Local Jewish philanthropist and real estate investor Stanley J. Bushman died at age 96 on March 7, leaving a legacy of generosity and support for his community.
Bushman’s impact on the Kansas City Jewish community has been continuous and influential. Bushman notably served as the president of the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) from 1997 to 2000 (later being named a life trustee) and was a key funder in Village Shalom’s senior care facility in 2000, the entrance of which bears his name. His establishment of the Stanley J. Bushman Charitable Supporting Foundation (housed at JCF) facilitated frequent donations to numerous Jewish and Kansas City community organizations over the past few decades.
Bushman also founded the Bushman Community Endowment Program in 2007, led by Bushman and Merilyn Berenbom in partnership with JCF. The program aimed to train congregations and agencies on the tools and techniques of planned giving. This program resulted in more than 440 donors committing in excess of $40 million, with Bushman calling it “the best investment I ever made in my life.”
Due to his support and endowment through JCF, Bushman was included in the organization’s Endowment Book of Life and was quoted as saying, “Help others while you are living — when you are gone, you won’t know what you did — and you will have missed the fun.”
Bushman’s philanthropy has touched many community agencies — his $6 million unrestricted donation ($2 million each) to Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City and Village Shalom in 2022 being just one example.
“I can’t imagine a Village Shalom without Stan,” said former Village Shalom executive director Matt Lewis.
Bushman’s generosity was also felt by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, to which he donated nearly $2 million during his lifetime.
“He was a pillar of generosity and leadership in our community and a true philanthropic role model,” Federation President and CEO Jay Lewis said. “Through his support, Stan helped shape the future of Jewish Kansas City in ways that will be felt for generations.”
In addition to his philanthropic acumen, Bushman was a skilled investor and businessman. His career began by acquiring apartment buildings, followed by additional real estate ventures and investments. He was a business partner with Charley Helzberg for more than six decades in the real estate field.
His success led him to be recognized by multiple mayors of Kansas City as a member of the Kansas City Housing Authority. He told The Chronicle in 2002 that “the greatest source of wealth in this country is real estate.”
Bushman is survived by his partner of 59 years, Ann Canfield; niece and nephew Jill Goodman of St. Louis, Missouri, and Todd Goodman of Newport Beach, California; and his impactful legacy in the Kansas City Jewish community.