By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Michael Jeser, 45, died Saturday, July 24, from the esophogeal cancer that had prompted him to go on leave as president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
His death was announced on Facebook by his wife, Laura, who wrote: “It is with the greatest broken heart that I announce that my dearest beloved, Michael, passed away peacefully today on Shabbat, July 24, 2021. He was surrounded by his family with his daughter bestowing kisses upon his head. Memorial details to follow. Thank all of you, for all the love and support through this nightmare of a journey. May his memory forever be for a blessing.”
Hundreds of letters of condolence were posted in response to Mrs. Jeser’s announcement. Heidi Gantwerk, who became interim CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, following Michael Jeser’s resignation, responded with a personal note, as did the many San Diego County residents who knew him: “Sending all of my love to you, Eleanore, Faye, Paul and all of your loved ones. May his memory be for a blessing for you all,” Gantwerk wrote.
Jeser had announced in June that he was terminating his cancer treatment, and that he was at peace with his decision.
At that time, he wrote:
“After discovering that the tumors continued to grow and spread despite the last round of chemo, we worked with our oncologist to explore treatment options, sought input from multiple doctors and cancer centers around the country, looked into clinical trials everywhere, and conducted further genetic tests to see if a particular targeted immunotherapy might help. While I could try chemo, that is the worst option of all, with little evidence that it could help and all likelihood that it would just make me sick and suffer. My oncologist offered an immunotherapy option, but admitted it was a bad option in that it carries significant risks of infection that could shorten my life and also Cause suffering that I’m not willing to take. As we considered the risks and the rewards, it became clear to me that none of the options are viable and that I need to focus on my quality of life at this point. While we continue to fight this dreaded disease, we are changing the terms of the fight. It is no longer about extending my life at all costs but about helping me live the life I have left the way I want to live it. I am so sad to share this update with you all, as we have been fighting for so long together.
“I will say that as difficult as this decision was, I feel at peace with it. To know that I am no longer going to suffer is a tremendous relief to me. It is pure torture to admit the cancer is going to win but that is the reality of it that I have come to accept. With Laura and Eleanore at my side, I’ve fought a valiant battle these past nearly 4 years. Laura and I have been embraced by so many of you. We feel the love.
“The next steps are to sign up to receive hospice care which we plan to do sometime over the next week. We don’t know how much time I have left or whether we are looking at weeks or months (hopefully, the latter), but the hospice will do what it does best; that is to ensure I am pain free and comfortable as the cancer progresses.
“I recognize that many of you will not know how to respond to this news. There truly is no right thing to say. Please continue to pray for me if you would like. I am formulating an idea for a project that will help Eleanore know who her daddy was that I plan to ask you to participate in. Stay tuned for more details as I’m sure many will want to know what they can do to support us.”
Before being appointed in August 2018 as President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Jeser had served for three years as the director of financial resource development for the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Before that he had served as executive director of Jewish World Watch, calling attention to mass atrocities in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and earlier as executive director of the USC Hillel Foundation.
A graduate of Hebrew Union College (BA) and the University of Southern California (MSW), was the recipient in 20212 of the Excellence in Development Award from Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Earlier this month, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion awarded Jeser its Sherut L’Am Award, recognizing “exceptional service to the College-Institute or to the Jewish people.”
May his memory be for a blessing
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The Jewish Federation of San Diego County made this announcement about funeral services and shiva minyans for Michael Jeser:
Funeral services for Michael Jeser z”l will be held on Wednesday, July 28 at 12:30pm. The funeral will take place at Mount Sinai Simi Valley, located at 6150 Mount Sinai Drive in Simi Valley. Adhering to Covid-19 mandates, masks must be worn at Mount Sinai. The funeral will also be livestreamed; a livestream link will be forthcoming.
The following is the schedule of shiva minyans that will take place in San Diego at the Jeser home:
Thursday evening, July 29
Saturday evening, July 31
Sunday evening, August 1
Monday evening, August 2Visiting Hours will be from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with the minyan beginning at 6:30pm. The family requests that only vaccinated individuals visit the shiva house.
On Friday, July 30 at 7:00pm, the Jeser family will be at Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Am, located at 5050 Del Mar Heights Road. As per Beth Am policy, all attendees must wear a mask while indoors (even if vaccinated).
There will be a memorial service to mark the conclusion of Sheloshim (the 30-day mourning period) to be held at Congregation Beth Am in San Diego. Further details of that service will be forthcoming.
Michael truly embodied the gold standard of Jewish Communal Professionals. We are proud to announce the creation of a fund in his honor for an annual Michael Jeser Outstanding Jewish Professional Award recognizing an up-and-coming Jewish communal professional in San Diego, and providing significant funding for professional development and/or travel to Israel. To contribute or to learn more, CLICK HERE.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com Free obituaries in memory of members of the San Diego County Jewish community are sponsored on San Diego Jewish World by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.
The Jewish Federation of San Diego County issued this comment:
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
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It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of Michael Jeser, a beloved and devoted husband, father, son, brother and community leader. It is impossible to convey in a few paragraphs the ways in which Michael has strengthened our community since moving to San Diego only four years ago. He brought consummate skill and a lifelong devotion to Jewish communal work to his tenure at Federation, and the entire Jewish Community here in San Diego along with our partners abroad were elevated as a result. For all of us who had the joy of working with and knowing Michael personally, we share enormous gratitude for all the ways he enriched our lives, and a terrible sense of loss at his passing. We send our condolences to his family and all those who loved him. To learn more about Michael’s life and career visit: https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/…/in-memoriam-michael…
This is a difficult time for our community, but Michael’s vision for the San Diego Jewish community and the Jewish people around the world lives on at Federation and in all of us. We will continue to dream big and work hard to see his vision fulfilled.
May his memory be for a blessing for his family and for all those whose lives he touched.
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I met, and became friends with, Michael during his time working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland (Oregon). I think you inadvertently left out that part of his career track which led him directly to his position in San Diego. He showed great resilience and strength through out his long struggle with cancer which, unfortunately, began during his time in Portland. My thoughts go to his wife and little daughter. May his memory be a blessing always.