Carla Saltzman, 54, dies at Alameda home
"Very special" woman was born in Berkeley, raised in Oakland
By STAFF REPORTS

ALAMEDA -- Carla Yvonne Saltzman, a lifelong Bay Area resident, died in her Alameda home Saturday from multiple myeloma. She was 54.

Mrs. Saltzman was born in Berkeley in 1948 and raised in Oakland, where she graduated from Oakland High School in 1966. She moved to Alameda with her family three years ago. "She was a gentle and kind person filled with sweetness, very special -- an example for her friends and family," said husband Andrew Saltzman.

They married June 17, 1970, shortly after graduating from UC Berkeley. They have a 16-year-old son, Zachary.

She was employed by the state social services department for 23 years. Besides her family, her passions were animals, travel and exploring the outdoors, her husband said. She served as a docent for the San Francisco zoo, and has toured China, Europe and the Soviet Union. She was also an avid reader.

Along with her husband and son, Mrs. Saltzman is survived by sisters Norma Yaeger of Redlands and Karin Johnson of Walnut Creek.

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. today at Sunset View Mortuary, 101 Colusa Ave., El Cerrito. Services are at 10 a.m. Friday, also at Sunset View. Burial follows.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Oakland Kaiser Hospice, International Myeloma Foundation or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.