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BORN
1922
DIED
2015
FUNERAL HOME
Heinz Frankenstein Obituary
Born in Swinemünde, Germany, in 1922, Heinz fled the Nazis with his parents and older sister, Carla, to arrive in Shanghai, China, in 1939. Having apprenticed as a baker in Germany, Heinz carried on his trade in Shanghai and courted a local schoolteacher, Ingeborg ("Inge") Kaufman, with special deliveries of cookies and cake. Heinz and Inge married in 1946. When the Communists rose to power in China, Heinz and his young bride fled yet again, to the United States.
Arriving in San Francisco, California, in 1948, Heinz and Inge fell in love with The City and made it their home. Heinz worked for local bakeshops before partnering with Inge to acquire and operate Ahrens Bakery, a San Francisco institution on Van Ness and Jackson, for 28 years.
During the course of their nearly 60-year marriage, Heinz and Inge devoted themselves to a family that includes daughters Susan (John) Dean and the late Ruth Davis; grandchildren Kim (Joseph), Scott (Megan), Megan (Brett), Michael (Allison), and Melissa; great-grandchildren Gabriel, Luke, Sam, Hudson, and Sawyer; niece Judy Kolb; and his late nephew Ernie Fleischer. Inge passed away in 2006.
For the last seventeen years, Heinz lived a full and active life in the heart of San Francisco. Much as he escaped the Nazis and the Communists, so to did he manage to evade seemingly every conceivable challenge of aging. Heinz maintained an inspired life on the town-patronizing the fine arts, playing bridge, driving, dining, oil painting, swimming, and affably making wisecracks with his family until the bittersweet end.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 15th at 1:00 p.m. at Sinai Memorial Chapel, 1501 Divisadero St. at Geary Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to in Heinz's honor to the Jewish Family and Children's Services of SF, the Jewish Home for the Aged of SF, or the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Israel.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Heinz Frankenstein
Sponsored by Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha.
Karl-Heinz Nieren
November 3, 2023
I'm very sad that I didn't find and get in touch to Heinz sooner because I'm related and friend with Helene Kleeberg's granddaughter. Helene was sister of Heinz's grandmother-in-law Caecilie Kleeberg, who my relative called "Aunt Cilli". Helene was married to Siegmund Gruenewald,.
I am living in Geilenkirchen where Inge's second cousin, Friederike, is living too.
I would be happy if I would succeed in putting Friederike and Susan and Heinz and Inge's grandchildren in touch.
Karl-Heinz Nieren, Geilenkirchen, Germany
Colette
July 6, 2018
To this day I have fond memories of the bakery. Although I did not personally know Heinz my childhood was filled with his gifts!
Harvey Schwartz
July 23, 2017
I am very grateful to Heinz for giving me a job as an apprentice at Ahren's Bakery in 1971. I was fresh out of college and almost out of money and he gave me the chance to learn and grow. He was a very kind and mature boss and human being. He always poked kind fun of me as the baker with the college degree!
Victoria zitrin
December 7, 2015
Susan
I am so sorry for your loss. I've been trying to find your telephone number with no success. your father was an incredible person. he inspired me and enlightened my beliefs through his kindness, creativity and strength. the art school has not been the same without him. please call me when you can.
Victoria Zitrin
415.218.6828
robert hsi
November 25, 2015
Heinz and I & my sister Julia were painting together at Jean Henry School of Art for many years. We became friends and had many happy hours together. After Inge died, we and Victoria, another close friend, visited Heinz at his penthouse. Heinz was an excellent oil painter and a prefect gentleman.
Since Heinz lived many years in Shanghai (My sister and I grew up there too), sometimes we spoke to each other in Shanghai dialect just for fun. I had such a good time chatting privately with Heinz when I was invited to have lunch at his dinning hall; it's most memorable.
Both Heinz and Julia are avid collectors of Chinese antiques. I remembered that when we were at his penthouse, he showed us the collection of Chinese sniff bottles. Julia has some similar collections. I was wishing if the family has any intention of selling the collection, it would be wonderful that Julia buy it. And later donate the combined collection to the Chinese Museum here. Julia was born 1921. She always wants that one day the general public would be able to share and enjoy these art pieces.
Heinz
has lived such a colorful and rich life. He will be missed very, very much.
robert
November 17, 2015
Heinz & Inge were very close friend's of my grandmother, Edith. They were the sweetest couple and I very much enjoyed seeing them at events that my grandmother hosted. May Heinz's memory be a blessing. Now he is together at peace with his beloved, Inge. Marion Deutsch
George Ishikata
November 15, 2015
My heartfelt condolences on your loss. Mr. Frankenstein was a great person and will be deeply missed.
George Ishikata
November 15, 2015
Mr. Frankenstein was a great person, and he'll be missed greatly. I'll remember him fondly because he provided my father a job when no one else would (back in 1964), then ended up hiring a number of the Ishikata clan during his years as the owner of Ahren's Bakery. I worked there three summers while in high school and it was my first job. To this day, 38 years later, we in the Ishikata family continue to recall our experiences at Ahren's Bakery and under the careful guidance of Mr Frankenstein. He'll be remembered and missed.
November 15, 2015
Ahrens Bakery! Went there quite a lot with my mom when I was a young girl. Thank you and God Bless Mr. Frankenstein & Family
Judith Rosenthal Schwartz
November 15, 2015
A kind and elegant man, may his memory be for a blessing.
David Giovannini
November 15, 2015
Heinz's is a man to be admired. God Bless!
Mark Budak
November 14, 2015
My sincere condolences go out to the entire family.
Carl Milfeit
November 14, 2015
A lovely man. Heinz's story is the story of the 20th century.
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
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Memorial Events
for Heinz Frankenstein
Nov
15
Funeral service
1:00 p.m.
Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha1501 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Funeral services provided by:
Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha1501 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
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