Kenneth Alan Ziskin
December 3, 1947 - January 2026
Sadly, we just learned from his wife, Hinda, that Ken passed away in January after battling a rare form of leukemia for 4 years. He thankfully went peacefully and wife and kids with him when he died.
Ken was a top athlete in high school especially in swimming. His parents were Jay and Elaine Cane Ziskin and his sister was Laura Ziskin, BHS '68, Hollywood Producer (1950-2011) who was a fun friend of mine in school. They also have a younger sister, Nina, who was born in 1956.
May God comfort the Ziskin family I pray.
FROM KEN'S WEBSITE
KENNETH A. ZISKIN BIO
Ken was one of the first estate planning lawyers to become a Fellow of the Esperti Peterson Institute for estate planning for high net worth individuals and families. Ken was also one of the original 50 participants in the National Study Group – an educational forum for advanced practitioners from around the country to learn from leading experts on advanced estate planning topics. The National Study Group ultimately led to the formation of WealthCounsel, of which he is an active member. WealthCounsel is an organization of more than 2000 estate planning attorneys who work together as colleagues — not competitors — to advance their education and competence as estate planners.
Ken received his J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from the University of Southern California Law Center in 1972, where he served as Executive Editor of the Southern California Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif national honor society. Ken has been active in Bar affairs with the California State Bar, the American Bar Association and local bar associations.
Ken has always valued education, both as a lifelong student and as a teacher. Ken served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California Law Center from 1991 to 1994. He has been a frequent lecturer to legal professionals, financial institution regulators, charitable organizations and the public, and served on the Editorial Staff of the California Trusts and Estate Quarterly.
Ken has had the privilege to lecture on a broad range of legal topics to the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, the American Association of Individual Investors, the Banking Law Institute, the American Institute of Banking, the Los Angeles Society of CPAs, the Independent Bankers Associations of both Northern and Southern California, the Western Independent Bankers, the Financial Services Institute and the National Association of Chinese American Bankers. In addition, he has been invited to lecture at seminars sponsored by bank regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, by banks such as Northern Trust Bank, and by several charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Guardians and the City of Hope.
Ken is the author of numerous articles on estate planning, financial, tax and securities law matters which have appeared in such journals as TRUSTS & ESTATES, The Journal of the California State Bar Association, CONSPECTUS, The Tax Lawyer, The American Banker, The Southern California Law Review and the WIB Community Banker. (CLICK HERE for selected publications)
Ken served two terms as a member of the Financial Institutions Committee of the State Bar of California and on numerous advisory committees and task forces set up by bank regulatory agencies. He was a member of the task force which rewrote the California Financial Code in the late 1970's. Ken has testified as an expert in Federal Court, and been designated as an expert in several state court matters.
Ken appeared regularly on The Business Channel (KWHY - TV 22) from 1996-1999, where he developed and hosted the “Beyond the Living Trust (sm)” show on Family Wealth Strategies (sm) and living trusts.
Ken’s civic activities have been primarily related to the City of Hope, although he has also raised money for Stand Up To Cancer (founded by his sister, producer Laura Ziskin) and other health related charities. In 1982 he was proud to be honored by the 500 Club of the City of Hope as its "Man of the Year," and he served from 1983 through 1995 as a member of City of Hope’s Board of Governors (formerly Board of Trustees). Ken was an NCAA All American swimmer at USC as an undergraduate, and won both gold and silver medals at the 1965 Macabbiah Games in Tel Aviv. He also set a world record for his age group at the FINA World Master's Swimming Competition in 1986.
Ken is happily married to Hinda, with whom he is proud to share three wonderful children and one (vivacious and bright) granddaughter. Hinda graduated from UCLA and brings extensive experience (in accounting and public relations firms) to Ken's practice. Hinda participates in planning for Ken’s clients, providing a valuable perspective as a wife, mother and grandmother. Hinda has one other advantage: She is not a lawyer, and helps translate legal jargon into plain English. Ken thinks Hinda is both brilliant and beautiful!
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