Submitted by: Dan Rich

Bernard H. Natkow

May 12, 1920 - Jan. 7, 2001

South Bend Tribune 1/9/2001

Bernard H. Natkow, 80, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley for 31 years, from 1956 to 1987, died at home in Coconut Creek, Fla., after an extended illness. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Natkow; three children, Dr. Neil Natkow, Dr. Barbara (Richard) Schuster and Shelley Natkow; three grandchildren; and by his brother, Irving Natkow. He received his B.A. and Master's in education and social work from Temple University, and a degree in Hebrew education from Gratz College in Philadelphia. Before taking his first position as director of a Jewish Community Center in Hudson, N.Y., Bernie taught Hebrew school and several courses at Temple University. He served as the director of the Jewish Community of Hazleton, Pa., for eight years before moving to South Bend in 1956. During his tenure as the executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, Mr. Natkow oversaw the establishment of Camp Ideal, a summer day camp that has served children in the community for over 40 years, the Senior Friendship Club, and the South Bend Community Hebrew School. Natkow was dedicated to strengthening the level of Jewish life in the local community, to providing humanitarian assistance to Jews in Israel and overseas, and to supporting the state of Israel. Mr. Natkow led a number of missions to Israel, including one of the first after the 1967 Yom Kippur war. He served on several boards of professional associations and community service organizations including the National Conference of Christians and Jews, ORT (American Organization for Rehabilitation Through Training), the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, and was a charter member of the National Association of Social Workers. Locally he served as a board member of the St. Joseph County Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the Legal Aid Society, Planned Parenthood and the Urban Coalition. He was a representative to the White House Conference on Aging and Youth, and was a member of the Commission on Equality. Following his retirement as executive vice president, he went on to become the endowment director of the Jewish Federation from 1988 to 1995. He was a member of B'nai Israel Congregation in South Bend, and later, Sinai Synagogue.