Fred Kurlander

Fred Kurlander would have turned 88 on December 1, 2023. He didn’t make it, passing away after a brief illness on January 30, 2023. Those that knew him would say he actually died of a broken heart, losing his wife and soulmate Elaine the year before.

Fred was born in Cleveland, Ohio. The younger of two sons of Jean and Julian Kurlander, who operated a Pharmacy, where Fred learned his business acumen working the counter. He attended Cleveland Heights High School, Ohio State University and Case-Western Law School. Upon graduation from law school he headed West in a beat-up jalopy, intending to practice law in LA. He never made it past San Francisco, where resided and practiced law for 60 years.

He met and married his first wife Joanne and was the proud father of two sons, Oliver and Peter, both of Denver. After the marriage ended, he returned to his first love and college sweetheart Elaine Rudolf, marrying her. The happiest years of his life were in the company of Elaine. He also blended her two children, Susan Light of Manhattan and Jonathan Sepsenwol of Miami Beach into one big family. He was the proud grandfather of three grandchildren, Kaden, Jax and Lucy. He is also survived by his older brother Dr. Don Kurlander (Bonnie) of Cleveland.

Fred was an avid reader and enjoyed the arts, fishing, the diverse Bay Area Cuisine, and was an enthusiastic supporter of Corky and Lenny’s Deli in Cleveland (having never found a deli in the Bay Area that measured up to their corned beef sandwich). He was an avid supporter of Israel and Jewish customs and traditions. Everyone enjoyed his self-deprecating sense of humor. He was also a proud card-carrying member of the Fred club.

Fred’s true calling was providing legal help and a fierce representation for the citizens of San Francisco that needed a voice in our legal system. He was the consummate trial lawyer, enjoying a sterling reputation for honesty, hard work, legal smarts and gentlemanly civil decorum. That being said, he never backed down from a good legal fight. Fred earned the loyalty of his clients and generations of his former clients continue to seek out his name when needing representation today, which is why his name is still on the door of the law firm he founded in 1980 (now Kurlander, Burton & Mack).

Fred is missed by his family, friends, clients, his law partners and staff. He would also be appalled at the lateness of his obituary. Sorry, Fred. But now you can finally rest with Elaine.