Miriam Lerner Obituary (2007) - Overland Park, Kansas

Miriam W. (Mrs. Joseph S.) Lerner, 99, passed away peacefully, on Monday, July 30, at Menorah Medical Center, surrounded by members of her loving family. She succumbed to a series of recent illnesses. Funeral services will be at 12:30pm Thursday, August 2, at The Louis Memorial Chapel. Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, immediately following the service. Miriam was born in Kansas City into the family of the remarkable Goldman brothers, George, Fred, Max and Abe, and their many sisters, including Sue, Miriam’s mother. The Goldman brothers were leaders in the medical, civic, charitable, Jewish and Catholic communities in Kansas City all of their lives. After her father, William Wolf, died when she was a young woman, Miriam’s uncle, George Goldman, an Acting Mayor of Kansas City, raised her, and supported her together with her mother, Sue Goldman Wolf. Miriam graduated from Kansas City Junior College, and attended the University of Wisconsin, where she was a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She began playing the violin at Central High School, was Concertmistress there, and remained involved with music for the rest of her life. In the 1960’s she still performed with the Civic Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Francis Bubendorf. For decades, Miriam was a significant supporter of the Conservatory of Music, the Kansas City Philharmonic, and Starlight Theatre. In 1961, she founded and chaired the Connoisseur Concert Series of the Kansas City Philharmonic, and remained chairman for its first two years. She was a Board member of the Philharmonic for many years. She was a loyal contributor to the Women’s Committee of the Conservatory of Music for over thirty years. She entertained Mr. and Mrs. Richard Berger and the production staffs and casts of Starlight Theatre shows during many of the theater’s first twenty-one years. She was a member for many years of the St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary and the Menorah Hospital Auxiliary. For most of her life she was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women, Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, and the Friends of Art. She was a lifelong member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. In 1951 and in 1952, Miriam was Chairman of the Schuman- Heick Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Tag Day. In the 1950’s, she was a volunteer driver for the American Red Cross. Miriam was also an avid golfer and tennis player, and continued playing golf at Oakwood Country Club into her 60’s. Miriam married Joseph S. Lerner in 1935, and was devoted to him until his death in 1971. Mr. Lerner owned and operated J.S. Lerner’s Vogue stores, a chain of ladies ready-to-wear stores throughout the Midwest, and later became a principal owner of National Bellas Hess, a national mail order merchandiser headquartered in North Kansas City. She played a considerable role in his many business, civic and charitable activities, and was an indispensable partner in those activities, and a constant companion throughout his life. The other joys of her life were her four children, Joe, Jr., Terry, Sunny and Mick. She supported them in all their activities and supported their schools, Pembroke-Country Day and Sunset Hill, for over two decades, ultimately serving as President of the Pem-Day Parent Teachers Association. She delighted in her many trips to Stanford, and especially in the three graduations she attended there. Her daughter-in-law, Juliana, and her three grandchildren living in Atlanta, became equally important to her, and a source of great pride and pleasure. Her newest grandchild, Mickey, kept her young, vital and vibrant; she was thrilled to be able to attend his school and sporting events, and to watch him grow up, even in her twilight years. Miriam was the matriarch of her family for most of her long and wonderful life, of almost a century. Survivors include her daughter, Sunny, and her sons Terry and Mick, all of Kansas City, and her son Joe, Jr., and his wife, Juliana, of Atlanta, plus grandchildren Joseph S. (Joey) Lerner, III, Mark Julian Lerner, Lauren Baum Lerner, and Michael William (Mickey) Lerner, II. Miriam’s family sincerely appreciates all of the care and attention provided by the wonderful nurses and staff at Village Shalom, where she lived for several years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah or the charity of the donor’s choice.