Vol. XI.III—No. a»
rulillrutlon Office, 101 No. 'Jlltli St. Ojmilia. Nebraska. I'liuno 312-lSGfi
Tlic sudden death of David Blacker has stunned our community. We have lost an unfailing source of vision and leadership. Scores of groups and organizations, as well as a host of friends who loved and esteemed him, have been enriched by his vibrant spirit, by his restless searching mind, and by his convictions which were deeply held, and expressed with eloquence and enthusiasm.His life has set before us an example of greatness that will continue for many years to inspire our community. MILTON K. ABRAHAMS, President Omaha Jewish Federation In the deepest sense it is an unwarranted selfishness on the part of a community to consider itself bereaved; for the real bereavement is in the sanctuary of the home circle, where David Blacker was beloved as husband, father, grandfather, brother. But from another point of view the selfishness is warranted; for all of the rich qualities of intellect and emotion that he shared with his family—he also shared with the community. "Community" here means Jews; in Omaha, in the United States, in Israel and in all the world; it means Omahans, of all religions and races and political persuasions; it means Americans rich and poor, black and white, conservative and liberal; and it means the whole human race the world over. So broad was the spectrum of his interests that one would think he spread himself too thin. The fact is the reverse: he plunged into his activities with an incredible intensity and a total, almost reckless, investment of his whole personality. It was because of this that his contributions of energy, as well as of substance, were so extraordinary. It was because of this that his leadership was so persuasive, so magnetic. When his family is bereaved, then, so arc we, fellow Jews, fellow Omahans, fellow Americans, fellow men. RABBI MVElt S. KKll'KK Beth El Synagogue David Blacker wns an unusually good man who contributed a great deal to everything that represented human good and improvement. He was intensely Jewish, and vitally involved in the Jewish community, but his interests were not limited to Jewish life alone. He felt deeply about all the right tilings. He spoke with passion and fervor, both from his heart and his exceptionally keen mind. He gave not only his substance, but his intellect and his energy to all worthwhile goals. As our community was enriched with the friendship and leadership of David Blacker, so we now feel impoverished by his untimely death. Yet I am sure that among all of us who knew him, and benefited from his counsel and work among us, David Blacker will be insured a living immortality. May we be worthy of his blessing to us. RABBI SIDNEY II. BROOKS Temple Israel
Leadership of Sun Newspapers Editorial polirirs n'nrl business operation of the Sun Newspapers will remain basically unchanged, Stanford Lipsey said this week. Lipsey, 37, assumed tlic publisher's post following the death of David Blacker, who had built the organization over the past 30 years. "We'll continue to build and develop the Sun Newspapers in the ideals and traditions set by David Blacker," Lipsey said. "He and everyone in the organization has always had Hie goal of producing the best weekly newspapers in Ihc na- tion for the people of Omaha." Stan Lipsey's assumption of leadership of the Sun comes after 15 years of training in the organization. A native of Omaha and a 1945 graduate of Central High School, Lipsey took his A.B. degree from the University of Michigan in 1948 and then worked for two years as a salesman and public relations man for Libby, McNeil and Libby in California. In June of 1919 he married Jeanne Blacker, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs, David Blacker. He joined the South Omaha SUN shortly afterward and remained until he was called to duty with the Air Force Reserve during the Korean crisis. He returned to civilian life in July, 1952, became editor of the South Omaha SUN and assistant publisher c£ the San Newspapers iu 1955. In civic affairs, lie has been a founding member and chairman of the Douglas County chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and a member of the board of Beth El Synagogue. He is on the board of the South Omaha Merchants Association, the Woodson Center and the Jewish Foundation. In 19G4 he was c i t e d as "Advertising Man of the Year'' by the O m a h a Advertising Club. We mourn the loss of David Blacker. He was an outstanding Omahan whose spirit and philosophy and actions embraced the entire world. Kabhl Benjamin Grouer lleth Israel Synagogue
