Arthur Joseph

Arthur Joseph, beloved father, husband, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 22. He was 84 and led a rich and active life nearly to the end, when a series of health setbacks finally slowed him down. Then, in his final months, he received an outpouring of love and attention from his large circle of friends and family, who were with him in his final days.

Born in Brooklyn in 1932 to Selma Brunwasser and Leonard Joseph, Art grew up modestly during the Great Depression, and from a young age, was a devoted fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Frank Sinatra. At 13, he became a bar mitzvah. After graduating from Midway High School, Art enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 and served overseas in Casablanca. He liked to joke that he “flew a typewriter.” In 1960, after his father suffered a heart attack, Art was discharged early from the service to return home. His father died a few years later and from that time on, Art took care of his mother.

Art followed the Dodgers out to LA to set up a business with his cousins Marian and Don Dewitt. Art would become the General Manager of Dewitt Tool where he worked until his retirement. In Los Angeles, Art married his first wife, Ellen, and adopted her two sons Paul and Brian. Together, Art and Ellen adopted his daughter Karen. When Ellen died tragically from a long battle with breast cancer in 1974, Art became a single parent. He met and married his second wife Shirley in 1976. They blended his three children with Shirley’s two daughters, and their home in Tarzana became a magnet for friends and family. Art and Shirley joined Temple Judea and formed a Havurah. They enjoyed an active social life with their friends and traveled throughout the world. Art enjoyed bowling, golf and tennis. Art had weekly games for years with his friends, and when he could no longer play, they still got together every week for a breakfast or lunch.

Art loved good food and a stiff drink, and always liked to have the game on, whether it was the Dodgers, the Lakers or college football. He especially delighted in being “Poppy” to his seven grandchildren, Zia, Angelika, Isabel, Max, Seraphina, Ben and Ruby. They infused his life with sweetness, and at times, chaos.

After his wife Shirley died in 2007, Art found love once again with Beverly Dolin, who was his devoted companion in recent years. She survives him, along with his children Brian Joseph, Karen Joseph and Paul Joseph, his step children Elizabeth Grossman and Roberta Grossman, his daughters-in-law Lisa Joseph and Sophie Sartain, and his grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Art’s honor to Temple Judea’s Ellen M. Rose Caring Community Fund

Provides resources to help the congregation care for our members during times of extraordinary need. http://www.templejudea.com/give/directed-funds/