Aaron Richard Eshman

Aaron Richard Eshman, known affectionately as Bunny, passed away on March 26, 2024, in Santa Monica, CA, at the age of 96. Aaron was a beloved patriarch, cherished by his family and a multitude of friends. He dedicated his life with abundant enthusiasm to family, work and community, leaving a lasting positive impact on all who knew him, and on countless more who never had the pleasure.
Aaron was born on April 21, 1927, in Los Angeles, CA to Dr. Louis Eshman, a pioneering physician at what was then Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, and Leah (Fink) Eshman, a writer and artist.
After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, Aaron was the first inductee in the United States Navy in California under President Harry Truman in April 1945, serving as editor of his base newspaper in Coronado, CA. He attended UCLA and UC Berkeley, where he was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.
After military service and graduation, Aaron joined a small Los Angeles brokerage firm, Stern, Frank, Meyer and Fox in 1951. In the 1960s, Aaron was made a partner, then in 1968 became chief executive and chairman.
During his leadership at Stern, Frank, the firm became a regional powerhouse. Aaron eventually joined Morgan Stanley, retiring in 2019 at the age of 91.
"If you don't do what you love," he said to his colleagues at his retirement party, "find something else to do."
While serving a devoted list of clients that included actors, directors, senators and CEOs, Aaron helped shape the industry to serve average investors and entrepreneurs.
In 1971, he helped establish the Southern California branch of the Minority Enterprise Small Business Investment Corporation, setting up a fund that provided $7.5 million per year to minority-owned start-ups.
He served on the Board of Governors of the American Stock Exchange as well as serving as Treasurer of the SIA, the Securities Industry Association, where he helped set the framework for what eventually became today's fully integrated national markets system.
Philanthropy was central to Aaron's life. He started volunteering at Cedars Sinai Hospital at age 14 and went on to serve on the hospital board and remained active on the Board of Governors his entire life.
Aaron launched the in-house comedy channel at Cedars, procuring the rights to their shows directly from famous comedians. During his last hospitalization at Cedars, Aaron laughed watching the shows on the channel he created.
He was an active supporter of L.A.'s Jewish and cultural institutions, among them Skirball Cultural Center, Julia Ann Singer Center, Nashuva and the Jewish Federation.
Aaron had a large circle of loving and devoted friends, including at Hillcrest Country Club, where he served as president. He was an average golfer and an excellent friend.
But family was the core of Aaron's life and happiness. He met his wife Sari Etta Vogel when she attended a ZBT fraternity party for New Year's Eve, 1946. Five years later they married, and remained together and deeply in love for 72 years. To their three children, six grandchildren and their spouses, Aaron was a source of wisdom and great humor, and a model of hard work, integrity, civic involvement and, above all, kindness.
In addition to his wife, Sari, Aaron is survived by his children Dr. Lisa Eshman and Jeff Thayer, Mark and Jill Eshman, Rob Eshman and Rabbi Naomi Levy, as well as his grandchildren Sari, Lesley Thayer and Eric Olliff, Emily, Erica Eshman and Eric Buras, Adin, Noa Levy-Eshman and John Bridstrup.
Services to celebrate Aaron's remarkable life will be held Sunday, March 31 at 10 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Aaron can be made to bunnyeshmanfund.jewishfoundationla.org, a charitable fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, to support the causes Aaron cared passionately about.
Aaron Richard "Bunny" Eshman's legacy will remain an inspiration to all who knew him. His warm smile, generosity, and unwavering loyalty left a lasting impact on our lives, and on our world. May his memory be a blessing. We will see him around the campus.