Harold Shratter
Harold Shratter, 86, of San Francisco passed away peacefully in the early morning on April 6, 2012 of natural causes. Harold was born in Pittsburgh, PA on February 15, 1926 to Esther and Eliyahu Shratter.
The youngest of 6 children, Harold attended Peabody High School in Pittsburgh and went on to Carnegie Tech where he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Harold left college to serve in the US Navy during WWII and finished his degree upon return. He eventually started his own mechanical and consulting engineering business. In 1956 he married Elinor Zuckerman. When Elinor died unexpectedly of leukemia shortly after the birth of their son, Harold cared for his 6 month- old baby while working to establish his business.
In 1959 he met and married Shirley Davis also of Pittsburgh. They resided in Squirrel Hill, then later Fox Chapel, while raising their family of one son and two daughters. In 1985 Harold moved to San Francisco, CA to be near his adult children. He worked for Kennedy Jenks Chilton and Guttman McRitchie engineering firms before retiring in 2005. Harold Shratter loved tennis, long walks, collecting old books, antique toys, and WWII memorabilia. He also spent many hours meticulously building replica model ships.
Harold is survived by his children, Lee Shratter (Kelly) of Kentfield, Donna Schmidt (Bill) of Burbank, and Amy Phillips (Tim) of Venice, CA and by grandchildren, Samantha Shratter, Rebecca and Louis Schmidt, and Audrey Phillips. He is also survived by his brother Morris Shratter (Shirley) of Pittsburgh PA and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by family and friends, and the caring professional staff of the Jewish Home.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 10:00AM at Eternal Home Cemetery, 1051 El Camino Real in Colma, CA. A reception will follow at the home of Dr. Lee Shratter of Kentfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harold’s name to the Jewish Home for the Aged, 302 Silver Avenue, SF, CA 94112 (contact person Sherie Koshover (415) 406-1107).
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