Minna Brin, one of the founding members of the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue, died Sept. 20 from complications from a recent fall. She was 85.
A longtime Pacific Palisades resident, Brin was born in Latvia. To escape the devastation of war, her father came to America, bringing his wife, four daughters and his son over later in 1928. The family settled in Brooklyn. As a child Brin loved music and played the piano and the cello.
In the ’40s, Brin married her first husband, Julie Frank, but the couple suffered a double tragedy when they lost their 5-year-old son, Bobbie, to leukemia and later on, another son, Jesse, who was in his 50s, to AIDS.
Divorced in the late ’50s, she moved with Jesse to California with very little money, finding work as a secretary. With her tenacity, she created a thriving carpet business and was able to put Jesse through college. She later became a color consultant and worked on the Sunset Mesa.
She married Herb Brin in 1965, who was the publisher of The Heritage, a Jewish newspaper. The couple purchased a home in Malibu. With the luxury of more free time, and a renewed interest in education, she enrolled at Santa Monica College at the age of 52. In 1980, she and Herb divorced.
Described as vivacious and bright, she finally received her Ph.D. in psychology when she was 75.
Brin was a regular volunteer at the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue, and although she didn’t see well toward the end of her life, she gamely answered the phones and greeted visitors. The center was her second home.
Sharing her thoughts of her friend at Brin’s funeral on Sept. 23, Marilyn Berga spoke of Brin’s love of life and sense of humor, saying she was a “fashion plate and adored looking good. She even wore high heels to the miniature golf course.” She also spoke of the unconditional love she received from her friend.
Minna Brin is survived by her brother, Hy Burman, her sister, Harriet Radin, seven nieces and nephews and many grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews.