By Linda Taaffe

Arlene Gopen believed each person had the ability to make a difference. And for many in her community, she did. The longtime Los Altos resident dedicated much of her time to helping others, especially at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, where she was a member.

“We’re supposed to be the caretakers of the earth. We’re supposed to help each other,” Gopen would say.

As co-chairwoman of the Community Membership Committee, Gopen was often the first face new members would see. She contributed time and money to numerous organizations, delivered Passover food bags to the elderly and was the first to convince organizers to change the marching band competition schedule for local high schools, so it wouldn’t conflict with the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday.

“Arlene was a fixture in our community,” Rabbi Chuck Briskin said. “She touched so many lives in deep and profound ways. Many Beth Am members have called me to share their stories of when Arlene had reached out to them during their time of need … She was certainly a thoughtful and considerate woman whose absence will be felt deeply.”

Gopen, 59, died last week while swimming during her regular morning workout at the YMCA on Ross Road in Palo Alto. Funeral services were held Thursday at Beth Am.

The cause of death remained undetermined last week.

Gopen was swimming laps in 5-foot-deep water across the instructional pool, when an on-duty lifeguard noticed her lying still, face down in the water at 9 a.m., Aug. 4. About 10 adults and children were in the pool at the time. He pulled her out of the pool and administered CPR until paramedics arrived, said Laura Toller Gardner, a spokeswoman for the YMCA. She had no pulse, according to the lifeguard.

Gopen was transported to Stanford Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Gopen had been a member of the YMCA in Palo Alto for two years. Gardner described her as a capable swimmer who regularly worked out at the facility. As a member of the YMCA’s 100 Mile Club, she was working toward logging in 100 laps in the pool over recent months, Gardner said.

Gardner said there has never been a serious incident at the Palo Alto site since it opened in 1995. A 79-year-old man’s heart stopped beating during his swim workout at the El Camino YMCA last March, but a lifeguard was able to bring him back to life using a portable defibrillator at the site. Gardner said the Palo Alto YMCA has a portable defibrillator, but paramedics deemed it inappropriate to use under last week’s circumstances.

“We take the safety of our members as the highest priority,” Gardner said. We follow very strict YMCA guide lines. All of lifeguards are either Red Cross or YMCA certified.”

Mrs. Gopen is survived by her children, Josh, Gabe and Shaina. She was the widow of Charles Gopen, who died in 1995.

Donations can be made to the Charles and Arlene Gopen Family Fund at Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 2150 Post St., San Francisco, 94115.