Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig

1933 - 2023

BORN

1933

DIED

2023

Claire Wahrhaftig Obituary

Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
February 12, 1933 - December 31, 2023
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig, a generous, loving, and exuberant free spirit, open-minded with an amazing range of interests, passed away on December 31 after a long and fulfilling life of friendship, love, community, work, and philanthropy.
Claire was a fourth-generation San Franciscan, born on February 12, 1933. She grew up among extended family in San Francisco's Richmond District. She was a proud graduate of Lowell High and held degrees in History of Art and in Speech and Drama from Pomona College, and a fellowship at the Harvard University Arts Administration Program.
Claire had a talent for connecting with people. She kept childhood and college friends close all her life and was always open to new and exciting experiences.
As a young woman Claire lived an adventurous life, sailing after college to Israel on a freighter, wanting to visit the brand-new country and study Hebrew as part of her desire to learn more about Jewish history. While there, she traveled, worked in clerical jobs, and moonlighted as a nightclub Jazz singer.
Her commitment to social justice led her to march for civil rights in Selma, Alabama in 1965. Fifty years later, Claire returned to Selma for the 50th anniversary commemoration, reconnecting with several people she'd met in 1965 and writing about her experiences for the Rockridge News.
Claire enjoyed a close, loving marriage with Bill Wahrhaftig until his untimely death in 2005. Together they built a home filled with art and mementos of nearly twenty years of adventure together traveling to over 14 countries.
After Bill's death Claire continued to travel widely, including a trip to China as part of a Stagebridge joint friendship and shared storytelling visit.
During her distinguished 30-year career of public service in arts and museum education, Claire held numerous positions including Executive Director of the San Francisco Arts Commission and Supervisor of Education for San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art. At the Arts Commission, she developed grants for funding the City's public statues and the restoration of the Coit Tower murals and founded the City's Youth Arts Festival. Claire had also been the Director of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Junior Arts Center where she initiated "Heart to Heart", a city-wide arts program integrating disabled children with the general population.
After Claire's retirement she was a committed volunteer for the Alameda County Suicide Prevention Hotline and editor and writer for the Rockridge News. More recently, Claire served on the Board of Directors and as Chair and benefactor for two organizations very dear to her - the Treasure Island Museum and Stagebridge, a performing arts organization for older adults.
Claire would have been 91 years old on her next birthday, February 12, which she always said she proudly shared with Abraham Lincoln. Memories of Claire will live on in the hearts of the Wahrhaftig, Greene, Groeschel, Fisher, and Cole families.
Funeral to be held at the Home of Eternity Jewish Cemetery, Friday January 5th
Donations in Claire's name can be made to the Treasure Island Museum (treasureislandmuseum.org) and Stagebridge ([email protected])

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jan. 4, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Claire Wahrhaftig

6 Entries

Denise Scholz

March 6, 2024

I had the honor to be Claire´s primary care provider from around 2017-2021. One of the hardest decisions of my career was to resign from the Over Sixty Clinic in Berkeley where I became acquainted her, because I had developed such a bond with patients like Claire. This may seem odd, but I have been monitoring for Claire´s passing since I resigned in 2021, because I would have very much liked to have been at her celebration of life. Despite my best efforts, I had a number of personal concerns that have kept me occupied the last few months, and just today did I think to check in and learned of her passing. My sincere condolences to her loved ones, in particular to her niece with whom I interacted with towards the end of my career at Over Sixty.

Claire was inspirational, determined, and like many of my elder patients then and now, not ready to accept frailty or the signs of slowing down. She will forever have a special place in my heart, a truly delightful and exceptional human being. So fortunate would this world be if we had more Claire´s.

Pal

February 28, 2024

Listened to Claire´s stories of her experiences during the civil rights times at Stagebridge Lunchtime Storytelling sessions . She was truly a trailblazer activist for human rights & a wonderful storyteller.

Jackee Marks

February 16, 2024

I knew Claire when she was the director of the Junior Art Center in Los Angeles. She made lit a magical place. She was so enthusiastic and full of good ideas. She had a great staff. I was on the board. We raised money with a wine tasting event. It was a great time.

Mel Terry

January 5, 2024

Claire and I attended musical theatre, storytelling and memoirs classes at Stagebridge. We also served on the board together. I was always impressed by her wealth of life experiences her commitment to the arts and civil rights. Her ability to create riveting stories was amazing. One story I loved, was how as San Francisco Commissioner of the Arts, she rode in the Pride parade in 1983. She decided to dress up as Gertrude Stein. She used makeup and created a costume from a Picasso painting of Stein. It was abstract with the eyes on different levels which must have been quite a sight. She went all out with it and was quite a hit. Herb Caen wrote about it, including the fact that she was engaged to be married to a man, which was how her engagement was announced in the Chronicle.

Shannon McDonnell

January 4, 2024

Kisser of presidents. Moshpitt dancer. Hip hop dancer and storyteller extraordinaire. Claire, you were a narvel of history of Forrest Gump proportions. I miss you and love you and will always be in awe.

Anne Schnoebelen

January 4, 2024

What a wonderful portrait of a beautiful, unforgettable woman. Among hundreds of memories of Claire, one in particular stands out. In 2015 we (me, Claire, my husband Dennis Elliott and friend Paul Lufkin) attended a special event commemorating the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. The event included an auction, with the winner having the privilege of conducting the orchestra with a special gold baton. Guess who won the auction and conducted the orchestra? The song was "San Francisco." What a wonderful and fitting moment for Claire, great lover of music and beauty, and those who love her. Thanks Claire for making the world a better, more beautiful, and more just place.

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