Generous to the end

Two couples leave $12 M to charities

By Jonathan Rubin

jrubin@jfri.org

PROVIDENCE — Two couples with long histories of leadership in Providence’s Jewish community, notably at Temple Beth-El, bequeathed a total of $12 million from their estates, with special provisions in each for Jewish charities.

Melvin Zurier, a lawyer at Tillinghast Licht LLP, who created the foundations, was a friend of both Dr. Seebert and Gertrude Goldowsky and Helene and Bertram Bernhard for many years. Through two named trusts, their passion for philanthropy continues well into the future, as was their wish.

“It was my privilege, really, to know them,” said Zurier, who is a trustee of the Goldowsky foundation and counsel for the trustees of the other foundation — Robert J. Huckins and Rabbi Leslie Gutterman of Temple Beth-El.

Benefactors

Helene (Donig) and Bertram Bernhardt were not reticent people. Helene, daughter of a buyer for The Outlet Company, the largest department store in Rhode Island at one time, was committed to recycling before it became part of everyday life.

Anne Sherman, office manager at the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association (RIJHA), remembers Helene bringing in shopping bags full of egg crates and packing materials that children could use for art projects. She created a clothing donation program for the National Council of Jewish Women, and even donated her mother’s and grandmother’s weddings dresses to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum.

Born in Providence, Helene became attached to Temple Beth-El at a young age; she attended Hebrew school and was confirmed there in 1921.

An avid golfer, she met her husband-to-be, Bertram, on the links.

He was a “master salesman,” Zurier said, and was a dapper dresser well into his 90s.

Bertram held various professional positions — as a stockbroker at Rothbern and Co., a vice president at Teknor Apex, a plastics company in Pawtucket; and then again as a stockbroker at G.H. Walker Co., which became Smith Barney Citigroup, until retiring at age 90.

The couple lived purposeful but practical lives (residing in her parents’ home for more than 50 years), but when it came to the Jewish and secular communities, they showed their hearts of gold. Helene was said to have called Hope High School, where she had been a student and asked the principal what the school needed, declining to give her name. “New uniforms” was the response, costing about $40,000. “You have it,” she replied, and it was so.

They were proud to be Jewish, and were involved in a plethora of organizations. She served as president of the women’s division at Federation and Beth-El’s sisterhood, as well as being committed to Brandeis, the Red Cross, and the blind (she created a “talking books” program at the temple). 

Bertram was totally devoted to the temple and Helene, friends said. He served as president there, helped head the building of the Jewish Community Center at its current location on Elmgrove Avenue, as well as B’nai B’rith, Brown Hillel, Camp JORI, the Anti-Defamation League, the Miriam Hospital and many others.

Both also loved theater, and Bertram produced amateur plays at the Barker Playhouse to benefit the former Jewish Home for the Aged, while Helene worked as prop manager.

They were such synagogue mainstays that they became “almost family” to Beth-El’s Rabbi Leslie Gutterman.

Upon their deaths (she in 1998, he in 2005), their assets, totaling about $10 million, formed the Helene Donig and Bertram L. Bernhardt Charitable Trust.

Detailed devotion

Dr. Seebert and Gertrude Goldowsky were “very smart, no-nonsense type of people, especially about their charities,” said Zurier.

Judaism and medicine were the focal points of Seebert’s life. He graduated from Classical High School, Brown University and Harvard Medical School in 1932. He served as a combat surgeon in the Pacific during World War II. When he returned home, he practiced surgery and ultimately became the chief of surgery at Miriam Hospital, where he was also president for two terms. In 1972, he became the first full-time director of Blue Cross / Blue Shield.

His avocations were writing and history; publishing numerous books and articles on medicine and history, including the history of Temple Beth-El. He also edited the Rhode Island Medical Journal for 27 years and RIJHA’s “Notes” publication for 16 years, where he also served as president.

“He was the conscience of the Historical Association” wrote former RIJHA president George Goodwin. He also served on the Rhode Island Historical Society and the American Jewish Historical Society.

His wife, Gertrude, known to everyone as “Bonnie,” was also a giver, and would make “a zillion $10 donations” to many organizations. She supported the capital campaign at the Miriam Hospital, where she was an active volunteer for 40 years. She was also a devoted minutes checker at the historical association. She wrote letters to the Providence Journal pointing out misused commas, or to the networks when a newscaster used the wrong verb, a friend remembers.

Upon their passing, the Dr. Seebert J. and Gertrude N. Goldowsky Foundation was created with assets of almost $2 million.

Neither couple had children.

The Goldowsky and Bernhardt Foundations are currently accepting proposals from the community. Jewish organizations, especially those with whom the couples have had previous connections, are encouraged to apply. Distributions are principally made in December.

For more information, write to: Melvin L. Zurier, c/o Dr. Seebert and Gertrude Goldowsky Foundation or Helene (Donig) and Bertram L. Bernhardt Foundation, Tillinghast Licht LLP, 10 Weybosset St., 10th floor, Providence RI 02903.