Carl Bronstein

  Carl Bronstein Age 54, died of a heart attack on April 23rd, 2009. A lover of life, Carl lived with eagerness and intensity. He laughed often, loved deeply, and cared for all. His life can best be described as a series of adventures. As a teenager, Carl and friends enjoyed summers at Lake Pinecrest, camping under the stars and living life well. Winters were spent carving up trails at Dodge Ridge ski resort. When he couldn't find a ride, he wasn't discouraged; he'd simply hitchhike the 150 miles from Palo Alto. Carl loved to travel. As a young man, he backpacked around Europe, then lived on a Kibbutz in Israel and served as a guard, defending against terrorist attacks. He often hit the road on his old Honda motorcycle, then later in life in his Camaro Z28 convertible, cruising to the tune of the Grateful Dead. He enjoyed the journey, usually more than the destination. An artist in the kitchen, with a passion for cooking, Carl always enjoyed sharing a good meal with friends. He loved spice, both in his food and in his life. Generous with both time and money, Carl believed in mentoring and freely provided guidance and support to local community groups, and those who were going through tough times. His good heart led him to become a true "mensch." A salesman, a restaurant owner, a stockbroker, and a venture capitalist, his success as a businessman was the natural result of his magnetic personality and thirst for knowledge. A graduate of Palo Alto High School, Carl obtained a degree in Business Economics from UC Santa Barbara. Love was an adventure Carl embraced with passion. A charming man, he always had a woman in his life, most significantly his first marriage to Leila Joslyn (the mother of his children), his second marriage to Kristina Stein-Angotti, and recently the joyful reconnection with his high school sweet heart, Anne Wernick. Carl's greatest adventure was as a father-sharing his love for life with his sons. He was a scout parent and wrestling dad, and was quick to encourage his sons' own adventures. He was always proud of them and they were, for the most part, his world. Carl is survived by his two sons, Ari, 28, and Ian, 24, his mother, Leona, his three brothers, Eliot, Alan, and David, his uncle, Jerry, his aunt, Helen, a large extended family, and a lifetime of devoted friends. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 28th, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the Deer Park Villa, 367 Bolinas Rd., Fairfax, CA. To attend, please contact Ian Bronstein: ian_bronstein@yahoo.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Carl Bronstein Memorial Scholarship at the Marin Education Fund, 781 Lincoln Ave., Suite 140, San Rafael, CA 94901.