Lifelong Sheboygan resident Mayer Alpert died May 17 at the age of 91.
Until he retired at the age of 72, he worked in sales and design at Lakeland Mfg. Co. At the time of his retirement, he was vice president in charge of sales. One of the high points of his career was designing the coats and jackets for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1964 and 1968.
Following his retirement, he developed the Hydropeutric Massage System, for which he holds a U.S. patent. He also created a clothing line, Silver Threads, for seniors and the disabled.
A leader in Sheboygan’s Jewish community, he was a founding member and past president of Congregation Beth El. He served as president of the Sheboygan Jewish Welfare Council and B’nai B’rith Jewish Men’s Club, was a leader of its Jewish National Fund chapter and headed its Israel Bonds drive for many years.
On the state level, he was a board member of the Jewish Home and Care Center, Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning and a participant in the B’nai B’rith Institute of Wisconsin with his wife Bernice.
The couple were involved with the development of the state of Israel from its inception and were honored in 1974 with the Israel Freedom Medal conferred by the State of Israel.
In the general community, he was active in the formation of the Sheboygan Art Center, which has evolved into the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. He served on its board of directors and advisory board. Further, he was a member and past president of the Lakeshore Kiwanis Association, a member of the Sheboygan Human Rights Association, a board member of Safe Haven, the anti-nuclear and peace coalition, and a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Downtown Development.
He and his wife, who were married in Milwaukee in 1939, traveled the world together, often to see paintings by 17th century Dutch artist Jan Vermeer.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Lois Alpert of San Francisco; son Jack (Tina Neimi) Alpert of Kansas City, Kan.; brother John Alpert of Sheboygan; and two grandsons.
Brian Serle, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El, conducted services on May 20. Burial was in Sheboygan Hebrew Cemetery.
Contributions to the Mayer Alpert Fund at Congregation Beth El would be appreciated by the family.
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