Bill Lowenstein (z’l), a well-known and widely-respected leader and funder in the Kansas City Jewish community, died on July 30 at age 97.
Lowenstein served as president of the Jewish Community Foundation from 1991 to 1994, was a lifetime member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and a founding member of Congregation Beth Torah. He also served as chairman/trustee of the Tranin Fund, a trustee for the Oppenstein Brothers Foundation, a trustee for the Lowenstein Brothers Foundation and a trustee of the Lowenstein Family Supporting Foundation.
Lowenstein held a deep belief in the value of the Jewish camping experience for children, and he worked closely with others to ensure that experience was made possible for many. One of those he worked with was former Jewish Federation associate executive director Alan Edelman, who was first hired in the early 1980s as the director of the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Education Council.
“We wanted to encourage more kids to take advantage of informal educational experiences and to be in a position to say that no child would be denied the camp or Israel experience for financial reasons,” Edelman said. “Partnering with Bill and Lon Lowenstein, as well as others passionate about informal learning, we were able to establish a First Time Campers incentive grant program.”
That program remains in place today.
Lowenstein also had a hand in starting and funding Jewish Employment Services, which would later become Career Skills & Connections, a joint program of Jewish Family Services and Jewish Vocational Service that helped hundreds of members of the Jewish community find jobs.
He co-created the Village Shalom humor project to bring smiles to the faces of Village Shalom residents, and he helped recommend and bring to Kansas City scholars in residence for the Jewish Community Center, such as Rabbi Judith Abrams.
Lowenstein grew up learning the importance of philanthropy and taking care of others — he was influenced greatly by his father, and he passed the importance of philanthropy and involvement on to his children.
Longtime friend and fellow Jewish philanthropist Harold Grinspoon said, “It is with great sadness that I learned that Bill passed away. I have such fond memories of being with him on trips out west, where we traveled with only a horse and mule through the wilderness for several days. I truly enjoyed spending time with Bill. My deep regret is that we did not spend more time together. Bill was unique and very special. I join [the Lowenstein family] in feeling the deep loss of such a marvelous human being.”
Lowenstein’s full obituary can be found here.
