Richard Lavenstein

Richard Lavenstein was born in New York City on November 4, 1927 and passed away on August 13, 2022. His parents were Meyer, a lawyer, and Claudia Lavenstein, a human rights activist, who lived three centuries, having passed away on January 1, 2000. He was raised in New Rochelle, N.Y., attended the University of Virginia (BA ‘48 Business Administration), and served in the Army Signal Corps during the Korean conflict. In 1956, he met younger brother Jim’s high school classmate, Emmy Samuels, whom he married the following year. Son Bob arrived two years later. Richard worked in New York sales for a paper box supplier that was acquired by a national company headquartered in San Francisco where he was promoted to a job in product development. The family moved to San Mateo where daughters Elizabeth and Janice were born.

A year later Richard left the company to begin a 44year career in commercial real estate. His focus was the #101 corridor just south of SFO where he developed low-rise multi-tenant buildings, and subsequently acquired other like properties in the same area from owners who had been his clients.

Richard’s role in philanthropy began in the midnineties, when having shown an interest in early childhood education in the past, he invested in an innovative program that provides high quality learning experiences to the low-income, less advantaged, when children begin Pre-School. The ‘Parent Involvement Project’ sustains and enhances the bond between parent and child. Based on a continuum of learning and practicing it enables parents to succeed in their role as their child’s most important teacher. The program served thousands of families in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties prior to COVID. Recently Mr. Lavenstein established the ‘Parent Learning Opportunity Fund of The Marin Community Foundation’ to continue this work Richard and Emmy enjoyed travel abroad, and particularly meeting interesting people and hiking on the Continent.

Richard’s interests included reading the NY Times, watching football and golf on television, and telling funny stories and enjoying watching people laugh. Emmy, who volunteered in an array of local causes, died in 2006. Bob sustained major injuries as a passenger in a vehicle accident following high school graduation and the last 30 years of his life were largely devoted to helping others. He was an inspiration to his Dad who leaves behind daughters Elizabeth (Steve) Hammack and Janice (Tim) March, and grandchildren Shelayne and Garret Hammack and Alex and Zach March. A private graveside service has been held.