At 93 years of age, Sylvia Berke-Forster, a long-time resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Born in the Bronx, New York, to Russian immigrant parents, she was a woman deeply committed to political and social causes.
She participated in peaceful demonstrations with such personalities as Paul Robeson and Pete Seeger in support of unions and campaigned to raise money for ambulances in Spain during the war against Franco.
During the war, Sylvia worked for the Signal Corps in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, assembling short-wave radio transmitters, and, as a consequence, was called to appear before the McCarthy Committee, which was looking for subversive activities in the Army.
She was the first person to be televised and became an unfriendly witness. Experiencing the fear that had taken hold of the country, her family and friends provided little support and unable to find employment, she had to leave New York with her son to start a new life in California.
A multitalented woman, Sylvia was witty, gracious, kind and loved by all who knew her. She loved to paint, write short stories and was a talented sculptress. She tackled life with passion and intelligence and like her son Bob, a noted criminal defense attorney who predeceased her, was a staunch fighter for human rights. Active in many liberal causes, she was employed for many years as a fundraiser for the University of Judaism (now known as the American Jewish University.)
She is survived by her husband, Emanuel, grandson Chad, niece Susan, nephew Jim, daughters Jamie and Martha and grandchildren Sam, Molly and Emily.
A Celebration of her Life will be held on Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church at 18th Street and Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica.
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