Paul Hochstein (February. 6, 1926-June 12, 2010)
&
Gianna Smith Hochstein (February 7, 1926 - July 25, 2010) (link)

Life goes on.

I'm sure Paul and Gianna would have wished that your lives continue to sparkle with laughter, wit and friendship, as do we.

Evon and Miles send our thanks and gratitude to all who sent us letters and messages.

When I think of Paul and Gianna now, in 2012, I think of Paul's artistic joys (and struggles) and of Gianna's joyful intellectual provocations (and struggles.) I think of the many dinners and gatherings that shaped our childhood, and that remained at the center of their lives in Los Angeles and Cambria.

Paul and Gianna had their differences, but they always shared the love of a good meal and good conversation with friends. If you are reading this, that probably means you.

If you have memories of Paul and Gianna that you would like to share please send an e-mail to Miles, here.

The obituary for Paul below appeared on Thursday, June 17, 2010 in the Cambria Times.

Paul Hochstein, 84, was born in February 1926, and died Saturday, June 12, 2010, at his home in Cambria, California.

Although Paul Hochstein had impeccable credentials as a scientist, he chose to spend the last 15 years working as an artist in Cambria. He did not find that to be inconsistent. He said, "Scientists and artists are cast from the same mold. They both start with imagination and insights that lead to ideas that can be tested experimentally. Both of them would like their experiments to be elegant, pleasing and even convincing."

Born in New York City of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, he graduated from the elite Bronx High School of Science. He served three years in the infantry in Europe during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He then returned to the U.S. to obtain a B.S. degree at Rutgers University and went on to obtain his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Maryland. Dr. Hochstein did postdoctoral training at the Laboratory of Biochemistry at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.   Over the years, he has held faculty positions in the Colleges of Medicine at Columbia University, Duke University and the University of Southern California. He has also held Visiting Professorships at the Universities of Stockholm, London and Genoa. 

At USC, he became the founding Director of the Institute for Toxicology and an Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. Pioneering in the field of oxygen and free-radical biochemistry in relation to human disease, he made milestone contributions in this area of research. He ws the author of over 200 scientific publications and was recognized worldwide for his accomplishments. 

He served on numerous editorial boards and as a consultant to both government and industry. The recipient of many awards, he held honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Stockholm and the University of Buenos Aires. He was a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Molecular Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry at the University of Southern California. 

Dr. Hochstein studied sculpting with Gail Glickmann in Los Angeles and, since retiring to Cambria in 1997, studied painting with Sally Seago. An admirer of early impressionist painters, he imbibed her joyful and romantic approach to nature.  His paintings reflect the natural beauty of the Central California Coast far from the cities of San Francisco to the north and Los Angeles to the South. 

Paul married Georgianna "Gianna" Smith in 1956, and is survived by her and their two sons Evon Hochstein (spouse, Jane Hudson) of Los Angeles and Miles Hochstein (spouse, Leora Troper-Hochstein) of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Maggie Hochstein, Amitai Troper-Hochstein and Gavriella Troper-Hochstein; brother, Robert Hochstein of Washington, D.C. He was predeceased by his sister, Elenore Lester of New York City. For the last 15 years Paul and Gianna have enjoyed a rich community life with their friends and neighbors in Cambria.