Leah Weinstein Resident of Lafayette Leah, was born on September 18, 1938 in New Orleans, Louisiana and passed away on June 10, 2013. Leah is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Richard Weinstein, her 3 children Amy Peterson (Eric), Emily Galdes (Frank), David Weinstein (Luba), her 6 grandchildren Sarah, Ben, Jacob, Hannah, Raquel and Talia, her brother Richard Buckman (Kathy), sister-in-law Steffi Weinstein (and late brother-in-law Bentley Weinstein) and nephews Brian Buckman (Cathy), Shepard Buckman and niece Ellen Buckman and many other loving cousins and friends. She was the adoring daughter of the late Ben and Martha Buckman. Leah and Richard both "Southerners" have lived in Northern California for 45 years. The life they built has touched and enriched many lives. They loved to travel, spend time in Geyserville, but most of all they took care of each other and the family and friends they love. Leah built many beautiful and lasting memories in our community. She was instrumental in creating the first hospice boutique in Walnut Creek. The program has grown exponentially and endures today. In its humble beginnings, Leah loved to volunteer and run the small shop. In the early 1980s she assumed a leadership role in designing and building the sanctuary and the surrounding buildings at Congregation B'Nai Shalom. The building has seen a few updates in the last 30 years but the essence of what she built is the core of the synagogue today. Leah, along with her husband Richard, helped to envision and bring to life the Contra Costa Jewish Day School in Lafayette. She was on the committee that helped to fund the school and build the permanent structure that the school is housed in today. Leah loved gardening, music and tennis. She was good at all of them but more than her talents or abilities, she loved these activities. She was a master gardener, a pianist who delighted her family with her musical talents and a tennis player who brought joy to herself and her opponents on the court. She appreciated the beauty that simple things provided: sunsets, flowers in the garden or in a vase, a good match with her "old" tennis friends and the lunches that followed, or participating in water exercise with the ladies. Leah's warmth, smile and gracious demeanor were felt by all who knew her. Her passing leaves a void for all of us but her memory will forever be a blessing. The funeral service will be held at 11am, Thursday June 13 at Gan Shalom Cemetery in Briones, CA. Donations in Leah's memory may be sent to Congregation B'Nai Shalom 74 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek, CA 94596 or to the Leah Weinstein Memorial Fund at the Contra Costa Jewish Day School 955 Risa Road, Lafayette, CA 94549.
Published in Contra Costa Times on June 13, 2013