Michael “Misha” Zilberman
Michael “Misha” Zilberman, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 92 on December 9, 2025 in San Diego. Born on July 29, 1933, he built a life defined by courage, ingenuity, and an unwavering love for his family. For Misha, his family always came first. Family was a source of strength, obligation, support and the strong legacy he leaves behind.
Misha was born in the city of Kishinev, Romania. After World War II, the land became part of what was then Moldova in the Soviet Union, where he served his compulsory duty in the Soviet Navy before attending medical school and practicing as a dentist for fifteen years. In 1973, at the age of 40, he made the life-altering decision to uproot his young family and his recently widowed mother and immigrated to America, seeking freedom, opportunity, and a safer future for the generations of Zilbermans to come. Misha didn’t believe in luck, he made his own luck. Misha and his family lived in Santa Barbara for over 47 years before moving to San Diego late in life to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
After settling in Santa Barbara he quickly pivoted his career from dentistry to engineering and had a productive and fulfilling job as a quality control engineer at Applied Magnetics in Goleta for over 24 years. After Applied Magnetics closed, Misha set up his own clock repair business, which he enjoyed operating for the next chapter of his life, including once repairing a clock for President Ronald Reagan at the “Western White House” at Rancho del Cielo.
Arriving in a new country with a new language, culture, and way of life, Misha had the courage to start over professionally and personally, embodying resilience and quiet bravery. He and his wife subsequently helped their entire family immigrate to America, including his younger brother and his family, as well as Dora’s parents and brother. He helped support many other immigrants helping to ensure their success and fulfilling the American dream. Misha and Dora lived with and supported their parents after coming to America for the rest of their lives, living in a multigenerational and extended family home, with three generations under one roof.
Misha was a man whose kind heart spoke through his actions, much louder than his words. Soft-spoken and humble, he possessed an extraordinary ability to understand how things worked and to fix almost anything that was broken. His hands were rarely still: he repaired and built things, solved complicated puzzles, restored antique clocks, raised finches, cockatiels and canaries in an aviary he constructed himself, and crafted jewelry and homemade delicacies such as smoked fish, sourdough bread, cheese, and pickles. He had a lifelong passion for learning and mastering new skills, always curious and looking to the future and was an early adopter of all sorts of technology including early computers and smart phones.
Misha was always ready to volunteer his time and talent to anyone in need of assistance and demonstrated with his actions the true meaning of giving and Tzedakah. He always gave much more than he asked for. His marriage to Dora, his wife of 67 years, was the center of his life and the model he quietly offered to his sons of true partnership. They consulted each other on every decision, never went to bed angry, and expressed their love not just in words but in daily acts of kindness and care. Misha was a progressive without knowing it, as he modeled and lived his deep respect for the equality of women for his sons.
Despite his quiet nature, Misha had a playful side and a love of music and dance. He enjoyed everything from opera and Pavarotti to jazz, and he and Dora once won first prize in Solvang’s Old Danish Days Polka contest. He also became a 33rd-degree Free Mason and attended meetings at Santa Barbara Masonic Lodge #192 regularly demonstrating his dedication and discipline in yet another arena of life. Most of all he enjoyed spending quality time with family.
Above all, Misha lived by a simple yet powerful philosophy, which was his recipe for success in life: be honest, work hard, be kind, help others, and be content with what you have. He was always ready to lend a hand, quick to do favors, and steadfast in his belief that there were no shortcuts to doing things the right way. His quiet strength, gentle humor, resilience in the face of hardship, and devotion to family and future generations form the legacy he leaves behind.
Misha is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Dora; his sons Gordon (wife Elana) and Lonny (wife Christie); his cherished five grandchildren Jessica, Raquel, Rebecca, Samuel, and Sophia; and his four great-grandchildren Juliet, Jonathan, Talia and Gabriela. He also leaves behind countless friends and relatives who were touched by his generosity, wisdom, and warmth. Graveside burial service will be at Goleta Cemetery on Monday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Misha’s honor to The Santa Barbara Jewish Federation or Congregation B’nai Brith are appreciated.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.
