May 7, 2026
SOLAHA Vol. VII No. 3
Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Rosalyn (Furman) Leach, retired Bandini Street Elementary School Principal chronicles the early San Pedro Jewish community in the first half of the 20th Century, including building their first synagogue at 19th & Cabrillo Streets, where the Italian-American Club is currently located.
The Furman family arrived in San Pedro in 1952. Rosalyn’s parents, Elaine and Gene (Eugene) Furman chose to escape the snowy winters of Cleveland , Ohio and to join the rest of her dad’s family who were already in SP. Our extended family included Harriet & Leo Korn, who were my aunt and uncle.Harriet was my dad’s sister, and Miriam & Melvin Furman, also my aunt and uncle. Melvin was my dad’s older brother. My grandparents, Hannah and Charles Furman came here several years before my parents arrived. The family roots run deep in San Pedro business community of historic downtown Her family were also members of the Jewish community of San Pedro and helped establish the local Synagogue, Temple Beth El and Center which celebrated serving its 100th anniversary in 2023.
“Roz’ attended Seventh Street Elementary School and Leland Elementary Schools prior to Richard Henry Dana Junior and Rudecinda Dodson Junior High and San Pedro High Schools (SPHS class of Summer 1968) While at SPHS she was active in the choir and drama departments and their honored honor societies, Music Guild and Thespians. After graduating from SPHS she attended graduated from California State University Long Beach (CSULB) in (class of 1972). She earned her lifetime teaching credential from CSULB in 1973, and master’s degree and additional teaching credential as a language arts specialist. After teaching for Los Angeles Unified School district (LAUSSD) at Bandini Elementary and several other schools including 15th Street Elementary she returned to school at Pepperdine University to earn a second master’s degree in School Administration and an EdD, ABD in Institutional Management. In the mid-1990s she returned to Bandini Street Elementary School, where her teaching career started, as the Principal.
She and husband Don have a unique blended family “yours, ours, and someone else’s children”. Their children Jennifer, Sandra, Jason and Adam are their joy and the focus of their lives along with given us seven wonderful grandchildren four of whom are going to LAUSD schools and one locally at Point Fermin where she has volunteered. Their daughter-in-law continues the family tradition of community involvement working as the San Pedro Field Representative for Los Angeles City Councilman, District 15, Tim McOsker.
Though retired Rosalyn and Don and I continue to be involved in a variety of activities around town and hope to continue doing so for many years to come.
Roz is a natural story teller, very engaging and gregarious; and we look forward to more stories.