Arthur Beren

1925 - 2023

Arthur Beren
February 7, 1925 - June 29, 2023
Bay Area shoe mogul, Arthur Beren, passed away peacefully at his Oakland home June 29, 2023 at age 98 after a brief illness. Arthur was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on February 7, 1925. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII, he arrived in California in 1946 to study Ophthalmology at UC Berkeley. He joined the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi where he made many lifelong friends. Soon thereafter, he met the love of his life, Rosalie Wallis, and they were married in 1948. Arthur began working as a part-time salesman at Kushins shoe store in downtown Oakland. Thus began his lifelong passion for shoes. He became part owner of Kushins, which grew to 28 stores under his direction. Arthur sold Kushins in 1984, and in 1985 he opened Arthur Beren Shoes in Union Square, San Francisco. His store became one of the most successful independent retail shoe stores in the world. Arthur loved the shoe business and all of his many employees and colleagues throughout the industry. He was also a fervent Bay Area sports fan and spent many hours at the Oakland Coliseum. Arthur is preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie Wallis Beren, and brothers Isador and Jack Berenbaum. He is survived by brother, Harvey Berenbaum and sister Rosalind King, three children, David (Susan), Rick (Carole) and Anne, four grandchildren, Nicole, Ryan (Renee), Emma and Lily, and three great-grandchildren, Roxie, Remi and Harrison. A private service was held at Home of Eternity Jewish Cemetery.