Obituaries

Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:

www.detroitjewishnews.com

Vision Of Unity

Lifting The Underdog

cellor of University of California, San
port of legislation to help families and
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Diego public programs, said, "The
protect
children.
JFS
was
among
the
StaffWriter
Special to the Jewish News
goal
of the Dialogue is to improve the
agencies that established the Interfaith
region's
quality of life through cross-
r. Charles Nathanson envi-
Emergency Center in downtown
he Jewish community's most
border
development,
promoting school
sioned
a
bi-national,
united
Detroit,
to
help
people
affected
by
the
vulnerable people had a stal-
reform
and
building
more
livable com-
community
in
the
San
1967
riots.
wart champion in Samuel
munities.
Diego-Baja
California
area
Mr.
Lerner,
the
son
of
a
Chasidic
Lerner, a clinical social work-
"By bringing together leaders and
— and worked tirelessly to bridge the
rabbi, graduated Rutgers University in
er who served 27 years as executive direc-
thinkers from throughout California
social and economic gap in the region.
his native New Jersey. During World
tor of the Jewish Family Service of
and Baja California, Chuck champi-
Dr. Nathanson, 61, a former
War II, he was an Army corporal. He
Metropolitan Detroit (JFS).
oned the ideal that manmade borders
Detroiter of Del Mar, Calif, died on
earned his master's at Smith College of
When asked in a 1988 Jewish News
should
not be barriers to innovative,
June
5,
2003,
from
complications
of
Social
Work
in
Massachusetts.
interview why he had devoted his life to
solutions-oriented
thinking," she said.
extensive
treatment
for
cancer
of
the
While
employed
at
the
Jewish
Board
social work, Mr. Lerner said he "always
"With
an
invited
membership of
of
Guardians
in
New
York,
Mr.
Lerner
thymus.
had a compassionate feeling for the
150 individuals from San Diego and
Dr. Nathanson served as the execu-
was introduced to his future wife,
underdog and people who have trouble
Baja California, including business
tive director of the cross-border San
Ernestine Stern. The world-traveling
adjusting to this world."
leaders, high-tech entrepre-
Lerners were married for
Diego Dialogue, a lead-
During his tenure from
neurs, media representa-
ing
forum
for
policy
more than 40 years, until
1963-1989, he and his staff
tives, educators, scholars
her
death
in
1990.
Mr.
analysis,
research
and
instituted vital programs to
and
cultural and civic lead-
Lerner
and
his
wife,
a
psy-
public
education
in
the
help Jews in need overcome
ers,
the
Dialogue has con-
San
Diego-Baja
chotherapist
and
psycho-
social, emotional and eco-
tributed to the transforma-
California region.
analyst, helped found the
nomic problems.
tion of cross-border com-
As a youth in Detroit,
Michigan Society for
"Dad believed all members
munication and planning.
Clinical Social Work in the he was the president of
of society should have avail-
"Chuck's message always
the
Temple
Beth
El
youth
late
1960s;
he
was
a
presi-
able to them whatever servic-
focused
on enlightened
club
in
1956
—
the
same
dent.
es and resources were neces-
engagement
through active
Mr.
Lerner
held
prior
year
his
father,
Ben,
was
sary to deal with the difficul-
listening,
creativity
and
president
of
the
men's
social
work
positions
in
St.
ties" of life, said his son,
consensus building," she
Paul, Minn., and Battle
club. "Throughout his
Joshua Lerner.
said.
Creek. Moving to Detroit,
life," said his father, "he
Mr. Lerner's leadership of
Dr. Nathanson also
was so enthused about
he was director of social
JFS further enhanced its
Dr. Charles Nathanson served on many boards of
Samuel Le rner
the
things
he
was
doing."
services
for
Wayne
County
national reputation, and he
directors, including the San
In high school, Dr.
Juvenile Court.
became the first honoree pre-
Diego
Convention
& Visitors Bureau,
Nathanson
transferred
to
Detroit
Mr.
Lerner
was
president
of
the
sented with the Mandell L. and
the Association of Parents of
Country Day School after one year at
