Dan Barki

1943 - 2023

Dan Barki obituary, 1943-2023, Oakland, CA

BORN

1943

DIED

2023

Dan Barki Obituary

Dan Barki
November 29, 1943 - March 14, 2023
Dan was born in Berkeley, California 79 years ago to Gerda Straus Barki & Haim Victor Barki. When Dan was 2, the little family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where his father was continuing his studies. In 1949, with Haim's newly earned Ph.D., the plans were for the small family of three to move to Israel where Haim had a position awaiting him in the Ministry of Agriculture. Haim went ahead to find a home for them in Jerusalem, became ill with leukemia and died at the age of 33, just before his wife & son were to arrive. Dan, at the age of 6, lived on a kibbutz in a children's house for 6 months and the Hebrew he learned stayed with him through life – in addition to giving Dan the amazing ability to pick up foreign languages with ease.
When Dan & his mother returned to Berkeley, Dan attended Emerson Elementary School where he made friends who are still friends to this day. On to Willard Jr. High and Berkeley High before going east to Brandeis where he studied for 2 years. However, that was 1964 and there was a lot going on in Berkeley, so Dan came back to participate in the action, graduating from Cal in 1966. Dan was arrested in the Sproul Hall sit-in, spent a night in the Santa Rita jail and later, given a choice of paying $350 bail or spending 3 weeks in jail, chose the latter. Dan remained politically concerned and active the rest of his life.
What then? Africa and the Peace Corps for a short stay, a year working at Chevron, followed by Boalt Law School, where he graduated in 1971. After practicing law at VISTA in Oregon for a year, Dan decided that skiing was more to his liking, so that's what he did for the next 4 years, working summers in a cannery.
When Dan returned to the Bay Area, his career included 20 years of tax-preparation at Suttle & company in San Francisco, and also included tour and commuter bus driving in the Bay Area and the Red Buses in Glacier National Park, a life goal, allowing Dan to do what he loved, seeing the world and sharing it with others.
Dan is survived by his two sisters, Margalit Mathan of Berkeley and Dalia Mathan of Magalia & Paradise; his brother-in-law Peter August; nephews Alon (Emilie) and Tal (Kim & Rose); and niece Siona (Toby). He remained good friends with both his first wife, Janis Plotkin, and his second wife, Julie Menack. And for the last 20 years, Dan & his loving partner, Beryl Voss, pretty much lived together when not traveling the world together, including Israel every few years where Dan remained close to his father's family. He is also survived by many, many cousins throughout the United States, South America & Israel whom he made it a point to stay in touch with; and a myriad of friends from hiking, politics, work, school and his skiing days.
As he requested, Dan was laid to rest at the Home of Eternity cemetery on March 16.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Apr. 4, 2023.
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Memories and Condolences
for Dan Barki

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Out of the blue I received an email from Dan only a few months before his passing. He was looking for my new mailing address as he wanted belatedly to send me one of his famous holiday cards. For some odd reason I recently decided to "Google" him and discovered he had passed away a year ago. Such sad news.

People's comments about Dan were so on point and brought a smile to my face. I had the good fortune of sharing an office with him for several years. He made an often tedious day quite tolerable and fun. We shared all kinds of stories. I have always been drawn to iconoclasts and thankfully Dan did not disappoint.

In our last email we recalled a Christmas Day hike with Janice through Bear Valley to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Needless to say it was a glorious and memorable day.

On this one year anniversary I took this photo from my home looking toward Berkeley. The candle-like reflections from the houses were a fitting celebration of Dan's memory.

As he would often say to folks..."Be well"

Bob Mischak

Friend

March 14, 2024

Dan was the first person I met when I moved into the building in 2004 and the friendliest. As my "parking neighbor", he was immediately welcoming, friendly, and helpful and I have appreciated his friendship ever since. He was good at smoothing things over and making peace when neighbors had conflicts. Our current HOA president cited Dan as the community leader he aspires to be. Watching how Dan enjoyed life - mid-week hikes, weekends in the city with Beryl, and many fabulous trips around the country and world with Beryl - I often told him that he made retirement look great and I couldn't wait. I will miss his friendly, easy-going, practical, matter-of-fact warmth, energy, and kindness. My condolences to Beryl and Dan's family.

Kim Smith

June 14, 2023

We're glad we got to know him. Dan was a special soul and will only remain in great memory. We will miss him but always remember him!
With love from Family Klich & Zarneckow, Germany

Melo and Alex

Friend

April 22, 2023

The Laffey Family

April 16, 2023

So sorry for this great loss. Dan was always kind, entertaining, and a real mensch.

Michelle Booth

April 10, 2023

Dan lived life to the hilt, as is so evident from this excellent account. As one of his many cousins, I was lucky enough to grow up knowing and admiring him and, being several years his junior, being influenced by him. His politics, activism, and passion for so many things-family, friends, social justice, hiking, skiing, travel, photography, local sports teams, and his beloved Beryl-never deserted him. If Dan felt strongly about something, whether it be a political figure, a sports team or a fruit pie, he was sure to let you know. He was wickedly smart, fiercely loyal to family and friends, occasionally maddening, and now deeply mourned and missed. From the bottom of my heart, condolences to his immediate and extended family, Beryl, Janis, Julie, and his large circle of close friends with whom he never lost contact. Dan´s memory will forever be a blessing to all who knew him.

Ruth Stroud

Family

April 10, 2023

To Margalit & Dalia and their families, and to Beryl Voss, I send my deepest sympathy to you all and was glad that I could visit with all of you last month. Dan's commitment to the FSM and his ongoing love of life have always been an inspiration to me. It meant a lot to meet up with all of my cousins and their families to talk about our lives with Dan.
Love, Anita

Anita Linker

April 9, 2023

Gale and Ken

April 9, 2023

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