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Funeral services were held Monday, April 12, at Beth El Synagogue for David Blacker, (i.'i, who died on Sunday. Burial was at Beth El Cemetery. Jewish Press Publisher Mr. Blacker was the publisher of the Jewish Press from ltl.'JO to l!)f>0, and until his death was the publisher of the Sun Newspapers of Omaha. Iiclicvcd in Philanthropy Mr. Blacker was actively identified with the Jewish community and with civic a f f a i r s throughout his life time. He demonstrated his belief in the Jewish Philanthropies C a m p a i g n by serving as campaign chairman for three years, the only chairman who ever served as the head of three campaigns. In 1917, his second term as campaign chairman, Mr. Blacker's leadership resulted in a campaign total of $G5G,355, the second highest amount ever raised in an Omaha Philanthropies Campaign. That same year, he was a member of the action committee at a conference of the United Jewish Appeal in Reading, Pa. He helped draw up plans for its emergency campaign that raised 170 million dollars for relict, rehabilitation and resettlement of 1,400,000 Jews in Europe. Civic Campaigns Mr. Blacker was director of the Douglas County Multiple Sclerosis Society and past head of the national firms division of the United Community Services drive. He served on numerous UCS standing and special committees. Jewish Leadership Mr. Blacker was highly regarded by the Jewish Community to whom he gave many years of devoted leadership. He served as President of Beth El Synagogue, Chairman of the Israel Bond Drive, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, and in 1958, Chairman of the tenth anniversary celebration of the State of Israel. He served in key committees of the board of the Omaha Jewish Federation, and was an inspired leader in the advancement of Jewish education and Jewish cidture. Community Leadership In 1957 Mr. Blacker was awarded a Federal Civil Defense Administration c e r t i f i c a t e of merit. He was the recipient of a life membership award in the Nebraska P-TA and the Order of the Tower award from the University of Omaha. Mr. Blacker was a member of the Mayor's Bi-racial Committee, a member of the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Lutheran Hospital, and the South Omaha Boys Club. He served as president of the South Omaha Merchants Association. Survivors Mr. Blacker is survived by his wife, Marie; daughters, Mrs. Armon Kamesar, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. Stanford Lipsey, Omaha; son, Dr. H. Martin Blacker, Madison, Wis.; brothers, Dr. Morris Blacker, Leo Blacker and Harry Blacker, all of Los Angeles, California; sisters, Dorothy Blacker, Mrs. Mel Mathes and Mrs. George Thomas, all of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Marvin Koolish, Phoenix, Arizona; five grandchildren.
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mmnr oLJavicl 03lachei' In His Life Wo Were Blessed. In His Death We S t a n d Bereaved. May tlic- Blessing of His Memory Servo to Guide and Strengthen Us.
I was deeply grieved to learn of the untimely death of David Blacker one of the finest human beings I have ever known. David Blacker was a gifted leader and his devotion to his people was exemplary. I always looked to him while I served as Rabbi of Beth El Synagogue in Omaha for advice and guidance, and he never failed me. I remember especially his words of advice on how to approach people for philanthropic causes. He said: "You must leave a message with them. When you take from them, you give them something in return which will enrich their souls." This was David Blacker's philosophy of life. Whenever he gave, he felt he also received. He was a profound spiritual influence in the Jewish community of Omaha, and on the general community as well. He will be missed, because he cannot be replaced. He was great, because he was unique. There is no other like him. Mrs. Goldstein and I join the members of his family in mourning his death, because we too have lost a great and good friend. KABM DAVID GOLDSTEIN liar Zion Temple Philadelphia, Pa. In the world of newspapers the number "30" is placed at the end of a story to indicate completion. So it is now that "30" must be used reluctantly to signify that the meteor-like life of David Blacker is too suddenly completed. Our community, both Jewish and non-Jewish, was enlivened and enriched by his presence. It is impoverished by his leave-taking. David Blacker was a complex, dramatic personality composed of as many themes as a symphony, opening with an overture based on poverty, developing a theme of impatient effort to successfully build security, a theme encompassing love for the family of "every man" as strong as love for his own, a theme created from an intensity of moods as he was stirred deeply by actions and reactions of those who surrounded him. No one who heard his enchanted plea for the life and sustenance of the enslaved and desperate Jews in Europe in the 1940's will ever forget his passion as Jewish Philanthropies campaign head. No one who either agreed or disagreed with him will ever forget his frankness, his clear thinking, his undaunted devotion, his stubborn determination to fight for whatever cause he championed. No one who knew him as parent or friend, business associate or, as he was to me—''boss," will ever forget his perceptive, quick, inquisitive mind, his retentive memory, his constant pleasurable search for knowledge, his self-taught voluminous vocabulary, his gratefulness at acceptance as a respectable human being. When David Blacker walked in the streets of Omaha his friends knew color and excitement and challenge; without him there is a dullness to the lustre of our community, but there ia gratitude for having walked with him. MRS. MORKIS C. FELLMAN - Jewish Press Editor, 1943-47