Elaine Barbara Socol

Socol, Elaine Barbara was born in 1937 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to the late Molly and Hy Rossman. She was raised in Toronto with her brother, Jerry, who predeceased her in 1987.

Elaine married Harvey Socol in 1958 in Toronto, where she taught elementary school. They were together for 62 years. Following Harvey’s medical school graduation and internship in Toronto, they moved to Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto, where Harvey was the community’s beloved family doctor. Elaine assisted Harvey in his office for many years. In 1970, they moved a few miles south to Thornhill, and in 1977 and with two young sons, they moved to Fullerton, California.

While still in Canada, Elaine was a National Board member of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada as a life member and served in many board capacities of her local NCJW chapter.

As the boys grew older, Elaine and Harvey traveled the world, enjoying close to 25 cruises and many land tours together. They visited friends and family in Toronto annually for as long as their health allowed.

Upon arriving in Fullerton, Elaine and Harvey became active members of their local synagogue, Temple Beth Tikvah, and remained active members for over 45 years. Elaine served on the board many of those years. Elaine was also a board member of the NCJW in North Orange County, the Jewish Federation of Orange County, and the Orange County Bureau of Jewish Education. She sat on the first Chapter Council Board of Heritage Pointe, Orange County’s Jewish Home for the Aging, and served on many committees as well as on the board of their local Fullerton Chapter. Elaine was also a board member and Life Member of ORT America, Fullerton/North Orange County Chapter.

Elaine taught pre-school and kindergarten in Fullerton. She also collected coins and stamps and was the family historian. She was a supporter of many Jewish and secular causes.

Predeceased by her beloved Harvey, who passed away in 2020, she is survived by their two sons of whom she was so proud, David (Ayala) and Marc (Margie) of Rancho Palos Verdes, California and Sarasota, Florida, respectively, and 6 grandchildren, Samuel, Eliana, Naya, Ezra, Anna and Julia, whom she loved very much. Also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lionel and Carol Socol and family in the Los Angeles area, sister-in-law Gert Rossman, and family in Toronto and Calgary, cousins in Israel, Buenos Aires, CapeTown, South Africa, Port Moody, B.C. and others in Southern Ontario and Chicago.

Elaine was always grateful for the life she was able to enjoy with her family and friends, and she will be missed by those who knew and loved her. May her memory be a blessing.

Donations in Elaine’s memory can be made to Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton, Congregation Ner Tamid in Rancho Palos Verdes, ORT America, City of Hope, Hadassah, or any charity of your choice.

Elaine’s funeral will be conducted at the Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM.