Pinney Kanter

December 11, 1923 – November 3, 2021 (age 97)

Pinney Kanter, a resident of Woodland Hills, California, passed away on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, of natural causes at age 97.

Pinney was born in San Antonio, Texas, to David and Celia Kanter, on December 11, 1923. Pinney’s father, Cantor Kanter, was the cantor at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, and also served as a chaplain at the local army base. Pinney also had a lifelong enjoyment of music, especially cantorial works and Jewish songs, and, through his father, had the chance to meet several well-known cantors while growing up, including Jan Pierce.

Pinney was the youngest of four brothers, the other three being Bernard, Israel and Harry. Pinney graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He often spoke about his experience at the university working as a math instructor for groups of army recruits during World War II. After graduating he started his own business in San Antonio in the growing field of home air conditioning installation. He married Ilean in 1953 in Michigan and they settled in San Antonio. After several years he had an opportunity to work in the expanding aerospace industry in southern California. He joined North American Aviation (later renamed North American Rockwell, then Rockwell, and finally Boeing) in El Segundo as a thermodynamics/air conditioning engineer and designer for military aircraft, and moved the family to California. He continued to work for North American for thirty-seven years, eventually retiring in about 1991 at age 67.

Judaism was an important part of his life, and he was one of the founding members of Congregation Beth Kodesh in West Hills, California, and a longtime member of its successor, Shomrei Torah Synagogue. He remained active in the synagogue for many years and sang in the choir during High Holidays, and also sang in the choir at the University of Judaism (later renamed American Jewish University).

After retirement he and Ilean enjoyed extensive traveling, both in the U.S. (especially family in Texas and Michigan) and abroad, including visits to Israel, China, Japan and Europe. When Ilean began to experience declining heath in her 80’s, Pinney was her primary caregiver for several years.

Pinney Kanter is survived by daughters, Sharon Kanter and Debbie (Les) Feldman, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his late wife Ilean Kanter and granddaughter Elisa Feldman.

A graveside service will be held at 2 pm Friday, November 5, 2021, at Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Simi Valley, California. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Mt. Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, Simi Valley.

Donations can be made to the Temple Etz Chaim Elisa Feldman Fund in Thousand Oaks, California or to Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, CA.