Gerald Stein was driven to help

Gerald “Jerry” Stein, who thrived on helping others and is remembered for decades of local Jewish leadership, died May 6, 2016. He was 78.

The Mequon resident had served as chair of the local Jewish Community Foundation, president of Milwaukee Jewish Federation and chair of the Federation campaign, but he was also well regarded for his personal qualities.

Rabbi Jacob Herber, of Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid in Glendale, considered Stein a mentor and offers a stunning anecdote about him. Herber was on the phone with Stein when he mentioned that he dreamed of attending the iEngage program of the Shalom Hartman Institute, with summer classes in Israel, but that he didn’t have the money.

“Rabbi, register for the program. Louise and I will take care of paying for it,” Stein said, adding that it would be good for Herber, the community and the congregation.

Later, for Herber, there would be tears of gratitude. The cost was $12,000 in annual tuition for more than three years, plus transportation and housing.

For Stein, the glass was always half full, not half empty, and his positive outlook was melded with his desire to be helpful.

“He always wanted to help people,” said daughter Leigh Maxon of Mequon, noting that she was speaking for other family members, too. “He felt so good. He knew that he could do it. He felt if he could help everybody accomplish their goals he could get so much joy from that.”

Betsy Green, of Mequon, knew him from Washington High School and later reconnected through their mutual involvement in local Jewish causes. “He is a great loss to this community,” said Green, who became a good friend. Referring to Stein and his wife Louise, Green added, “They both devoted their lives to Jewish causes and to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.”

Gerald Stein is credited with helping to build up Congregation Beth Israel in Glendale, co-founding the Jewish Free Loan Association and pioneering a commitment to building up Federation’s endowment as an investment in the future.

“People should think about creating a heritage as well as an inheritance,” Stein would say, as remembered by Bert Bilsky, the former director of the local Jewish Community Foundation. Stein was steering the community toward building up local resources for future generations, through the Jewish Community Foundaton, Bilsky said.

Stein also worked for causes outside the Jewish community and served as president of the Milwaukee Public Museum.

“They don’t make ‘em like Jerry anymore,” said Hannah Rosenthal, president and CEO of Milwaukee Jewish Federation. “He was the kindest person, a generous soul, a keen mind, and had a great sense of humor. I miss him already so much.”

Stein enjoyed getting to know people and asking them questions about themselves. “He was a real mentor,” said Rick Meyer, vice president for Israel and global philanthropy at the Jewish Agency for Israel. “He took a lot of people under his wings.”

He considered one of the greatest moments of his life to be an extended family trip to Israel. “What he loved most was his family and his grandchildren,” Maxon said.

Stein attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee school of business and Marquette Law School. He started at Zilber Limited as a bookkeeper and retired as CEO and vice chairman after 52 years there. Survivors include children Debra (Dr. Daniel) Eisenstein, Leslie (Peter) Beard and Leigh (Tuck) Maxon, and wife Louise Stein.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 9, 2016 at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid with interment at Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid.