Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 June 2002 — Page 8

HA I ‘i JUIIC 3. 2002

Obituaries Alfred Flreishman served world Jewry

Dr. David Abrahamsen, psychiatrist, author HAMDEN.Ct. — Dr. David Abrahamsen, who wrote a book-length analysis of Richard Nixon and of the serial killer known as Son of Sam, died at the age of 98. Born in Norway, the son of one of the first Jewish families to settle there, which led to publication of his first book, "1 am a Jew," he received his medical training in Oslo and after coming to the U.S., he worked at the Illinois State Penitentiary and later at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, N.Y. Lois Gould, 70, novelist, editor NEW YORK — Lois Gould, novelist, essayist and critic, best known for her debut novel, "Such Good Friends," died at the age of 70 after a bout with cancer. An essayist and a critic, she was a frequent contributor to the New York Times. She was an editor on several national magazines and executive editor of Ladies Home Journal. Howard Stemheim,70, drug chain executive NEW YORK — Howard Sternheim, president of Thriftway Drug Corp., died at the age of 70. He was active with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Sarah Wall, 62, UC executive RIVERSIDE, Ca. —Sarah Wall, former director of the Learning Center of the University of California at Riverside died at the age of 62. As a child she had been hidden during the Holocaust

By Gabriel Cohen The world Jewish community has lost a hero with the death on May 28 in St. Louis of Alfred Fleishman. He was 96 years old. Beginning on Dec. 26,1990, Mr. Fleishman wrote a weekly column for the P-O He continued to write weekly until his final illness, when the columns became fewer, but never less vigorous. When he died he had written more than one year ahead on his monthly column, "Common Sense Communications," for the St. Louis Business Journal. He used his first column in this newspaper to berate a Jewish war hero, former general Ariel Sharon. Fleishman disagreed with Sharon and Yitzhak Shamir and their Likud Party for their hard line against the Palestinians. He made no claim to having the answer to the Palestinian dilemma. But he said 2 million Palestinians wouldn't just go away and that Israeli leaders were failing to ask themselves what to do about that population. A loyal member and booster of the Jewish War Veterans, he berated that organization in a column in April 1993. The JWV commander had stridently opposed inclusion of Americans for Peace Now as members of the Council of Jewish Presidents of Major Organizations. Like his fellow JWV members, Mr. Fleishman was proudly pro-Israel. He visited the Jewish state 57 times - most recently in 1997. He covered Israel's 1967 and 1973 wars as a foreign correspondent. What irked him was

anyone's insistence that the Jewisn community be monolithic in its stances. He said Jews have lacked unity since the time of Moses and don't need it; they need mutual respect for each other's views.

Chicago 2002

A gathering of Descendants of Shoah and their familicsj 3-day conference: June 30-July 2, 2002 Palmer House.Hilton Chicago, Illinois For more info: http://Chicago2002.descendants.org 888-871-0426 email: [email protected] ISupportcd by: She’erit HaPiciuh of Metropolitan Chicago; Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago;! rHie lewiih Federation of (iteater Ian Angela

Alfred Fleishman Mr. Fleishman used his public relations skills as an Army Air Forces major with Pentagon insignia and visited Germany in that capacity in October 1945. He wrote a much-reprinted and requested article about the "Remnants of Israel" he viewed in the Displaced Persons camps where he had interviewed Jewish refugees on behalf of both the military and the American Jewish Congress. His report on their needs helped inspire relief efforts. Mr. Fleishman revisited Germany in the 60s as a member of a commission appointed by President Johnson to report on the Marshall Plan. In 1998, St. Louis area Jewish groups celebrating the 50th anniversary of Israel honored Mr. Fleishman as one of St. Louis's "Three Patriarchs" for

their support of Israel. He was a former president of Congregation B'nai Amoona in Creve Coeur, a former president and campaign chairman of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and a co-founder of the St. Louis Jewish Light newspaper. "He was a giant in every way in the Jewish community," said Rabbi Eric Cytryn of B'nai Amoona. "He helped lead St. Louis through a hesitant acceptance of Jewish people to an acceptance of everyone, no matter their skin color or religion." Three weeks ago, Cytryn visited Mr. Fleishman and spoke with him about Israel and the terrorist violence. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch honored his memory with a prominent death story and reported that Cytryn said, "He told me, 'Part of being Jewish is being an optimist,' " Cytryn said. "For a man in his 90s, who has seen Israel go through so much, having his optimism is amazing and inspiring." Mr. Fleishman was born in St. Louis and was a graduate of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, but made his name with a reporter friend. Bob Hillard, when they founded Fleishman Hillard Public Relations, after returning in 1946 from their World War II military service. Mr. Fleishman retired in 1975 but retained the title of chairman emeritus. Hillard died in March 2000. Still based in St. Louis, Fleishman-Hillard is the world's second-largest public relations company and has offices in 83 cities. Mr. Fleishman was a key

link between St. Louis' business leaders and its black community. He helped found the Dialogue Committee in the 1960s to bring the two groups together. He wrote three books on public relations: "Sense and Nonsense: A Study in Human Communication," "Troubled Talk" and "Dialogue with Street Fighters." He was the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis' Media Person of the Year in 1989. He also received honors from the American Jewish Committee and the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Fleishman's wife of 58 years, Lucylle Magid Fleishman, died in 1987. They had no children. He is survived by a widowed sister, Dorothy Schucart of Detroit. At his request, there was a brief, private funeral and graveside service.

Joy of spelling runs in family WASHINGTON — One of three spellers who tied for third place in the National Spelling Bee, Joy Goldstein, 12, of Long Island, N.Y., was the third of four siblings in her family to compete. The youngest Goldstein wore a T-shirt proclaiming: "My 3 siblings have made it to the (National Spelling Bee.) I’m next.” Joy tied for seventh place two years ago. Her sister tied for fourth in 1998; her brother tied for 16th last year.

A new era is here!