Milwaukee real estate developer and Jewish community philanthropist and activist Nathan J. Rakita was “a real leader,” according to his daughter, Carol Arenberg, of Washington, D.C.
“Anything he became involved with, he took charge of,” she wrote in notes brought to The Chronicle by Rakita’s sister, Sylvia (Sidney) Bernstein of Milwaukee.
These involvements included B’nai B’rith; the Jewish War Veterans, of which he was state commander, Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue; and the Jewish National Fund, of which he was a “big supporter,” according to Bernstein.
But of all these and more, Rakita, who died Dec. 14 of natural causes at 92, was especially interested in the Milwaukee Jewish Home and Care Center.
He served as JHCC board member and president. Moreover, he supervised the construction of its building on Prospect Ave. and the move there from the previous building on 50th St., according to Arenberg and Bernstein.
Born in 1915, Rakita was a Milwaukee native and graduate of Washington High School. He earned undergraduate and law degrees at Marquette University, in 1938 and 1940, respectively.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in World War II and was stationed in Texas. After the war, he continued to practice law and entered the property development field.
In the latter capacity, he built many hotels, apartment buildings and assisted living centers in the Milwaukee area, Michigan and Florida. He also served on the Milwaukee Plan Commission.
He retired to Florida, where he played golf and was active in Jewish causes. He returned to Milwaukee about five years ago when his health began to fail.
He was preceded in death by sister Rose Wilk. In addition to his daughter and sister, survivors include his wife of 68 years, Lillian (nee Saxe); son and law partner Richard (Gayle) Rakita of Mequon; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home. Rabbi Shlomo Pontos officiated at funeral services on Dec. 16. Burial was in Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery.
The family appreciates memorial contributions to the Jewish Home and Care Center or the Alzheimer’s Association.
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