Lois Roisman
Encyclopedia
Lois Roisman was an American
philanthropist, playwright and poet.
, and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma
. Following her marriage to Arnold Fagin, with whom she had three children (Barry Fagin, Dan Fagin and Lisa Fagin Davis), she spent much of her early life in Oklahoma City
, where she was a medical editor, ran a charitable group and helped start a summer arts program for grade-school students. Following her divorce in 1976 she married Anthony Roisman and relocated to Washington, DC in 1980.
of the Jewish Funds for Justice
, the first national Jewish grant-making organization focused on supporting non-Jewish causes in the United States
. Roisman was previously executive director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Roisman spent over 20 years in the field of philanthropy. The American Jewish Committee
in 1986 reported that Roisman believed that "political and religious developments were causing Jews to reassess their position in American life. "The Moral Majority
's call for the Christianization
of America underlines the importance of a more active Jewish participation in efforts to create a just society", she said.
Initial grants made by the fund were to Navajo
s in Arizona
, homeless African-Americans in Boston
, and low-income Mexican-Americans in Colorado
." The group was also an early funder of a young community organizer in Chicago named Barack Obama
.
While living in Washington, D.C.
, Roisman and others founded the charity, Silent Partners to give assistance, albeit anonymously, to the Neval Thomas Elementary School in the struggling Anacostia
section.
According to Roisman's June 13, 2008 obituary in The Washington Post, Silent Partners purchased supplies and provided unrestricted funds to use throughout the school year to pay for field trips and other activities. In 1993 she was quoted in the Washingtonian
magazine that the "silent" aspect also taught a lesson to the children of the more-affluent donors, that "the highest form of philanthropy is anonymous".
, with her second husband, the environmental attorney Anthony Roisman, where she concentrated on writing plays and poetry. She died in Lyme, New Hampshire
from congestive heart disease in 2008, aged 70.
or poor Jewish community. It was performed at community theaters nationally and won the Outstanding New Play award at the 1993 Source Theater Festival in the District of Columbia. This was later memorialized in her anthology, Making A Scene: The Contemporary Drama of Jewish Women and another drama, The Linden Tree, earned Roisman the 2001 Vermont Playwrights Award.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist, playwright and poet.
Background
Lois Levin was a native of Fayetteville, TexasFayetteville, Texas
Fayetteville is a city in Fayette County, Texas, roughly halfway between Austin and Houston. The population was 261 at the 2000 census.The town is about twelve miles east of La Grange and U.S. Highway 77; it is about twelve miles north of Borden and Interstate 10.-History:Fayetteville's first...
, and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Following her marriage to Arnold Fagin, with whom she had three children (Barry Fagin, Dan Fagin and Lisa Fagin Davis), she spent much of her early life in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, where she was a medical editor, ran a charitable group and helped start a summer arts program for grade-school students. Following her divorce in 1976 she married Anthony Roisman and relocated to Washington, DC in 1980.
Career
Roisman was the first executive directorExecutive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Jewish Funds for Justice
Jewish Funds for Justice
The Jewish Funds for Justice is an Amercian charity based in New York. Since 2005, Simon Greer has been its President & CEO.-History:The original Jewish Fund for Justice was created in 1984...
, the first national Jewish grant-making organization focused on supporting non-Jewish causes in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Roisman was previously executive director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Roisman spent over 20 years in the field of philanthropy. The American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
in 1986 reported that Roisman believed that "political and religious developments were causing Jews to reassess their position in American life. "The Moral Majority
Moral Majority
The Moral Majority was a political organization of the United States which had an agenda of evangelical Christian-oriented political lobbying...
's call for the Christianization
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
of America underlines the importance of a more active Jewish participation in efforts to create a just society", she said.
Initial grants made by the fund were to Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
s in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, homeless African-Americans in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and low-income Mexican-Americans in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
." The group was also an early funder of a young community organizer in Chicago named Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
While living in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Roisman and others founded the charity, Silent Partners to give assistance, albeit anonymously, to the Neval Thomas Elementary School in the struggling Anacostia
Anacostia
Anacostia is a historic neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Its historic downtown is located at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue It is the most famous neighborhood in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, located east of the Anacostia River, after which the...
section.
According to Roisman's June 13, 2008 obituary in The Washington Post, Silent Partners purchased supplies and provided unrestricted funds to use throughout the school year to pay for field trips and other activities. In 1993 she was quoted in the Washingtonian
Washingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
magazine that the "silent" aspect also taught a lesson to the children of the more-affluent donors, that "the highest form of philanthropy is anonymous".
Death
Roisman later moved to Lyme, New HampshireLyme, New Hampshire
Lyme is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,716 at the 2010 census. Lyme is home to the Chaffee Natural Area. The Dartmouth Skiway is in the eastern part of town, near the village of Lyme Center...
, with her second husband, the environmental attorney Anthony Roisman, where she concentrated on writing plays and poetry. She died in Lyme, New Hampshire
Lyme, New Hampshire
Lyme is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,716 at the 2010 census. Lyme is home to the Chaffee Natural Area. The Dartmouth Skiway is in the eastern part of town, near the village of Lyme Center...
from congestive heart disease in 2008, aged 70.
Plays
Her seven plays included Nobody's Gilgul, a comedy about a female lawyer and an angel from the shtetlShtetl
A shtetl was typically a small town with a large Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe until The Holocaust. Shtetls were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, the Congress Kingdom of Poland, Galicia and Romania...
or poor Jewish community. It was performed at community theaters nationally and won the Outstanding New Play award at the 1993 Source Theater Festival in the District of Columbia. This was later memorialized in her anthology, Making A Scene: The Contemporary Drama of Jewish Women and another drama, The Linden Tree, earned Roisman the 2001 Vermont Playwrights Award.