Ziva Bruckner

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Dr. Ziva Peleg Bruckner, of Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia, lost her battle to pancreatic cancer on Sunday, December 6, 2015, in the presence and care of her loving sister. Ziva was born outside of the United States in Israel on August 27th. She was the eldest daughter of Shlomo and Miryam Nadjari, and grew up in Israel in the city of Haifa. Ziva attended high school in Israel, and completed her obligation to serve in the Israeli military. She attended the University of Tel Aviv for one year, before moving to the United States in 1967 and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. Ziva had a passion for learning and education. She received a Bachelor's Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Brooklyn College of the University of New York in 1970, and her Master of Arts/PhD in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1975. Ziva was a member of the faculty of the University of Miami, teaching Educational Psychology, when she relocated to Augusta in 1982. Never one to stop learning, Ziva decided to seek a second career in the early 1980's as an attorney. Ziva enrolled in the University of South Carolina's College of Law, and commuted each day from Augusta to Columbia, South Carolina to attend classes there. Ziva graduated with her Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, in 1986, at the top of her class. Ziva was admitted practice in both South Carolina and Georgia and enjoyed a very successful second career as an attorney in the Augusta area with the firm of Nixon, Yow, Waller and Capers, and later as a founding member and partner in the new firm of Capers, Dunbar, Sanders, Bruckner & Bellotti, LLP. Prior to retiring from active practice in 2014, Ziva worked tirelessly to represent her clients who trusted her for her compassion, her guidance, and her impressive knowledge and understanding of the law. Ziva was also an avid supporter of the arts, and a valuable member of the local Augusta community. She served on the governing boards of the Augusta Opera, the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta, and the Augusta Jewish Federation. Though she lived in many places throughout her life, Ziva considered Augusta her home, and was honored to take an active role in the city's cultural community. Those that knew Ziva appreciated her friendship, love, and wisdom. She was fond of travel, baking, entertaining, reading and politics. She was known and loved for doing things "her way," and was truly a force to be reckoned with. Her spirit, her passion, and her kindness will be missed by both friends and family, who loved her very much. Ziva is survived by her sister, Ilana Shafrir, her nieces and nephew, Michal Tal, Yael Shafrir, and Itamar Shafrir, and their respective children. In addition, Ziva is survived by her stepsons, Seth (Donna) Bruckner, Jonathan (Anne) Bruckner, and Dr. Adam (Courtney) Bruckner, and six step-grandchildren: Alayna, Noah, Ali, Alex, Lilly, and Nora. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in her memory to the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta, or the Augusta Jewish Federation.