Karsun leaves $3.1 million to Jewish community

By JULIE DIAMOND

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The estate of Portland native Charles “Chuck” Karsun has been settled, revealing one of the largest endowment gifts ever, more than $3.1 million, to Portland’s Jewish community.

Karsun, best known as a musician and entertainer with the Chuck Karsun Orchestra, was deeply involved in the Jewish community during his life. Karsun died June 28. 2007.

Through his will, Karsun established the Chuck Karsun Memorial Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. The fund will generate annual distributions from the growth of the invested principal. Recipients include Jewish Family and Child Service, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Jewish National Fund, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Portland Jewish Academy and Congregation Shaarie Torah.

“Chuck knew exactly what he wanted to do with his estate and he wanted to make sure that his support would continue in perpetuity. He loved his Jewish community, performing for audiences with his orchestra, and giving back to others through support of the Jewish Senior Citizens Club, and his volunteer work at the Robison Jewish Home, for example,” said Marvin Nepom, Karsun’s longtime friend and attorney. Nepom was also one of two co-personal representatives of Karsun’s estate.

Karsun was a member of both Shaarie Torah and the Eastside Jewish Community of Portland. EJCOP awarded Karsun a lifetime membership, as did the Sisterhood of the Robison Jewish Health Center. The Jewish Senior Citizens Club dedicated a star in Karsun’s honor at Rose Schnitzer Manor.

Leonard Burda, Karsun’s lifelong friend and also co-personal representative of his estate, grew up with Karsun in the old Southwest Portland Jewish neighborhood, attending Portland Hebrew School (the Cheder) at the old Neighborhood House and going to AZA meetings at the B’nai B’rith building on Southwest 13th Avenue. They both went to Failing Grammar School and graduated from Lincoln High School. Later, Karsun graduated from the University of Oregon and went on to work for the Oregon Employment Division for 31 years.

“As kids, we went to Mosler’s Bakery on First Avenue almost every Sunday for bagels. We’d walk every week to visit the elderly and attend services at the Jewish Old People’s Home. Chuck grew up in a loving family with parents who valued tzedaka and Jewish community. He lived that way, too. Chuck also cherished his time playing the drums and his desire to entertain with his fellow musicians and in combos was an important ambition,” said Burda. “He was just a great friend and a wonderful person.”

Karsun was also a good friend of the late Arthur Krischevsky, another community member who left a generous endowment gift to the OJCF that now provides scholarships for Oregon students seeking Jewish learning in the United States and abroad.

Karsun’s closest relative, his uncle Norman Fisher, passed away in January. Although Fisher was named in the will, he was not able to enjoy the benefits of the bequest. However, Karsun arranged for the balance of those funds to flow back to the Jewish community if this situation occurred.

“I was delighted that Chuck remembered Shaarie Torah in his will. He was a member for so many years and a wonderful part of our community,” said Frieda Gass-Cohen, a lifelong member and board member of Shaarie Torah. “When I celebrated my 85th birthday, I asked for Chuck’s band to play. I wouldn’t have thought of anyone else.”

“We truly appreciate those individuals that leave endowment gifts like this to the synagogue. Chuck’s gift will allow us to take from the past and build a strong future,” said Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman of Shaarie Torah.

“Because of the tremendous needs that Jewish Family and Child Service has seen in the community, we are especially appreciative. This generous gift will provide assistance not only for people in need today, but also for those in future generations as well,” said JFCS Executive Director Marian Fenimore.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland will receive the largest of the annual distributions, enabling Karsun’s generosity to support a wide range of community needs through the work of the federated agencies.

“For those of us who knew him, Chuck’s generosity to the community is not unexpected, but the magnitude of his gift is a wonderful surprise. Particularly right now, with humanitarian need being so great, Chuck’s bequest is especially appreciated. I know that federation leadership will join me in urging those who can to follow Chuck’s example: to strengthen our community and its ability to meet the needs of our people in perpetuity by making generous bequests to federation and our other outstanding agencies,” said Charles R. Shiffman, JFGP executive vice-president.

The first distributions from the Chuck Karsun Memorial Fund of the OJCF will be made a year from now, allowing the principal to be preserved and the fund to grow, explained OJCF Executive Director John Moss.

“The Karsun funds will significantly increase the impact of our Community Endowment Fund. This is exactly the purpose envisioned for the OJCF at the time it was founded 20 years ago. We are honored to play this role in building a strong Jewish community, now and for the future,” he added.

For more information on how to arrange a bequest or named endowment for the benefit of your preferred Jewish nonprofit, contact the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation 503-248-9328 or visit www.ojcfgift.org.

Julie Diamond is director of development for the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.