Lewis Morris Rakusin

LEWIS RAKUSIN

Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:05 AM EDT Lewis Morris Rakusin, Montefiore’s chaplain and cantor for 20 years, died June 16 at age 92. He sang with the Jewish Singing Society and the Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple choir, and he was a past president and trustee of Choral Arts Cleveland.

Born in Boston, Mr. Rakusin was the son of a well-known cantor. He studied and sang with his father and studied music for 10 years with a music director at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple. A graduate of Glenville High School, Mr. Rakusin earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Western Reserve University, and he worked for many years as a credit manager and office manager. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II as a cryptographer.

Name: Lewis M Rakusin Birth Year: 1917 Race: White, citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: Massachusetts State of Residence: Ohio County or City: Cuyahoga

Enlistment Date: 20 Apr 1942 Enlistment State: Maine Enlistment City: Bangor Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life

Education: 2 years of college Civil Occupation: Sales clerks Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 68 Weight: 221

A member of Temple Israel Ner Tamid and an avid storyteller, Mr. Rakusin belonged to Jewish War Veterans Post 44 and HBSU (Hungarian Benevolent Society Union). He was a sports fan, and he played semi-professional football in Brockton, Mass.

Mr. Rakusin is survived by his wife of 63 years, Miriam; daughters Phyllis Weiss and Allene Lieber; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Contributions are suggested to the music fund at Montefiore.