Roy D. Kaufman obituary

Roy D. Kaufman Obituary

Los angeles, California, United States

March 04, 1940 - September 21, 2016

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Roy D. Kaufman obituary

Roy D. Kaufman Obituary

Mar 04, 1940 - Sep 21, 2016

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March 4, 1940 - September 21, 2016 Roy D. Kaufman, trusted and beloved long-time entertainment business manager, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, and devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 following a multi-year struggle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Roy was predeceased by his wife, Judi, who passed away one year ago to the day, following a well-chronicled courageous 18-year battle against brain cancer, a journey that served as an inspiration to thousands of people. Roy was born on March 4, 1940 in New York City. He spent his early years with his parents and two brothers in The Bronx, during which time he developed his lifelong passion for the New York Yankees, one he was able to pass on to his two grandsons. As a teenager, Roy moved with his family to Queens, where he graduated from Bayside High School. He enrolled at NYU, studied accounting and landed his first professional position with Arthur Andersen in Manhattan after graduating. Within a few years, Roy felt the pull of the West Coast, driving cross country in a '63 Buick convertible to establish a new home in Los Angeles. He joined the CPA firm of Pritkin, Finkel & Co. in May, 1964 where he met Howard M. Bernstein. Roy and Howard worked together, became very close friends and left that firm together in December, 1967, for the Century City firm Irving Leonard & Associates in the business management field. Irving Leonard passed in 1969 and Roy and Howard formed Kaufman + Bernstein, Inc. in August, 1970 and were partners ever since. For the past five decades, Century City remained Roy and Howard's business home, with the exception of a three year gap. In 1966, Roy's life changed forever when he met a petite, brown-eyed beauty named Judi on a blind date. Within 6 months, Judi and Roy fell in love and were married, starting their lives together in their first home in Granada Hills. Roy's business continued to blossom, as did his and Judi's dream of having a family, which came true when Jennifer arrived in 1969 and Suzy in 1977. His love for Jennifer and Suzy was unconditional. He always wanted his daughters to be happy, taking care of them and encouraging them to be themselves - unique individuals. He appreciated common sense, a value he shared with and taught to his daughters. Judi and Roy loved entertaining in their home in Beverly Hills (Judi was a legendary cook) and Roy enjoyed his many outdoor pursuits, including skiing, running and biking. A man of few words, Roy was defined by, and focused on, deeds and leading by example. Roy's prime professional quality was ethics. Flowing from that was competence, caring and quality of attention to the needs of the firm's clients and employees. For Roy, a "thanks" was the highest award to strive for. The only professional award was knowing a client was protected. Roy was loved and respected by fellow professionals in all areas, and was a go-to person for his wise and competent advice. He loved people - helping friends and colleagues, mentoring them, and taking pride and joy in his broad professional and entrepreneurial successes. His reputation as a man of honesty and integrity, and his work ethos, was unmatched. Roy's life was defined by multiple personal and professional achievements. But one of Roy's greatest achievements was a role that he neither sought, nor one for which he desired any acclamation. In 1997, when Judi was diagnosed with her first malignant brain cancer tumor, Roy, who had always been a devoted father and husband, took on the role of loving and dedicated caregiver, advocate and staunch warrior for his wife, all while staying resolutely in the background, a steady and tender presence. With Roy's unwavering support, Judi was able to channel her profoundly difficult and debilitating disease into creating Art of the Brain (AOB), an organization that raises public awareness about brain cancer, spotlights the strength and courage of brain cancer patients, and helps raise money for advanced brain cancer research at UCLA. Although Roy was a fundamentally private person, his deep devotion to, and respect for, Judi superseded any privacy concerns and with great love and dignity, he stood by Judi's side and welcomed every public revelation in every word and every deed. As a committed, caring and dedicated husband, Roy, too, was unmatched. Roy was active in the American Jewish Committee for over forty years, as a member of the Los Angeles Chapter's executive board and a member of the National President's Council. Judi and Roy were among the founding members of the Skirball Cultural Center. Roy supported so many important and varied charitable groups due to his interest in helping all people, and never had to be asked twice about providing aid for a needy cause. While reflecting on his life recently, Roy said, "Not too bad - a boy from The Bronx ends up in Beverly Hills. I've had a good life." Indeed he did, while also bringing so much good to the lives of so many others. Roy, who was predeceased by his brother Fred, is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer Kaufman (Vladimir Valdes) and Suzy Kaufman (Roseanne Pindrock), two grandsons, Garrett and Sebastian, brother Larry Kaufman, sister-in-law Jill Kaufman, niece Aly Kaufman, and countless broken hearted friends whose lives were touched by him. "We love you infinity." A funeral service will be held at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068 on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Art of the Brain, ATTN: Dr. Tim Cloughesy, UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, Suite 1-230, Los Angeles, CA 90095, www.artofthebrain.org.
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