Raymond Epstein

"The retired chairman of the board of the engineering and architectural firm A. Epstein and Sons International Inc., Epstein—who played a top leadership role at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago—was steadfastly devoted to the Jewish community and Israel throughout his life. The firm had offices around the world, including in Israel, where it built projects including the Government Center in Haifa and City Hall in Ashkelon. Among the firms clients are Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing, the Israel Land Authority and the City of Tel-Aviv. Kovler said that her father “had an intense commitment to everything he did,” particularly his commitment to the Jewish community, a love that came from his strong Jewish upbringing. Epstein was the past president of the Jewish Welfare Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, predecessor of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF/JF); the 1973 General Campaign chairman of the Jewish United Fund; a member of the JUF/JF board of directors; and chairman of JUF’s Jewish Community Relations Council. In 1975 he won the Julius Rosenwald Award, the Federation’s most prestigious award given in recognition of a lifetime of service to the Jewish community. “Ray was a man of special intellect, a wonderful speaker, and a most effective leader,” said Steven B. Nasatir, JUF/JF president. “World and Chicago Jewry were fortunate to be able to tap into the special gifts of this fine man.” Epstein served on the boards and was a longtime officer of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Council of the Jewish Federations (a precursor to United Jewish Communities), the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, and the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (now called the JCPA)."