Nancy Elliott Surkin

Nancy Elliott Surkin Died peacefully on October 3, 2007 at home in San Francisco. Daughter of the late Celia Landy Elliott and Leo E. Elliott of Chicago. Beloved sister of the late Susan Preston and the late Bettie Fishbein. Born in Chicago at the old Lying-in Hospital, December 6, 1926. Attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and graduated from the University of Chicago. Married the late Milton J. Surkin, "who dragged me off to Dubuque, Iowa in 1949." After moving to San Francisco in 1960 with Milton and her two daughters, Janet and Debra, she worked with the Winfield Scott, Alamo and Presidio Junior High School PTAs, the Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-el, the National Council of Jewish Women and Mount Zion Auxiliary. In later years she was a docent at Temple Emanu-el. Nancy taught in the San Francisco Community Colleges from 1965 until her retirement in 1991. She maintained friendships from these years for the rest of her life. She and Milton traveled extensively, sometimes with the girls and sometimes with friends. They went to Outer Mongolia and Timbuktu, as well as more convenient places. They had a lot of fun together until his death in 2001. In later years she rediscovered the joys of bridge and took lessons at the temple, where she made new dear friends. Nancy leaves many friends, old and new and is survived by her sister-in-law Bernys Surkin Nierman Levin and her husband Richard Levin; brother-in-law, Robert Fishbein and wonderful (her words) daughters, Janet Surkin and husband, Robert Stillman and Debra Surkin Perloff and husband, James Perloff; grandsons, Jacob and Ethan Stillman; nieces, Fran Cey and Toby Rubin; Barbara Taborek and Bonnie Preston; nephews, Paul and James Nierman; Jim Fishbein and Bill Preston and their families. Memorial Service on Monday, October 8 at 11 a.m. at Temple Emanu-el, 2 Lake, San Francisco. Donations can be made to the National Council of Jewish Women, San Francisco, Section, 2000 Van Ness Ave., Suite 411, San Francisco, CA 94109.