Frances G. Horwich passionately embraced the legacy of caring passed on to her, and devoted her life to assuring that legacy would thrive for generations to come.
She was committed to her family and the Jewish community. And for her, the two were inseparable.
"My family is absolutely central to my commitment to give back to the community," said Horwich, who died March 29 at age 96.
Horwich and her late husband, Franklin, each came from families with strong Jewish backgrounds and active involvement in the Jewish community. They were driven by a deeply ingrained commitment to help those in need.
"Frances was elegant, smart, deeply committed to all things Jewish, humble, and a role model to many," said Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, JUF Executive Vice Chairman, who worked with Horwich for many years during his long tenure as JUF President.
"When I was a little girl," she often said, "my father told me it was important to know that you only need two dresses-the one you were wearing, and the one being washed. If you had three dresses, you were very fortunate indeed, and you must never ignore or forget those who had only two!"
That lesson grew into a lifetime of giving, both as a philanthropist and as a volunteer. Much of that was with the Jewish United Fund. She chaired a Major Gifts campaign, was long active with Women's Philanthropy, and joined many missions to Israel-one of her great loves.
"I've been involved with JUF for over half a century," Horwich said. "I got involved because I wanted to pass the torch that was handed to me by my family and my husband's family-and I am so honored to pass that torch on to the generations that follow me."
In addition, Horwich served on the Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) as a Founding and Multi-Generational Trustee and was a member of the JWF Five Sisters Legacy Society. She also served on the JCC Chicago Board, led Brandeis University's local chapter, and was a longtime supporter of Chicago's artistic community.
In 1966, the entire Horwich family made a gift that enabled construction of the Bernard Horwich JCC in West Rogers Park, named for Franklin's grandfather.
"Frances didn't just say '
l'dor v'dor
'--she lived it," said JUF President Lonnie Nasatir. "She dedicated her life, heart, and resources to her family and community, and set a better course for both in the process. What a wonderful legacy."
In 2015, Horwich received the Jewish Federation's highest honor, the Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award, marking a lifetime of commitment and contributions to Chicago's Jewish community.
Three years earlier, she received the international Lion of Judah Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award from the Jewish Federations of North America.
The Horwich family's roots run deep.
Frances Horwich's mother, Pearl Greenwald, was active in the Combined Jewish Appeal, JUF's predecessor, and led the group's first Women's Mission to Poland. On that trip, she was utterly shaken by her visit to the Auschwitz death camp, an experience that reinforced her commitment to serve.
Franklin's family also was deeply enmeshed in Jewish life. Grandfather Bernard, whom Franklin credited as his role model, was a leader in Chicago's Jewish community in the early 1900s.
Horwich and Franklin, in turn, sustained and nurtured that tradition, and instilled it in the next generation. Daughters Marjorie Kulp and Carol Luber both are longtime Jewish leaders--Kulp in Chicago, Luber in Palm Springs. Frances was deeply immersed in both communities.
Horwich's five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren are the next bearers of the family legacy.
"I have been blessed with a special opportunity to choose life, and to pass that choice from my parents' generation to my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren," she said.
"To shape history, one must be part of the day-to-day experiences of life," she added. "After much introspection, I have concluded that any leadership on my part always has been very simple: When asked to help, I said yes."
Horwich, a golden giver member of JUF, was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Franklin E. Horwich. She is survived by her daughters, Marjorie (Stephen) Kulp and Carol H. Luber; her five grandchildren Pamela Masters, Dana (Josh) Silver, Joanna Galler, Aaron (Jana) Luber, and Benjamin Luber; and her seven great-grandchildren, Olivia, Alexandra, Samantha, Victoria, Remy, Bryn, and Weston. She shared the last 14 years in the gracious company of her beloved care giver Stella. Funeral services were held at Congregation Rodfei Zedek in Chicago, followed by interment at Oak Woods Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to JUF.
Joel Schatz is a freelance writer living in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
