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Lisa Weiss passed away this past week after a long chromic illness.  At her side was her loving husband/my dear friend Dan, her daughter Jodie and son Jordan, among other friends and family.

The Weiss family clan was the Gerbsman’s family in Marin for over 47 years.  We spent Hanukkah, Passover, Thanksgiving and celebrated birthdays, travelled and just getting together over the years.

In 1978 we bought our house in Marin from Dan and his father Hal.  Since we were new to the area, Dan invited us over the Bris for their son Jordan a week after we moved in.  We then met Lisa who embraced us as family.

Lisa was a warm loving person who invited us into their family for this life cycle event.  From there on Lisa and Dan included us in family and personal events and as said above, became our family on the west coast.

Lisa was a food writer and stylist whose work has appeared in such publications as Cook’s Illustrated and Cooking Light. She has co-authored six cookbooks, including The Farallon Cookbook, the James Beard Award-nominated The Seventh Daughter: My Culinary Journey from Beijing to San Francisco with Cecilia Chiang, and the bestselling Complete Meat Cookbook with Bruce Aidells.

Aside from her personal accomplishments we will remember Lisa as a loving mother, wife, gracious host and as a person who loved family.

Our most important goal in life is how we raise our kids and the values we give to them.  Lisa and Dan raised Jordan and Jodie to be fine people, with ethics/integrity, a great work ethic and with a love of family and friends.

Her legacy is simple. loving wife, raising great kids and having love of family.  For this we are ever great full and remember Lisa with love and respect.

A toast – “to the memory of one who once was- and to the knowledge she will live in our hearts and minds forever”.

With love, with respect and with the knowledge you are at peace and in Elohim/Gods hands.

The Gerbsman Family – Marlene, Lauren, Judah, Jason and Steve

Good afternoon

Steven R. Gerbsman, Principal of Gerbsman Partners, is pleased to announce the successful termination of a technology company’s prohibitive real estate lease. 

The technology company needed to accomplish the above in order to obtain the necessary “bridge financing” to provide runway for a round of “expansion capital funding”.

Gerbsman Partners assisted by:

  1. creating a strategic plan to accomplish the successful termination of the prohibitive real estate lease
  2. negotiating with the real estate lessor and finalizing the termination of the lease

 Gerbsman Partners is the “innovator” in creating strategies to terminate or restructure prohibitive real estate leases and senior and sub-debt obligations, as well as creditor issues.  To date, we have terminated or restructured over $810 million of such obligations for private and public companies, which has allowed the potential of returning the company to financial viability. 

About Gerbsman Partners

Gerbsman Partners focuses on maximizing enterprise value for stakeholders and shareholders in underperforming, undercapitalized and undervalued companies and their intellectual properties. Since 2001, Gerbsman Partners has successfully maximized the values of 120 companies in a wide and diverse spectrum of industries. In the process, GP has successfully restructured/terminated over $810 million of real estate executor contracts, creditor issues and equipment lease/sub-debt obligations, and has assisted in over $2.3 billion of financings, restructurings and M&A transactions.

Gerbsman Partners has offices and strategic alliances in Boston, New York, Washington DC, McLean VA, San Francisco, Orange County, Europe and Israel.

If appropriate, I am available to strategize and develop action plans for maximizing and monetizing value.

Best regards

Steve






Mark – good morning

I have been reflecting on my 14 years as a Director of the Kentfield Fire District and would like to say “thank you” to you and the “team” for allowing me to be part of the “family”

It has been a very enjoyable experience for me and I trust that I have provided good and thoughtful advice and guidance over the years.

When I talk to people about KFD, I always focus on the high quality of the people, their commitment to “serve and protect” and their compassion to insure the health and welfare of the community.

As you and the team know, Marlene and I very thankful and grateful for the immediate response when she had a stroke in January.  They were key to saving her life and she and I will always remember the support.  I will also never forget your support of me in the hospital.  You stayed there with me for 3 hours, held my hand, comforted and supported me.  A tough night made a little bitter easier by your thoughtfulness and compassion.

When people ask me about First Responders, I always say “you don’t need them, till you need them” and they are always there when you need them.  So I always encourage all to support, respect and say “thank you” to First Responders and Fire Fighters.

It has also been my great pleasure to work with, support and watch the KFD team grow over the years.  As said above, I am in awe of their total commitment to their profession. 

Please pass along to the entire team my best wishes for continued success, good health to be safe as they perform their duties.

I have passed along to friends, family and business acquaintances the “Fireman’s Prayer” below and every time I read it, it puts into perspective the importance “duty, service and honor”.

With much respect

Steve Gerbsman

Director – Kentfield Fire District

Firefighter’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;

Give me the strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it’s too late
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect their property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.

Good afternoon

Recently I was reviewing some old files when I came upon this article (attached and below), written in July 1997, by Tom Peters in Fast Forward, his weekly update.   Tom Peters is a futurist and notable author.

In the mid 1980’s to 2001, my primary focus was an internationally recognized Crisis/Turnaround CEO, brought into challenging company situations by equity and senior lenders.  Since 2001 Gerbsman Partners has also focused on “maximizing enterprise and shareholder value” for under performing and distressed Intellectual Property, as well as providing “crisis consulting”.

Tom Peters was seeking insight into “what are the early warning signs for underperforming/distressed companies” and what do you need to do to fix them.

After reading the article again, it has always amazed me is that the same challenges faced in 1997 are the same challenges faced by companies today in 2025.

As outlined in the third paragraph from the bottom the “red alerts are”:

  1. Lack of focus by management and the Board on the monitoring, preservation, control and forecasting of CASH;
  1. Changes in the marketplace that are not met with adequate communication and quick adjustments to the new situation;
  1. A heavy debt load that is not being alleviated.

Tom Peters outline below is an accurate portrayal of life as a Crisis/Turnaround CEO – “Hired Gun”.

So, if ever appropriate, Ken Hardesty and I are available to strategize and develop action plans for maximizing and monetizing value.

Best

Steve