St. Louis Community Suffers Loss With Passing of Ronni Handelman

I once read that a  dear friend is someone who leaves "footprints on your heart." Such a person may leave your sight, but the impact of their life is so profound, it is indelibly imprinted upon your memory. Moreover, their example incites others to live more deliberately, more thoughtfully--to make a difference in the lives of those they touch.

Ronni Handelman was such a person. Her passing is a major loss for the St. Louis community, and for all that had the privilege  and honor to know her. 

Ronni Handelman, professional volunteer and passionate advocate for social justice, lost a five-year battle with non-smoker’s lung cancer Friday, May 13. She was 62. Her funeral service was Sunday, May 15, at Congregation Temple Israel. She was buried at Mt. Sinai Mausoleum.

A licensed clinical social worker, Handelman used her educational training to make significant contributions a volunteer leader for many St. Louis organizations. She was particularly interested in raising funds for Israel, a country that gained its independence in 1948, the year she was born.

Compassion for others was key to her volunteerism. Whether she was hosting foreign visitors, raising money, building bridges between diverse communities or initiating exciting new programs, Handelman made the task a pleasure and always did it with a smile.

“Nothing stopped Ronni from rolling up her sleeves and doing what needed to be done,” said Karen Kalish, co-founder with Handelman of St. Louis Cultural Leadership. “She repeatedly demonstrated that she had a deep sense of social responsibility and was committed to social action.”

Handelman helped Kalish launch Cultural Leadership, an educational leadership program in St. Louis for African American and Jewish teens, and succeeded her as Chair of its Board.

A proud Lion of Judah, Handelman served as President of Jewish Federation’s Women’s Division (now Women’s Connection), and as vice president of the Jewish Federation board. She was a member of the National Women’s Board of United Jewish Communities (now Jewish Federations of North America), vice president of the Jewish Community Relations council, and chaired the Government Relations Office of the Missouri Jewish Federations.

“Ronni was always wholly engaged and wonderfully effective,” said Batya Abramson-Goldstein, JCRC’s executive director. “Her compassion for others was expressed through her outstanding service as chair of the JCRC Refugee relief Effort and the JCRC International Human Rights Committee,”

Handelman was a board member of St. Louis Hillel and a member of the National Hillel Board of Directors. She was a member of the African American/Jewish Task Force of St. Louis, was a president of the Board of the American Jewish Committee (1996-99) and went on several missions to Israel and Russia.

Handelman was honored on many occasions for her contributions to the community. She was chosen a Woman of Achievement in 2007 for her commitment to social responsibility. She received the Netzach Award from the American Jewish Committee with her niece Patty Bloom, and the the Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award from National Conference for Community and Justice.

“The passing of Ronni Handelman is an enormous personal and communal loss,” said Barry Rosenberg, executive vice president of Jewish Federation. “For decades Ronni provided warm, inspired, energetic and selfless leadership to the Jewish and larger community. Her reach was enormous and her impact was monumental.”

She was the beloved wife of Gary Handelman for 43 years; mother of Amy (Burt) Garland, St. Louis; Michael (Karen) Handelman of Phoenix, and David Handelman of New York. She was the daughter of Esther (the late Foster) Schlutz, Chicago, and daughter in law of Frieda (the late Lester) Handelman, St. Louis; sister of Leslie (Melvin Nadler), Chicago; Grandmother of Sophia, Jason and Grant Garland, St. Louis and Maya and Lila Handelman, Phoenix; sister in law of Howard and Alice Handelman and Neil and Natalie Handelman.

Memorial contributions preferred to The Ronni Handelman Lung Cancer Research Fund, Barnes Jewish Hospital Foundation, 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 140, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1337.