Brotherhood

I was born August 19,1938 in Kansas City MO.  I attended Paseo High School in KC and graduated with honors in 1956, the University of Kansas City ( now UMKC) in 1956-57 (Freshman year), and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis 1957-1962) where I  taught the CPA Review course and Advanced Accounting. I graduated from School of Business with B.S.B.A. (1960 and Masters degree in Accounting (1962).

I married Sara Raskas on 9/3/61. We have 3 children, Edward Joel (b.1962), Stephanie Pam (1964-1996 ), Anne Elise (1968) and 4 grandchildren.

Moved to Kansas City where I worked for Wm. Pesman & Co. CPAs (1962-1963).
Moved to St. Louis where I worked for and became a partner in Epstein,Aftergut & Co. CPA’s, which merged with Grant Thornton, a national CPA firm. 
I worked for Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1983 through several mergers and became Morgan Stanley from which I retired in 2018.

I was a member of Shaare Zedek synagogue, serving as president in 1982-83.
I have also served: as Chair of the afternoon Hebrew School Commission and later as President of CAJE;  as President of Washington University Hillel Board of Directors; and as President of the  Solomon Schechter Day School.

 

Micki Kingsley
First,  I was both surprised and puzzled to have been chosen by the Kol Rinah Brotherhood as Sister of the Year.  I can understand the previous honorees. I read what they’ve done and how much time and energy they have contributed to Kol Rinah and to our community. And I say to myself "How do they do it!".

One of my faults is I can’t say no. And it’s because of my mother, z”l.  She was always involved in her shul and in her community, and she had the three of us kids involved in volunteer work from the time we were about ten. depending on the season and the need, we knit afghans, hats and blankets for Russians in the Soviet Union, served as candy stripers at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, we learned how to, and punched, Braille books. We painted and cemented apartment buildings in St. Louis; we marched for Civil Rights and more. Over the years, I read books at Jackson Park, did volunteer teaching in Math and English at my old Hamilton School to single mothers working toward a GED, volunteered evenings at the old Cedars, the Jewish Old Folks Home, and helped rewrite bylaws for my Condo Association.  

When I retired in the spring of 2012, I started volunteering in the office at Shaare Zedek, and continued as SZ and BSKI became one as Kol Rinah.  A lot of what I do involves services for Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and holidays. During the first six years, I was still president of the KR Sisterhood. I also enjoy being part of the Ritual Committee and the Engagement (formerly Membership) Committee. Since Covid and zoom, I try to do all the morning and evening minyanim, so that those who are observing a period of mourning or a yahrzeit can say Kaddish.  I guess my reward is in being a part of such a kind and caring community. What more could one ask?