Edith Arnstein Jenkins

JENKINS, Edith Arnstein - Died on October 20, 2005 in her home in the Haight Ashbury. She was 92 and the matriarch of a large extended family of children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. A poet and retired teacher she became active in progressive causes as a student at UC Berkeley in the 30's. Her interest in the world of art and ideas was accompanied by her passionate devotion to social justice. A forth-generation San Franciscan, her German Jewish grandparents came to San Francisco in the 1850s seeking refuge from the anti Semitism of Europe. In her late 20s she married Dave Jenkins, a longshoreman, labor organizer and political consultant. The center of a large group of friends, their long and happy marriage produced four children: Becky, Margaret, David and Rachel; and seven grandchildren: Stephan, Miranda, Joshua, Leslie, Pablo, Anya and Rosie. A Memorial celebrating her life and her poetry will be held on Saturday, January 7th, 2006, at 3:00 PM at the Unitarian Center, Franklin St. at Geary. The family suggests contributions be sent to Amnesty International, the Labor Archive at SFSU, or Small Press Traffic.