Paul Kadden

1925 - 2026

Paul Kadden
03/26/1925 - 01/07/2026
Paul Kadden died on January 7 at 100. Born in Krefeld, Germany to Fred and Hilda Kadden, they emigrated to the US in the mid-1930s due to rising antisemitism. They settled in Columbia, Pennsylvania and then Philadelphia, where Paul became a Bar Mitzvah, before moving to San Francisco.
Paul graduated from Washington High School at 16 as valedictorian but did not the ceremony because German nationals were not permitted out in the evening. He graduated UC Berkeley at 19, Phi Beta Kappa.
Paul became a CPA, working for most of his career as comptroller and vice president for Service Distributors, a coin-operated laundry company.
Paul met Shirley Hertzberg, also a Cal student, at a party and they married in 1953, spending 67 loving years together. They had three children: Bruce (Barbara of blessed memory; Leslie Birnbaum), Mark (Michelle Lalouche), and Lori (Mark) Epstein, grandchildren Alana (Jacob), Micah (Avital), Daniel, Sara (Grant), Julia, and Hannah, and great-grandparents to Matan, Liav, and Maya. Paul kvelled at the many accomplishments of his children and grandchildren and loved spending time with his great-grandchildren, Matan and Liav, and Maya.
Paul and Shirley lived in Oakland until 1978, then San Francisco, and Rossmoor. They participated in many activities, including trips to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. After Shirley's passing, Paul was cared for by Carole Umbarger.
Paul and Shirley were docents at Judah Magnes Museum and enjoyed traveling to the Council of American Jewish Museums convention. They traveled to Europe and Israel, visiting ORT Schools and making life-long friends.
They were members of Temple Sinai in Oakland, Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, and Congregation B'nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek, often two at the same time.
Paul was a member of organizations including B'nai B'rith and the Board of San Francisco Humanities. He enjoyed Cal football games, playing bridge, and time with his family.
Funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 11 at 10 am at Gan Shalom Cemetery in Briones. A shiva will be at Paul's home, 2874 Saklan Indian Road, Walnut Creek on Sunday at 6 pm. Donations may be made to ORT, East Bay Hospice, or your favorite Jewish charity.