Baila Goldenthal

Goldenthal, Baila
September 20, 1925 - June 17, 2011
Baila Goldenthal, acclaimed L.A. artist and sculptor, has died at the age of 85. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut on September 20th, 1925 to Mariam Goldenberg, a homemaker, and Irwin Goldenthal, an electrical engineer. Baila Goldenthal studied at the University of New Hampshire, and received her formal art training at the Chicago Art Institute and at the Art Students League in New York City, where she studied with Hans Hoffman and Morris Kantor. In 1946 she married the composer and ethnomusicologist, Robert Simon, with whom she had two daughters. They divorced in 1980. She traveled extensively throughout her life, making the Los Angeles area her home since 1958. A deeply spiritual person, Goldenthal incorporated philosophical thought and enduring passion for her life into her paintings and sculptures. She has exhibited in numerous shows throughout the U.S. and in Southern California, and she collaborated with her younger daughter, Maurya Simon, on WEAVERS, a book ekphrastic poetry. She leaves behind a loving and devoted family, and a host of loving friends who feel a tremendous void left by this unique, gracious, and beautiful woman. Goldenthal is survived by her partner of 32 years, sculptor Max Finkelstein, with whom she often exhibited her work. They collaborated on a public sculpture for the city of Herzliya, Israel in 1999. Goldenthal is also survived by her daughters Tamara Ambroson and Maurya Simon Falk, adopted daughter, Margo Golov, sons-in-law Donald Ambroson, Robert Falk, and Andrew Golov, grandchildren Joshua and Gabriel Ambroson, Naomi Falk, Leah Falk Diaz, and Hallie Golov, and by her great-grandchilren: Alex Falk, Ethan Diaz, and Sasha and Ari Ambroson.

Chapel services will be on Tuesday, June 21st at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Sinai Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.