Fred Howard Isenstadt

To view this service please navigate to: https://youtu.be/kGRLJ-nDBn4 FRED ISENSTADT, WW II veteran, home builder, and former member and president of the Beachwood School Board, passed away on June 9 at age 95. The cause of his death was complications from kidney failure. Fred Isenstadt was born in 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Glenville High School and Case Western Reserve University, married his high school sweetheart Shirley, and served four years in the Navy during World War II, achieving the rank of lieutenant. After leaving the Navy in 1946, Isenstadt began work at Forest City Enterprises, where he led a program to teach veterans how to build their own homes. In 1948 he entered the home building business on his own. Later, as a principal of Living Homes Company, Isenstadt, with his partner the late Robert Stein, developed and built communities, including Pinegate Village in Mentor, containing more than 1200 homes, along with parks, playgrounds, lakes, walking paths, and open spaces. Isenstadt also built his own family's first home in South Euclid in 1948, and its second in Beachwood in 1955. Shortly after moving to Beachwood, with his wife and two young sons, Isenstadt and other residents learned that the City of Shaker Heights planned to close its high school to Beachwood's burgeoning student population. Isenstadt ran for the Beachwood School Board in 1958 and served on it for twelve years. With his colleagues he spearheaded and oversaw the construction of Beachwood High School and other facilities that made possible the school system's eventual growth from 400 to 2000 students. In 1962 Fred Isenstadt suffered a heart attack. His doctors warned him that severe coronary artery disease might not leave him long to live, at a time when angioplasty, heart bypass surgery, and statin drugs did not yet exist. Under the guidance of visionary cardiologist Dr. Herman Hellerstein, Isenstadt engaged in a regimen of rigorous lifestyle modification that reversed the course of his disease and enabled him to take advantage of the miracles of modern cardiology when they became available in the 1980's. At the time of his death Fred had logged over 72,000 miles on his stationary bicycle. Shirley Isenstadt died of cancer in 1992, and in 1993 Fred married Sally Weinberg, whose husband had also died of cancer. They met at the Elysium Skating Club, and shared a love of swimming, dancing, biking, hiking, and ice skating. Sally had been a dealer of vintage furnishings and Fred frequently described himself as her last remaining antique. As he phased out of the building business, Isenstadt lent his expertise to community organizations. As president of Jewish Community Housing, Isenstadt led a program to develop housing for the mentally disabled, as well as apartments for low income senior citizens. The Isenstadt Legacy House in Shaker Heights recognizes and reflects his efforts. He also served as vice president and board member of the Jewish Community Center, and for six years as a board member of the Jewish Family Services Association. Fred Isenstadt is survived by his wife Sally, sons Ernest (Dr. Judith Hsia) of McLean, Virginia, and Don (Patricia) of Beachwood, grandchildren, Megan, Jill, Alan and Ruth, and great grandson Sebastian. He is also survived by stepchildren Faith Weinberg, Lisa Bloom, and Dr. Andrew Weinberg. Services will be held at BERKOWITZ-KUMIN-BOOKATZ MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1985 S. TAYLOR RD., CLEVELAND HTS. on Tuesday, June 14 at 10 AM. Interment Bet Olam Cemetery (Park Synagogue section). The family will receive friends WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 FROM 1-3 AND 7-9 PM, AND AGAIN THURSDAY, JUNE 16 FROM 1-3 PM at the residence of Sally Isenstadt, 3300 Green Rd., Beachwood. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Jewish Family Services Association of Cleveland or Park Synagogue To view this service at 10 AM Tuesday please navigate to www.bitly.com/largechapel To view this service at a later date please navigate to www.digitaldreamsweb.com/bkbfh/Fred_Isenstadt.html