Sidney and Lorraine Cooperman OF BLESSED MEMORY
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Sidney and Lorraine Cooperman OF BLESSED MEMORY
Lorraine Ruth Cooperman passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Sidney Cooperman passed away on March 31 soon after the passing of his wife, Lorraine. They left a legacy of love with their daughters Diane (Stephen) and Sandy (Steve), seven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.
Sidney meeting Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir
After Sidney’s service in World War II and a career in manufacturing, banking and real estate, he and Lorraine dedicated themselves to a lifetime of Jewish philanthropy. “My parents set an example that, as Jews, it is our responsibility to support our Jewish community both locally and abroad, especially Israel,” said their daughter Diane Wander. Both Sidney and Lorraine had been generously supporting the Federation annual campaign for over 30 years; Lorraine was a proud Lion of Judah and together, Sidney and Lorraine were Pacesetters.
The Coopermans held leadership positions at a number of Jewish organizations including Temple Emanuel (as congregational President and Sisterhood President respectively), Israel Bonds (Chairman and Women’s Division Leader) and society members of Mount Sinai Hospital. In Israel, Sidney and Lorraine were founders of Boystown Jerusalem and Sidney was Chairman of the American Committee for the
Beersheva Foundation. They also donated a classroom at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev in memory of Lorraine’s parents. “Both my parents were leaders in their own way. My father, Sidney, was a force of nature. He was always up on the podium. He was charming, a great conversationalist and very successful at raising money. He
Sidney with Yitzchak Rabin
put his heart and soul into everything he did and he always followed through on whatever he was asked to do. My mother was the perfect lady, a lady of class; ‘Sweet Lorraine’ was her nickname. She was quieter in her presence and didn’t need the recognition, yet held leadership positions in the organizations that mattered most to her; she was a leader in her own right,” remembers Diane. After Sidney’s passing, Diane began to realize the extent of her father’s charitable support. “When I started going through his papers, I saw so many copies of checks written out to so many Jewish organizations, some of which I had never even heard of. If my father was asked to contribute to a Jewish organization,
the answer was always yes.” For the Coopermans, family always came first and their love and support for their daughters, Diane and Sandy was unconditional. “My parents had a traditional marriage; my father was in charge. Yet, he raised my sister Sandy and I to be independent women. It was important to him that we succeeded on our own. Education was a priority and he took a lot
of pride when I received my doctorate,” shared Diane. “A Cooperman is not a quitter,” was something that Sidney was often heard saying. Sidney and Lorraine Cooperman left a lasting legacy to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation through a generous gift in their will making them Forever Pacesetters and Lorraine a Forever Lion. Each year,
Family photo at Boys Town of Jerusalem Dinner honoring Sidney
a Pacesetter-level gift is made in their names to the Federation/ UJA annual campaign ensuring that their support of the Miami Jewish community and Israel, as well as their Jewish values, will continue in perpetuity. “I’m so proud that their legacy of Jewish philanthropy will continue. I’m equally proud that their commitment to our Jewish community will also continue through me and my husband, Stephen, and my children, Benjamin, Robin, Joshua and Mollie,” said Diane.
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Diane Wander and Sidney Cooperman meeting Menachem Begin
Temple Beth Am AND Rambam Day School
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
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