Maurice Kanbar

Inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, 93, died peacefully of natural causes in San Francisco on August 20, 2022, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Raised in Brooklyn, Maurice attended Yeshiva Etz Chaim in Boro Park, New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, and Philadelphia Textile Institute, later renamed Philadelphia University where he studied materials science and engineering. Maurice lived in New York until 1984, when he moved to San Francisco, a city he referred to as “paradise” and where he often could be found zipping around on his signature red Argo scooter.

Indefatigable, charming and beloved, Maurice was a man of strong opinions, great intelligence and a razor wit. Maurice’s impish smile lit up a room and his presence will be sorely missed by all who ever had the pleasure of meeting him.

A natural born inventor, Maurice had an insatiable intellectual curiosity and an incessant desire to make things better, safer and easier to use. Maurice’s first entrepreneurial spark was seen at age 10 when he took a job as a delivery boy at the local pharmacy, hoping to earn a nickel tip with each delivery. At 12, he and his best friend started a photography business selling baby portraits. At 21, he invented D-Fuzz-It, a lint remover, which earned him $200,000 in its first year on the market. Maurice holds more than 50 patents on products ranging from sophisticated medical devices to reimagined and modernized ancient children’s games. Expanding on his love of the arts and particularly film, Maurice is credited with building the first multiplex theater, the Quad Cinema, in Greenwich Village in 1972. The Quad was known for promoting independent filmmakers and Maurice went on to produce the animated feature film Hoodwinked! and its sequel to great success.

Maurice’s most successful achievement was creating SKYY vodka in 1992. Motivated by a desire to reduce the headaches he suffered when enjoying a martini, he devised a unique distillation and filtration process to remove congeners (impurities) from alcohol, which he had discovered were the cause of his discomfort. Maurice came up with the name SKYY when looking out the window at a perfect San Francisco sky and he also designed the distinctive cobalt blue bottles. After much success, he sold SKYY to Campari in 2001. Eager to share his wisdom and experience, Maurice wrote a best-selling book, Secrets from an Inventor’s Notebook (Council Oak Books), a how-to guide for novice inventors.

Maurice was equally focused on philanthropy, often quoting Andrew Carnegie that it was much easier making the money than giving it away intelligently.

Through his generosity, Maurice established the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at NYU, the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce at Philadelphia University, the Maurice Kanbar Center for Biomedical Engineering at Cooper Union, and the Kanbar Cardiac Care Center at CPMC in San Francisco. Maurice also made substantial donations to the American Heart Association of San Francisco, University of Haifa, Bar-Ilan University, Bowdoin College, the Exploratorium, KQED, Salvation Army, S.F. Symphony, SF Girls Chorus, SF Film Society, UCLA School of Theater and Television, the JCC of San Francisco, Hebrew Immigration Aid Society and many other worthy organizations.

Maurice received honorary degrees from Philadelphia University, Yeshiva University, Bar-Ilan University, and Kenyon College.

Maurice’s generosity reached beyond these charitable institutions. He was always quick to help a needy friend or relative, mentioning his desire to make life easier for others and recognizing – as he often said – “you can’t take it with you.” Maurice’s legacy can be summarized in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Maurice is survived by his brother Elliott (Barbara), nephews David (Stacey), Jeffrey (Adrienne), and Michael (Dara), his niece Lisa (Marc), and his four grandnieces and grandnephews Hannah, Benji, Gabriel and Hanna.

In lieu of flowers, the Kanbar family requests that donations be made in his memory to a hospice organization of your choice or to the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society.

Music man, John Joseph Keane, left his treasured San Anselmo to join Heaven’s choir of angels on August 2nd, 2022. John leaves behind his devoted wife Mary Jean, his loving daughters Jessica (Sridhar), Megan (Curtis) and son Chris (Jenny), stepchildren Kate (Joe) and Kevin, John’s cherished grandchildren Maria, Danny, Keanen, Rowen, Vivek, Kaeley, and Brendan, his sisters Linda and Fran, sister-in-law, Bev (Don), and his nephews Colin, Brendan, and Marty.

On the other side of every goodbye there is a hello. John will be greeted in paradise by his late wife and teenage sweetheart, Sandy, his youngest son, Brian, his mother, Loretta, his father, Jack, and several dear friends who have gone before him.

A proud San Franciscan, John was born and raised in the Sunset District, a short walk from his beloved St. Anne’s Parish. His guitar consistently close at hand, John was a member of the Traveler’s band, entertaining at the St. Anne’s Teen Club, and beyond. He carried his musical talents into adulthood, always at the ready to lead friends, family, parishioners, and colleagues in song.

An avid sports fan, John grew up blocks away from Kezar Stadium where he rooted for the Niners. In addition, he was a loyal SF Giants and Golden State Warriors fan. He loved to cheer on his children at their countless San Anselmo Rec, CYO and Marin Catholic games. He was also a loving Papa, unabashedly rooting for his grandchildren at their baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and lacrosse events. John was a proud St. Ignatius Wildcat. A small but tough-as-nails defensive back, he played on SI’s 1962 undefeated and #1 nationally ranked football team. John also played basketball, ran cross-country and was a class officer. John went onto SF State, where he was the editor of the Gator newspaper during the tumultuous Free Speech movement, when he even had to fight off protesters bent on ransacking the school’s newspaper offices.

Always spiritual and committed to his Catholic faith, John entered the Jesuit’s Novitiate. However, his true vocation was to be that of a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and gifted writer and communication executive.

John married Sandy DelGrosso after college and the two moved to Fairfax and St. Rita’s parish to raise a family. John returned daily to his favorite city, San Francisco - first, years at the SF Chronicle and then true dedication to Bank of America, where he rose to Vice President for Corporate Communications and served for three decades. His wife Sandy died all too young and John assumed the responsibility of being both mother and father for his young, growing family. Despite these challenges, John had a steely resolve and the quiet confidence and resilience of a Christian carrying his family’s cross.

John’s service extended to the rest of the Catholic community. He led the St Rita’s 9 a.m. choir for years and vigilantly supported the school’s fundraising efforts. He was a member of St. Vincent De Paul and was active in Cursillo. He was the president of the Marin Catholic Advisory Board for more than a decade and generously offered his communication skills to various non-profit organizations including St. Vincent’s School for Boys, the San Francisco Boy’s Home, Catholic Charities, and CYO.

His second wife, Mary Jean, was a godsend and brought company and laughter to his days. Walks, prayer, singing, old movies, and lots of time with the grandkids, made their favorite memories together. Mary Jean was always delighted to hear people remark, “John is the nicest man I have ever met.”

Unfortunately in Spring 2019, John was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease that took an aggressive course. As he did so often before, John faced this newest tragedy with grace and courage. Although he lost speech early on, he still communicated with laughter and song, enjoyed sports games, prayer, old movies, music, sing alongs, and time with his wife, kids, and grandkids as much as possible. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by so many that loved him dearly.

While John’s family and friends will no longer be blessed by his physical presence, his abundant spirit will continue to live on and grace those he leaves behind. May the good soul and heart of one John Joseph Keane rest in the peace of Jesus Christ.

Special thanks to John’s amazing caregivers - Rosie, Renato, Victor, and Ramona, and the team at By The Bay Health Hospice. John was truly blessed to be surrounded by their unwavering support and love. A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:30 p.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Fairfax on Sunday, September 18th, John’s birthday. All are welcomed to celebrate John’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in John’s name to a favorite of his charities: St. Vincent De Paul. Checks can be made to: “SVDP/St. Rita Conference” and mailed to: P.O. Box 564 Fairfax, CA 94978.

Assisted by Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, CA.