Phyllis Rae Dattle Kalmin passed away on February 24, 2019 at the age of 70, born on March 19, 1948 in Houston, Texas to Bertha and Phillip Dattle of blessed memory. She lived her entire life in Houston, Texas where she graduated from Westbury High School. In 1971 she married Barry Kalmin and together they enjoyed all life had to offer for 47 years. They fulfilled their passion for travel, often taking their grandsons with them.
Phyllis is survived by husband; Barry, sons; Martin Reichek, Ryan Kalmin, and their grandsons; Aaron, Ashton and Aidan Reichek and Devin Kalmin, stepson; Murray Kalmin, and wife Amy and their children Sophie, Eddie, and Nathan, her sister; Laura Dattle Lempert, nephews; Marc Lempert, Rand Lempert and wife Lauren.
Phyllis and Barry made their lives about their grandsons, attending as many sports activities as possible, making sure they attended religious school, providing membership to the Museums and the Houston Zoo, and taking them on cruises, vacations throughout the US and Texas, and minor league baseball games.
Phyllis grew up in a close knit extended family including cousins, Larry Feldt and Marcia Feldt, Leonard Roth, and Sherry Roth Dolgoff. Family bonds and Jewish values produced a commitment to volunteer in the Houston community. She assumed leadership roles In B'nai B'rith Women, now JWI, for which she received the Houston Council Leadership Award and served as Council president, Co-founded the JWI Prejudice Awareness Summit in 1991 for 8th grade students in Houston Public Schools which has been ongoing for 18 years to teach the dangers of discrimination and bullying. It has been continued with the ADL as the Beau and Abe Merfish No Place For Hate Youth Summit to raise awareness across the city and the country. She devoted many years to Bnai Brith Youth Organization, becoming chapter advisor of Zainfeld girls in her twenties and Shapiro boys chapter advisor when her sons became teenagers. She served as President of the Houston BBYO Advisory Board becoming involved at the national level. She was a weekly volunteer in the Congregation Beth Yeshurun office and served on the Congregation committee of the Renewing the Promise project.
Phyllis's skills easily transferred to the workplace where she worked in the TJMaxx regional office and was assigned to train employees as new stores were opened from San Antonio to Louisiana.
The family thanks Henny Banning for her loving attention, The Village of Meyerland for their care, and Seasons Hospice for their comfort.
Donations in Phyllis's memory can be made to BBYO, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Sara Bertha Dattle Fund at Seven Acres Jewish Geriatric Center, or a charity of your choice.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18