It is with sadness that we report the death of Tsvi Epstein, of unknown causes on the morning of Friday, 3/12/21. He was 76.
Tsvi, also known as Howard, was born in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles in 1944. He met Bonnie Evans (now Navah Epstein) in high school, and their first date was the Senior prom. He danced off beat, Navah said, but he brought so much enthusiasm to the dancing that she found him interesting. He had strong morality and strong ideas. He was the first Jew she had met. They dated, and each lived at their respective childhood homes to attend Cal State LA. They married after graduation in 1965. They have been married almost 56 years, and together closer to 60 years.
He was raised as a secular Jew, but discovered his strong Jewish spiritual path with Navah when they were newly parenting three girls. They have been through Navah’s conversion to Judaism, and have re-married twice, once to have a Conservative Jewish wedding and later to have an Orthodox wedding when Navah had an Orthodox conversion to Judaism. He was passionately committed to observant Jewish practice, and was very active in two Portland, Oregon orthodox communities, and prior to that several Orthodox and Conservative Jewish communities in Silicon Valley, CA. He found soul connection with the joy of Breslov Chasidim, and via Rabbi Shelly Lewis found teachers in Rabbi David Zeller of beloved memory, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach of beloved memory, and Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, among many others. His latest Breslov find has been Rabbi Shlomo Katz.
He was a physicist and engineer and worked most of his professional life at Hewlett Packard in Silicon Valley. He was involved in the development of colored LEDs, including the LEDs now used in traffic lights. HP and its spin off companies hold his many patents. He retired at age 60 and very soon after learned he had cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He has been living with cancer and other health challenges for 17 years. As he said, he far outlived his expiration date by refusing the mainstream treatment of cancer and instead doing his own cancer research, and pioneering his own treatment journey, which has involved very low doses of western meds alongside herbal oncology protocols. Other doctors and patients now follow his successful path of cancer treatment, including his middle daughter Jenny Epstein Kessem.
He was an oddball, famous for roller skating with Navah to synagogue in the 1980’s to observe Shabbat while also attending a shul that was 7 miles away. He loved dancing on Shabbat, to the delight and embarrassment of his fellow Orthodox shul-goers. He could not carry a tune, and never became fluent in Hebrew, but he insisted on singing every word of every prayer he could, even as he struggled with the Hebrew and the melody. He refused to have shame about his social awkwardness and his enthusiasm for Judaism came from a very pure place.
He is survived by his wife Navah Bonnie Epstein, his three daughters Lily (Epstein) Halem, Jenny Epstein Kessem and Dorothy Epstein. He has six grandchildren, Avi Halem, Hannah Halem, Raya Kessem, Wilder Kessem, Sidney Epstein and Zachary Epstein. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Saltzman.
He will be dearly missed. We send our condolences to Navah and the Epstein family, and hold them in our hearts at this difficult time.
