Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - August 12, 1986
Deceased Name: Ralph J. Epstein, 72 Jewish leader headed a global firm
Ralph J. Epstein, 72, a Jewish community leader and past president of a major Chicago architectural engineering firm, died yesterday in Michael Reese Hospital.

Mr. Epstein was president of A. Epstein & Sons International, 600 W. Fulton, until retiring eight years ago. Before his retirement, he helped establish the company's international operations in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Mr. Epstein was a director of the Standard Club, and a member of both the Chicago and International Executive Service Corps. As a member of the International Corps, he served three months each in Indonesia, Portugal and Brazil.

Mr. Epstein was a member of the board of the Jewish Federation and Congregation Kol Ami. As a board member of the Jewish Vocational Service, he established a school for Russian immigrants, helping to acquaint them with the engineering profession. He also served as chairman of the building trades division of the Jewish United Fund.

He was on the board of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a director of the Chicago Federation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and a member of the Chicago Federation Settlement Center.

Mr. Epstein, who was born in Milwaukee, attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he was a Big 10 Conference fencing champion.

During World War II, he was a member of the team chosen to design the first U.S. jet airplane.

In 1985, Mr. Epstein was elected to the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Berenice; two daughters, Barbara Stevens and Irene Shanes, and a sister, Estherose Bachrach. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Furst Chapel, 5206 N. Broadway. Burial will be private.

Author: Patricia Smith
Edition: FIVE STAR SPORTS FINAL
Page: 68