Sheboygan Jewish community leader Bernice Alpert (nee Cohen) died at her home on April 4. She was 87.
Born in Milwaukee, she attended Milwaukee Public Schools and earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following her graduation, she worked for the Milwaukee Public Museum.
In 1939, she married Mayer Alpert and they settled in Sheboygan. She was a founding member of Congregation Beth El and spearheaded its religious education program, serving as its first supervisor. She also was a past president of its Sisterhood.
In addition, she was a past president of the local chapter of Hadassah and an officer on the state level; and an officer of the Sheboygan Jewish Welfare Council and the Jewish National Fund in Sheboygan.
She and her husband were active with the Milwaukee Jewish Home and were participants in the B’nai B’rith Institute of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning. They were awarded the Israel Freedom Medal in 1974 for their support of the State of Israel.
She also was active in the general community. She was a founding member of the Sheboygan Human Rights Association and the city’s civil rights movement. She supported open housing legislation and, as a member of Safe Haven, took an active role in the anti-nuclear and peace coalition.
Her memberships also included the Sheboygan League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women and the Sheboygan Art Center, now the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, where she served as a volunteer.
An accomplished violinist, she attended the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music as a teenager and later played with the Sheboygan Symphony. The couple supported the Sheboygan Civic Music Organization. Further, they enjoyed traveling and had an unusual hobby — to see all the paintings by the 17th century Dutch artist Jan Vermeer.
She is survived by daughter Lois Alpert of San Francisco; son Jack Alpert of Kansas City, Kan.; daughter-in-law Tina Neimi of Kansas City; brothers Milton Cohen of Philadelphia and Robert (Doris) Cohen of Milwaukee; brother-in-law John Alpert of Sheboygan; sisters-in-law Molly Alpert of Manitowoc and Pela Alpert of Appleton; and two grandsons. Her husband preceded her in death.
Brian Serle officiated at funeral services on April 6. Burial was in Sheboygan Hebrew Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorials to Congregation Beth El, 1007 North Ave., Sheboygan, WI 53083.
Loading ...