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rlene Leonoff passed away peacefully at home on May 15, surrounded by her loving family. She was 90 years old.
Born in New York to Renee Schurberg and Stanley Gluck, Arlene moved to Los Angeles with her brother Edward and attended Fairfax High School. She later studied communications at UC Berkeley, where she met her future husband George Leonoff while living in the co-ops. They were married from 1959 until his passing in 2017.
Arlene and George made Berkeley their forever home after two years in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She worked with Red Oak Realty for over 40 years, helping others find their dream homes in Berkeley. Her warmth, kindness, professionalism, and skill earned her a reputation as one of the city's top real estate agents.
In addition to her career, Arlene was an avid gourmet cook, weaver, and knitter. She sold handmade crafts at local fairs and spent countless hours creating beautiful pieces for family and friends. Her love of animals led her to care for many dogs and cats over the years, and she believed that spending time with animals made people better.
Arlene was a devoted mother to her two daughters and "Nana" to her three grandchildren. She was known for her quiet yet welcoming nature, generosity, spunkiness, and resilience. Her family and friends will deeply miss her warmth and kindness.
Arlene is survived by her daughters Stacey and Janna, and her grandchildren Sydney, Alex, and Ben. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Berkeley Humane's Hope Medical Fund in her honor.
