Deacon Paul Frumkin

Deacon Paul Frumkin, a longtime advocate of social justice and deacon at St. Clement Parish in Hayward, died June 5 in Hayward at the age of 86.

Bishop John Cummins receives Paul Frumkin as a candidate for the permanent diaconate during ceremonies at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Oakland in April 1980. JOHN WRIGHT PHOTO

A native of San Francisco, Frumkin graduated from Washington High School in San Francisco in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War. He operated a business as a cabinet maker with his brother in San Francisco before moving to Hayward in 1952. There he spent 30 years working as a manager at Florsheim Shoes at Grodin’s Department Store.

A faith-filled man, his beliefs moved him to pursue a life of service and become an advocate for people in need. For many years, he and other activists took a public stand for justice on Jackson Street in Hayward, holding signs that included messages like “No Room for Racism.”

He became active in a number of ecumenical and social service programs and worked to help establish the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO), which serves homeless families in southern Alameda County.

“He was a man so full of love and concern for others that ‘social justice’ should have been his middle name,” said Gladys Radecke, a friend and former principal at St. Clement School.

Radecke noted that Frumkin also worked to help senior citizens and campaigned for handicapped parking and better access for the disabled at churches. “He was an incredible man who put his words into action.”

The desire to help others also led Frumkin to become a permanent deacon. Ordained in December 1982, he served at St. Clement Parish for 25 years.

“To me, he was a model of what a deacon should be,” said Bill Ford, a member at St. Clement Parish and diocesan director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). “He was a very kind person and was heavily involved in social justice and peace issues — you could count on that for his homilies.”

The deacon was also a model “in loving care” for his wife, Joan, who lived for many years in ill health before her death in 2000, Ford said. “He was a great man.”

Survivors include his sons, Paul Frumkin III and his companion Emma Lerew of Hayward; and Christopher Frumkin and his wife, Lydia Bueschel, of Chicago; daughters, Kathleen Frumkin Lakoff and her husband, George Lakoff, of Berkeley; and Cecile Penland and her husband, Steven Penland, of Castro Valley; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The funeral Mass took place June 14 at Our Lady of Grace Church in Castro Valley; the committal service followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Contributions in Deacon Frumkin’s memory may be made to FESCO, 21455 Birch St., Hayward, CA 94541.

Sister Patricia Kenny, SNJM

Sister Patricia Kenny, a vowed member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary for 61 years, died June 9 at the Convent of the Holy Names in Los Gatos at the age of 80.

Born in San Francisco, much of her education was with the Holy Names Sisters at Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Names High School and Holy Names University, all in Oakland. She earned her master’s degree in Latin at the University of Michigan.

Sister Kenny, formerly known as Sister Mary Bartholomew, spent 36 years as an educator in elementary and secondary schools in both northern and southern California. In the Oakland Diocese she returned to Holy Names High School in Oakland as a teacher in 1956, and taught there again from 1964-72 and 1981-84. She served as dean of students at the school from 1969-72.

She also worked at St. Cecilia School in San Francisco for five years and at Marin Catholic High School. In later years Sister Kenny worked for NETWORK, a social justice lobby group in Washington, D.C. — a brief assignment that reflected her commitment to issues of justice.

She also worked as an administrative assistant in community offices as well as at Sacred Heart Parish in San Francisco, St. John of God Parish, San Francisco, and Presentation Convent in San Francisco. She was a volunteer tutor at the Next Step Learning Center in Oakland in 2001. She moved to Los Gatos in 2007.

Survivors include her brothers, Father Ray Kenny and Bertram Kenny; niece, Patricia Fabian; grand nieces and nephews, and cousins.

The funeral Mass was held June 13 at the Convent of the Holy Names in Los Gatos; burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Donations in her memory may be made to the Ministry Fund, Sisters of the Holy Names, P.O. Box 907, Los Gatos, CA 95031.

Father Kenny Scott, OFM

Franciscan Father Kenny Scott, who spent 27 years on the staff at St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland, died May 25 at age 79.

Born in Oakland, he grew up in St Elizabeth Parish where he attended the elementary school. He joined the Franciscan order in 1950 and professed solemn (lifetime) vows in 1954 before being ordained to the priesthood in 1958 by Bishop Timothy Manning at Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Father Scott spent four years at a parish in Phoenix, Arizona, seven years at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix and three years at Serra High in Salem, Oregon, before joining the staff at St. Elizabeth. During his long term there he primarily filled the role of in-house media person, helping and encouraging both teachers and students to use media as a way of learning. He retired from the school in June 1996.

While at St. Elizabeth, Father Scott also ministered to the Dominican Sisters at their convent, celebrating daily Mass. In retirement he was also chaplain to Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland and he became a spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscans in Oakland.

Survivors include his brothers, Vincent J. Scott and his wife, Theresa, of Modesto; Donald K. Scott and his wife, Anna, of Sacramento; sister, Mary D. Falls and her husband, Frank, of Oakland; and sister-in-law Wynifred Scott of San Lorenzo. He was a favorite uncle to many nieces and nephews, including Father Vincent J. Scott, pastor of Assumption Parish in San Leandro.

The funeral Mass was held June 1 at St. Elizabeth Church in Oakland; burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oakland. Donations in Father Scott’s memory (for the care of senior friars) may be sent to the Fraternal Care Trust – Province of St. Barbara, 1500 – 34th Ave., Oakland, CA 94601.

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