

Phyllis will be remembered for her kindness and willingness to listen to others’ troubles and help wherever she could. She will also be remembered for her sharp intelligence and her wry, thoughtful sense of humor. She is survived by her three daughters, Elizabeth “Buffy” Joseph (Brian Feinberg), Susan Joseph (Helen Bronston), and Kathy Balistreri (Mike Balistreri), as well as her 6 beloved grandchildren Nicholas Feinberg (Amy Cho), Ethan Feinberg, Emily Bronston-Joseph, Isabel Bronston-Joseph, Alicia Balistreri and Alex Balistreri. She is also survived by her brother, Jerry Freedman, and his wife Vickie Hutchinson, who Phyllis regarded as more of a sister than a sister in law. Their attentive love and support has been a great source of comfort to the family. Phyllis is predeceased by her beloved husband of 55 years, Allan, who died in 2013, as well as a daughter, Debbie, who died in 1972.

Phyllis has had a private burial. A memorial service celebrating her life will take place at 11am on Sunday, October 28 at Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street, San Francisco. Donations can be made to NOW (National Organization of Women), Planned Parenthood or a charity of your choice.