Obituary of Adrienne Josephine Stein

Long-time Santa Cruz County resident Adrienne Stein passed away on August 11th; she would have celebrated her 89th birthday on November 15, 2013. Born in New York City, Adrienne Bakst Stein received her Bachelors Degree from the City College of New York in the School of Business, a rare feat for women in those days. She met her husband of 67 years, Jack Stein, in Chicago where he was attending the University of Chicago. They were married on June 18, 1946 and moved to Southern California in 1949. The Steins eventually settled in Long Beach where Adrienne was active in the local Jewish community serving as President of the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Welfare Fund and Camp Komoroff. While raising her three children, Adrienne attended law school at night, received her JD degree in 1967, and practiced law in Long Beach, where she later became partner in the firm of Gottlieb, Gottlieb and Stein. She was a long-time activist for peace and civil rights, and during the Vietnam War provided pro-bono draft counseling to numerous young men who were opposed to the war. Adrienne and Jack moved to the Santa Cruz area in the late 1970's, but Adrienne continued her law practice in Long Beach, flying to southern California every week and returning home to Santa Cruz to enjoy the weekends. She eventually closed her practice in Long Beach but continued to be active in the legal community, most notably with the Santa Cruz Women's Lawyers Association where she served in leadership positions, including as its president. For many years Adrienne and Jack hosted the annual holiday party for the Women Lawyers in their home in Santa Cruz Gardens. She also served on the board of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association. Instead of actually retiring when she closed her practice, she worked into her mid-80's as an Administrative Law Judge and Hearing Officer relating to mental health issues, and served with distinction in that position for years, protecting the rights of the mentally ill, but also protecting the public from those who were a danger to others. Adrienne Stein accomplished much in her 87 years. A true pioneer for women's rights as a college and law student, as a partner in a law firm and as an activist in her community. She is survived by her husband Jack, age 94, now a resident of Oak Tree Villa in Scotts Valley, son and daughter-in-law Gilbert and Mimi Stein of Aptos, son and daughter-in-law Harvey and Elinor Stein of Saratoga, NY, daughter Peggy Stein and son-in-law Doug Wheeler of Berkeley, as well as seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins-- all who join in remembrance and appreciation of her life.