National Association of Jewish Family,
Madeleine H. Berman Award for distin-
University Students, the advisory
Mumford because the smaller private
Children's and Health Professionals and
guished communal service in 1988.
council of the Immigration Museum
school offered a better opportunity to
received its Naches Award. The nonprof-
Wearing his other hat as executive
of New Americans, the Port
engage
in
sports
and
the
debating
it Area Agency on Aging 1B honored
director of Jewish Resettlement Service,
Chairman's Advisory Committee for
team,
said
his
father.
him
for
"improving
the
quality
of
life
for
Mr. Lerner oversaw the absorption of
the Port of San Diego and the San
Dr.
Nathanson
received
his
B.A.
older
adults."
large numbers of Russian and Eastern
Diego Association of Governments'
from
Harvard
University
in
Joshua
Lerner
described
his
father
as
European refugees into the community
Citizens Advisory Committee.
Cambridge, Mass., in 1963, and his
"an intellectual man interested in history,
Samuel Lerner, 86, of Bloomfield
"He was fantastic, never complained
Ph.D. from Brandeis University in
philosophy and politics" who played
Hills, died June 21, 2003, of lung cancer
about
anything, and he was so active
Waltham, Mass. He taught sociology
chess and squash and belonged to the
and chronic lymphatic leukemia.
in
so
many
things," said Ben
at
Brandeis,
the
New
England
Upon announcement of his retirement Institute for Retired Professionals.
Nathanson.
Conservatory
of
Music
and
the
It
was
as
leader
of
JFS,
however,
that
15 years ago, Mr. Lerner cited four career
"We feel deep sorrow for his pass-
University of California-San Diego.
Mr. Lerner made his mark, "building a
accomplishments that gave him pride:
ing,"
said Eugenio Elorduy Walther,
His
journalism
career
included
work
as
world-class
institution
for
the
delivery
of
the housing relocation project, which
Governor of Baja California. "He was
an assistant city editor at the Detroit
services," said former JFS President
moved Jews in the inner city to the
the 'spark plug,' of the group, and his
Free Press.
Susan Citrin.
northwest suburbs; the poverty project,
absence
will leave a void in the com-
It took Dr. Nathanson's father in
Samuel Lerner is survived by his son
which benefited the Jewish poor; group
munity
that
will be difficult to fill."
Southfield
a
while
to
realize
the
scope
and daughter-in-law, Joshua B. and Edna
apartments for the elderly; and in-home
California
State Sen. Dede Alpert
of
his
son's
efforts
in
San
Diego
with
Lerner
of
New
Jersey;
granddaughter,
respite care.
said,
"Dr.
Nathanson
was truly com-
the
Dialogue.
Gina
DiPonio;
and
brother
and
sister-in-
Margaret Weiner, retired JFS associate
mitted
to
closing
the
achievement
gap
"My
friends
would
ask,
'What
does
law,
Joseph
and
Joyce
Lerner
of
Florida.
director, said Mr. Lerner was "one of a
in our schools and invested countless
your son do?"' Ben Nathanson said. "I
He was the beloved husband of the
handful of executives who realized in the
hours of his won time and energy to
asked someone on the Dialogue and
late Ernestine Lerner.
early 1970s that many Jews among us
try to accomplish this."
they said, 'Think of him as the ambas-
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
were at an economic and social disadvan-
Dr. Nathanson is survived by his
—
sador
to
Mexico
without
portfolio.
Park. Contributions may be made to the
tage." She added that Mr. Lerner was
wife
of 31 years, Dr. Laura Nathanson;
Ben
Nathanson
said
he
had
no
idea
Samuel
Lerner
Fund
at
Jewish
Family
responsible for the JFS offering group
their
daughter, Sara, of Arlington, Va.;
of
the
large
impact
his
son
had
on
the
Service,
6960
Orchard
Lake
Road,
West
therapeutic services.
and
his
father, Ben Nathanson of
people
there.
Bloomfield,
MI
48322.
Arrangements
by
"He was concerned about the larger
Southfield. E
Mary Walshok, associate vice chan-
Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑
community," she said, recalling his sup-

ESTHER ALLWEISS TSCHIRHART

T

6/27
2003

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