Donald E. Sarason
Resident of Berkeley
Passed away Saturday, April 8, 2017 at his home in Berkeley in the loving care of his family. He was 84 years of age. A native of Detroit, Michigan, and long-time resident of Berkeley, he is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Jennings of Berkeley; son Benjamin Sarason of Chicago, Illinois; step-daughters Anne Marie Jennings of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Allison Jennings of Berkeley; step-sons Herbert Jennings of Berkeley, and Daniel Jennings of Houston, Texas; sisters Constance Grossman of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Judith Sarason of Kensington, California; brother Thomas Sarason of Medford, Oregon; and three step-grandchildren. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mr. Sarason was a mathematics professor and researcher at the University of California Berkeley for over 50 years. As talented a mathematician and dedicated a teacher as he was, what those who knew him well regarded as most remarkable were his humility, kindness, gentleness and generosity. He retired in 2012.
Friends and acquaintances are cordially invited to attend memorial services Monday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Sunset View Mortuary, top of Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

View the online memorial for Donald E. Sarason

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by East Bay Times on Apr. 12, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Sarason

Sponsored by East Bay Times.

4 Entries

Khadija Elflow

February 13, 2025

We are researchers from Libya. We would like to obtain copyright on one of Donald Sarason's books. We will be very delighted if we could get in touch with one of his kins very urgently.

Yours Sincerely,

Khadija

Wm 'Bill' LeGray

January 6, 2018

I ended up sharing many neighborhoods with Donald. He was always there to inspire friendship, thought sharing, and motivation. I share sadness that we will not be together again, especially with all his family. Don's Dad was into Photography when I was age 2. As I was taking my 1st step in a playpen with his sister Connie, Don was headed up our driveway in his fire engine. For years we practiced baseball and football in the street. And, then Don got a basketball hoop in the backyard. He could pass, hit, and throw with great accuracy, and turn on a dime- avoiding getting touched (in football). Connie told me years later, how he always walked swiftly until age effects Before I went to UofMI grad school, I stayed in Ann Arbor with Don in a house across from my wife's Sorority House. The house was owned by a Math Professor who authored at least one of my texts. And, I even went to one of Don's Math classes (Boolean Algebra) in Angel Hall as an observer. And, we still recreated over at Yost Field with bat, ball, and gloves Only a few years ago, we met with Don and Mary, and with Connie, for dinner Connie has always informed me about how Don is doing. (Our 60th High School reunion was four years ago). And, it was especially sad to receive a note re Don when we opened Connie's Christmas card. Christmas and Hanukah were always special with loving exchanges between the Sarason(s) and LeGray(s). Yet today, It is exhilarating to ride my motorcycle! I sent Don a picture of it when I retired, and he liked seeing it a lot. There was always listening, a smile, and encouragement. He was a real teacher, by nature (as well as nurture). And, a very special friend.

Hans-Peter + Daniela Kilz

April 16, 2017

we think of you

Tommy Sarason

April 13, 2017

I was one of Don's earliest students, maybe his first. Don was and always will be my older brother. Twelve years my senior, while he was in grad school we both lived in our parents house in Detroit. His mathematical brilliance was always obvious, but even as a kid I was struck by his patience, fairness, humility and sense of humor. Don taught me how to drive, how to do square roots, my first dirty joke and how to play poker. I'll always remember two visions of him. One of him effortlessly vaulting over the backyard gate when we were playing basketball. The other was when I was 6 and Don was 18. We shared a bedroom and one night our mother came in to guide me through my bedtime prayers. I went through a Hebrew prayer and then I asked God to bless everyone in the family. Then Don asked Mom if he could say his prayers. She said ok... Now I lay me down to sleep, With a bag of peanuts at my feet, If I die before I wake, Give the peanuts to my brother Jake. So sayeth Don, my brother forever.
Jake got peanuts - Don gave me the good stuff.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results