Warren Wertheimer Passes Away After Tragic Fall – December 6, 1933 – April 20, 2019
Posted: June 4, 2019 in Other News
Warren Wertheimer
Warren Wertheimer, 85, of San Rafael California, passed away on April 20, 2019. He lived a full and active life until his very last two days when he suffered a tragic fall and died peacefully after being wished farewell by many of his friends and family.
Warren described himself as a father of two, grandfather of four, student of A Course In Miracles, Harvard Lawyer, millionaire former owner of a multisport family club business, psychic, firewalker, motivational speaker and consultant. Warren was born on December 6, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, to Mildred and Irving Wertheimer. He received an A.B. Degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 1956 where he was an active member of Sigma Alpha Mu (“Sammy”) Fraternity, an LL.B from Harvard Law School in 1959 where he was a member of Harvard Law Review, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1960. He was a talented athlete who excelled at every sport he participated in. He was the All Intramural Quarterback for his fraternity championship football team at University of Michigan and an avid tennis player. He was also a huge sports fan who always watched his home teams, the Giants and Warriors. Warren moved to San Francisco with his first wife, Judie, in 1960 and practiced Tax and Business Law there for 14 years.
While in San Francisco, his interest in sports continued, and he spent many years refereeing local basketball games. As an avid tennis player, he was a long-time member of the California Tennis Club. During the beginning years of the Virginia Slims Women’s Tennis Tournaments Warren was instrumental in organizing the ball boys/girls and lines people for the matches. Warren was a member of the United States Professional Tennis Officials Association, and he umpired matches at the very highest levels of the sport on the World Team Tennis Tours. Following a life-changing experience in 1972, he decided to leave the practice of law and subsequently acquired Rolling Hills Club in Novato, California, in 1974, which he operated until his retirement in 2002. Under his ownership, the club grew from about 400 to over 6,000 members. The club developed a national reputation for being innovative and unique in the way it did business, and at one time, it was described as one of the top 15 clubs in the country by Shape Magazine. His employees at Rolling Hills often commented that he was the best boss they had ever had. Warren and his second wife, Barbara, were together for over 12 years.
He was a long-time member and teacher with A Course In Miracles and co-founder of A Center For Inner Peace. His spirituality was incredibly important to him and was the driving force behind almost everything he did for the second half of his life. He had a lifelong love of playing Bridge and was an ACBL Life Master. He was active in Bridge tournaments in Marin for many years.
Warren is survived by his son, Steven Wertheimer (Sherry Antonoff); daughter, Janna Rudolph; grandchildren, Erica Rudolph, Alexander (A.W.) Antonoff-Wertheimer, Rachel Rudolph and Sydney Antonoff-Wertheimer; and brother, Fred Wertheimer (Linda). He is also survived by his first wife, Judie Wertheimer, and his second wife, Barbara Cochran, both of whom he continued to have cordial relationships with, and also his stepson, Ben Cochran (Sara) and stepdaughter, Emily Cochran.
Remembrances for Warren can be posted at www.forevermissed.com/warren-wertheimer.
A memorial for Warren was held at 10:30 A.M. on Sunday, June 2, 2019 at Monte’s Chapel of The Hills. Donations in Warren’s name can be made to a charity of your choice.
Peers of Warren Wertheimer’s in the Health and Fitness Club Industry Weigh In
John McCarthy, IHRSA Executive Director Emeritus, commented: “An unforgettably wonderful man, Warren was the longtime owner of the Rolling Hills Tennis Club in Novato, California. The governing principle of Warren’s life and work was that all of it was an ever-changing and ever-interesting opportunity to love… Warren was a delightful and remarkable man. Rest in Peace”
Mary Beth Bradley commented on her long-time good friend, “As the GM at Warren’s club, he would often tell me (among so many other “pearls” of wisdom) that we could sell all of the exercise equipment and essentially close off the club but keep the lobby open. When I questioned his thinking, he went on to explain that we could hug members when they entered the club, tell them we loved and appreciated them, and they would gladly pay their monthly dues! Further, I remember Warren telling me that he didn’t care what the club turned into; in fact, he said we could turn it into a supermarket if we wanted to (true story) as long as we lived up to our mission statement, which was ‘To create an environment in which people feel loving and loved.’ I will miss him dearly.”
Jim Gerber commented to John McCarthy: “Son, Jim, and I spent a good deal of time with Warren about four years ago. He was consistently himself… an honorable, selfless, sweet man who lived his life as much as possible living the teachings of A Course In Miracles. Many lessons learned by just being around him. He will be missed.”
Ben Emdin commented to John McCarthy: “Thanks for sharing the info about Warren. I did get to know him. One summer, he flew to Grand Rapids to spend some time with me. It was a most interesting few days. I remember he shared the rough (very rough) draft of a book he was writing. We will miss Warren. I hope you are doing well. Thanks again for including me in the ‘Senior Colleagues’ fraternity!”
Norm Cates commented to John McCarthy:
“Thanks Big John and Mary Beth, I’m very sorry to see this sad news. Thinking back on Warren, I recall that he was one of our industry’s greatest thinkers about what we were supposed to be doing in order to give our members what they had come to our clubs for in the first place. And, he gave all of us something to shoot for when it came to creating fun, special, unique and happy club environments for our members. May Warren Wertheimer Rest In Peace. Warmest regards to you both, John and Mary Beth.”
