Aaron Rabinovitz

Aaron “Zeyda” Rabinovitz died peacefully on September 1st, 2012 in Overland Park, Kansas succumbing to brain cancer at the age of 79. A lifelong learner and storyteller Aaron's zest for life was an inspiration for everyone he touched. His fiery passion for the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs was only surpassed by his love of family and commitment to the Jewish community. Aaron loved to learn new things. He studied everything from theoretical mathematics to musical composition to Talmud. He was wry, witty, and always armed with the worst possible pun for any situation. After retiring in 2002, he kept active by pursuing Judaic studies, playing bridge with friends, exercising regularly and debating philosophy and current events. He was an active member at two synagogues, Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, KS, and B’nai Emunah in Tulsa, OK. He also volunteered and tutored GED preparatory students. A master-griller, he loved to cook for his family and friends. His steaks, Challah and chicken soup are legendary. Family Man Aaron was born in 1932 during the Great Depression in Milwaukee, WI to a small family with two sisters, Leah and Mimi. Aaron worked at the family grocery store at a very young age. His mother, Pauline, died when he was a teenager. During leave from the Army in March 1955, he married his long-time sweetheart Shirley Spector. They met at Jewish Summer Camp when they were 16. She followed him to Germany where their first child, Paul, was born. Eventually Aaron and Shirley settled in Lawrence, KS and had three more children: Shanny, Joel and Mark. Their respective families and Aaron’s grandchildren were truly the center of his life. He was a constant comforting presence in his four children and seven grandchildren’s lives. ??He attended nearly every graduation, concert, school play and sporting event for all of his grandchildren. In spite of the fact that Aaron only had four biological children he often claimed that he really had eight kids. He always included his three daughters-in-laws, Amy, Debi and Susan and his son-in-law Eric when counting up his blessings. A few years after Shirley died in 1999, he moved back to Kansas to live with his daughter Shanny and Eric. Shortly after moving back to Kansas, he met Gloria Gershun. After a few short months of courting - playing bridge, dinner dates and giggling like a couple of teenagers, -- they became best friends and romantic partners in 2004 and lived together until her death in 2010. He often said with a glint in his eye how lucky and blessed he was to have found two soulmates in his life. Professional and Military Career Aaron began studying chemical engineering in Wisconsin but he had to put his education on hold, when he was drafted in 1954. He joined the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps and he was stationed abroad in France and Germany. His accolades included both a Good Conduct and Safe Driving Medal. Aaron was discharged in 1956 with the final rank of Specialist – E4. When Aaron was discharged from the army, he moved to Lawrence, KS and continued his Chemical Engineering education at the University of Kansas, but he soon gave up his studies to work at his in-law’s scrapyard. He continued to work in recycling for most of his professional life. He also lived in the Kansas City area until 1975 and moved to Tulsa, OK to work at Borg Compressed Steel from 1975 until 2003. For the last nine years, he has lived in Overland Park and Leawood, KS. Family of Aaron He was preceded by his parents Pauline and Albert Rabinovitz, his wife Shirley Rabinovitz and his partner Gloria Gershun.?? Survivors include his sisters and their husbands - Leah and Yale Knight and Mimi and Harold Paley, of Milwaukee, WI.?? His four children and their spouses are Paul and Amy Rabinovitz, from Omaha, NE; Shanny and Eric Morgenstern, from Overland Park, KS; Joel and Debi Rabinovitz, from Fairview, TX and Mark and Susan Rabinovitz, from Tulsa, OK. His seven grandchildren are Jarrod Morgenstern from New York, NY; Kailee Rabinovitz and her fiancé Landon Hughes from Irving, TX; Avi Morgenstern from Overland Park, KS; Zachary Rabinovitz from Dallas, TX; Katelyn Rabinovitz and her partner Justine Skipton, Amanda Rabinovitz, and Adam Cooper from Omaha, NE. Memorial Services A memorial service was held on Monday, September 3, at Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park. A graveside service was held on Tuesday, September 4, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa, under the direction of Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel Funeral Service. Donations Please consider a donation in Aaron’s name to Congregation Beth Torah, B’nai Emunah, CASA of Jackson County, or Jewish Family Services of Kansas City. “Not Bad.” 'How are you?' friends would often ask Aaron. “Not bad...for an old man!” he would say with a smile and a laugh to anyone who cared to listen. Aaron's legacy of community, commitment to family, lifelong education, and passion for love will reverberate with his family and friends forever. Not bad indeed. FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151

Aaron Rabinovitz

September 17, 1932 - September 1, 2012