Werner Bein was born in Germany in 1930. He and his mother, widowed early, left for safety when he was eight. They spent a short time in Amsterdam and New York. When his mother's second husband adopted him, he became Warner Bein Oberndoerfer. The family moved to Dallas, Texas.
He became a true Southern gentleman, with characteristic speech and bearing. With a BA from Yale, he later studied at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. The pulpit was not for him. He would share his extensive Judaic knowledge in other ways throughout his life. A veteran of over 22 years' active and reserve service in the U.S. Air Force, he retired with the rank of Major.
Warner married his beloved wife Henrietta ("Bonnie") Sasson in 1962 and became a father figure to her daughters, Orna and Ilana. The couple weathered the loss of their home in the Oakland Hills fire, rebuilding on the Ocean View site. After her stroke, he tended to Bonnie until her death in 2007. He moved to the Lake Merritt, becoming part of that community-helping lead Passover Seder and lending his wonderful deep voice to the building's choir and at Shabbat services.
Warner served B'nai B'rith in leadership roles at the local, regional and national level for decades, beginning in 1978. He also held many leadership roles at Temple Sinai including Board President, and on other organizations' boards.
Professionally, he was a licensed life insurance agent with Prudential in the 1970s and 80's, earning his clients' trust and respect. These years of helping others plan ahead served him well as the Administrator of Temple Sinai's Home of Eternity cemetery for seven years. He helped countless families with compassion and dignity.
His ready laugh and the twinkle in his eye will be missed be many. Warner was predeceased by his wife Bonnie, and daughter Orna Sasson (Jim) He is survived by daughter Ilana MacIsaac (Paul) of Guerneville, and nephews in California. His family would appreciate donations in his honor to organizations he supported-Southern Poverty Law Center, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation, and Temple Sinai.
Services held Thursday, August 29, 2019 at 11:00 am, Home of Eternity Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Ave, Oakland.