Geraldine Brownstein

1930 - 2023

Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend, Geri Brownstein passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family. Born to Lilian and Harry Moskowitz in 1930, Geri grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore and Richmond districts with her older sister, Shirley. Even in youth, she had led a historic life: walking across the Golden Gate Bridge on opening day in 1937, dancing the Maypole at the Golden Gate International Exposition, and spending every Sunday with the cool crowd at the Blackhawk jazz club. But Geri would say that, in many ways, her life truly began when she went on a blind date with a young Navy dentist from New York City named Marty. Geri and Marty fell quickly and deeply in loveand wed on April 17, 1955. The happy couple moved to Sausalito where Geri, a trained phlebotomist, helped Marty establish his private dental practice. It didn't take long for them to become prominent members of their new community, serving as founding members of Congregation Rodef Sholom. And soon, they began to grow their family, welcoming their first son Howard in 1957 followed by Laurence in 1960.Geri was a generous, kind, warm, loving, funny, gracious person. An expert host who opened her heart and home to anyone who needed it, she was a font of strength, support, and compassion to all those whose lives she touched. Which is why it comes as no surprise that Geri cherished nothing in the world so much as being a grandmother. When her first grandson, Jordan, was born in 1985, Geri lavished him with a boundless affection that only grew larger when grandsons Jesse, Barry, and Kai came along. Geri will be remembered and admired for many things, but perhaps none more so than this: even though her heart already overflowed with love, she always made room for more. Near the end, this love extended to her friends and caregivers Tina, Josie, and Rosemarie. Geri is preceded in death by her parents Lilian and Harry, sister Shirley, and husband Martyand is survived by sons Howie and Larry, nieces Mindy and Dia, nephew Stephan, daughters-in-law Janna and Kirsten, grandsons Jordan, Jesse, Barry, and Kai, and granddaughter-in-law Nikki. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, 2500 Fifth Avenue in San Rafael. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Rodef Sholom.