Business Leaders
James Akers and Sylvia Thal
James Joseph Akers was born in Toledo on August 26, 1939. He graduated from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In 1961 he received his BA from Harvard, then completed in MBA at Stanford University in 1963. He worked as a CPA from 1963-1969, followed by business employment in manufacturing companies from 1969-1988. He was a member of Temple Shomer Enumin. He served as Campaign Chairman and President of the Jewish Federation, as well as on the boards of the Jewish Community Foundation, Board of Jewish Education, and Jewish Family Service. He now resides in Chicago. Sylvia Mostov Thal was born in Toledo on July 28, 1921, and attended Fulton Elementary and Scott High School. She earned a degree as a medical technologist from the Michael Rese Hospital in Chicago, then her BS from The University of Toledo in 1943. She married Stanford Thal, a noted architect, and they raised their four children in Toledo. She was involved with the Toledo Mental Health Association, the Community Relations Commission, the Toledo Opera and the Toledo Symphony. She served as president of the Council of Jewish Women, chair of the Women's Division of the United Jewish Fund Campaign, and was an active member of Congregation Shomer Emunim. She moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to be near family members, and died on October 12, 2015.
Gary Beren
Gary Beren was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 8, 1933. His family moved to Toledo while he was a child and he is graduate of Scott High School in 1951. After attending The University of Toledo for two years, he transferred to The Ohio State University. He was drafted into the US Army where he served for two years at Fort Indianatown Gap, Pennsylvania. His career in the recycling industry began after his discharge when he joined A. Edelstein and Son. After forty years he became both owner and CEO of the firm, and retired in 1997. He has been active within the Jewish community all his life. He was a board member of The Temple, and served as the President of the JCC from 1973-1975. He was Chairman of the United Jewish Fund in the 1980s. He continues to serve his community with his wife Nancy in Florida.
Alix Greenblatt
Alix Greenblatt is a native Toledoan who attended DeVilbiss High School and graduated from The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech. Her professional experience has varied from working for the Toledo Opera, operating a photography store, and serving on the Sylvania Board of Education from 1994-1997. She has worked for the Jewish Federation in various positions as well as the United Jewish Council.
Marshall Isenberg
Marshall Isenberg was born on June 1, 1928, the son of immigrants from Poland and Germany. His father ran Isenberg Bros Jewelers, the first jewelry store in Toledo to take credit. He attended Glenwood Elementary and graduated from Scott High School in 1945, and The University of Toledo Business School in 1949. He worked for the City of Toledo as a payroll tax collector, left to work in probation and parole from 1925-1972, then returned to the Tax Department as the chief supervisor before retiring in 1981. Afterwards, he became a real estate broker and appraiser. He ran the Hebrew Benevolent and Cemetery Association until his death, and was a 32nd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite. He was married to Lucas County Commissioner Sandy Isenberg, with whom he had two sons, and to Catherine H. Noble, with whom he had a daughter. He died on May 9, 2014.
Gordon Levine
Born in Toledo in 1934 and a lifelong resident, Levine was educated at Brandeis University, BA, and The Ohio State University, LLB. His business and professional career centered around Wabash-Lagrange Steel Co., of which he was President and CEO. As an active and well-respected leader in both the secular and Jewish communities in Toledo, Levine has been a board member of First National Bank Corp., board member of NPR radio station WGTE, and on the Campaign Committee for the United Way of Toledo. His service to the Jewish community of Toledo includes several leadership roles: President of the Glengarry Country Club, Chair of the Toledo Jewish Community Foundation, Vice-President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo, and Vice-President of Congregation Shomer Emunim.
Goody and Jean Liber
Goodman Liber was born on April 5, 1918, in Toledo, and was raised in Tiffin, Ohio. He attended Tiffin schools and graduated from Tiffin Columbia High School. He worked with his father and uncle in the scrap business before returning to Toledo in 1939 and opened Goody's Truck Parts, Inc. He was president of the Ohio State Auto Parts Association and of the National Auto and Truck Wreckers Association. He quietly volunteered and supported the Jewish community. He died on March 18, 2003. Jean Hirsch Liber was born on May 22, 1917 in Toledo. She graduated from Scott High School in 1934. She was active in leadership roles in many Jewish area organizations. She died on March 1, 2005.
Mike Liber
Myer (Mike) Liber was born in Tiffin, Ohio on November 27, 1928. He attended elementary and Columbia High School in Tiffin, as well as Heidelberg College in Tiffin. He also attended The University of Toledo before entering the business world. He successfully owned both the Cherry Auto Glass and Dixie Auto Leasing. Both of those businesses are continuing under the supervision of his sons and grandsons. Mike was a member of the Congregation B'Nai Israel and was involved with the Men's Club. He was a member of the Sunningdale and later Glengarry Country Club.
Harry Lublin
Harry Lublin, CPA, was born in Toledo on Jun 10, 1918, and attended Sherman Elementary and School High School. He earned his business degree at The University of Toledo, and his CPA from the American School of Accountancy. He founded the accounting firm Lublin, Sussman, Rosenberg, and Damraurer. He was active in the Raggedy Ass Cadets, Old Newsboys, and the B'nai Birth Bowling Team. Lublin also served on the board of B'nai Jacob Orthodox Congregation for years, and later Etz Chayim. He died on September 17, 2011.
Irving Mindel
Irving (Irvin) J. Mindel was born on January 7, 1919 in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Monroe Street Elementary, Jones Junior High, and graduated from Scott High School. He attended The Ohio State University but left when his family needed help with their business. During WWII, he entered the bombardier school of the US Air Force. After the war, he returned to carry on the leather hide and wool business for over fifty years, which became known as A. Mindel and Son. He was a leader in community and religious groups. He was a former president of the Toledo Rotary Club and served on the boards of the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo, the Toledo Hospital, and the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, He belonged to the Temple Shomer Emunim and B'Nai Israel and B'Nai Israel. He and his wife created the Irvin and Dorothy Mindel Community Service Fund that provides for the indigent burial needs of the Jewish Community. They provided a separate philanthropic fund to support local and national causes. In 2005, he was honored with a Lifetime Legacy Award from the United Jewish Council of Toledo. He died on May 12, 2005.
Sydney Mostov
Sydney Mostov was born in 1923 in Toledo, Ohio. He was a graduate of Scott High School and The University of Toledo in Business. He owned Elm Storage and Toledo Paper Stock with his brother David. He was President of the Collingwood Avenue Temple and led the drive to build the new temple in Sylvania, Ohio. He was president of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Greater Toledo and for 11 years headed the Toledo Jewish Community Foundation. He died on August 15, 2001.
Harry Nistel
Harry Nistel was born on January 12, 1928 in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Sherman Elementary School and graduated from Scott High School in 1945. From 1946 to 1947 he served in the US Army in Tokyo, Japan. He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from The University of Toledo in 1950. He married his wife Leeta in 1951 and they have three children and six grandchildren. His professional career has varied from being the President of Kasle Iron and Metal Company to being the co-owner of Magnimet Corporation. He is currently the President of Nistel Properties Real Estate Company, which he began in 1980. His involvement with the Jewish community includes serving as the President of Congregation B'Nai Israel in 1978, as a board member of Darlington House from 1975-1979, and as a co-founder of the Toledo Jewish Community Foundation in 1980.
Cynthia Romanoff
From opening screen: "Cynthia (Cindy) Romanoff with Melvin K. Jacobs."(Opening screen should read Marvin K. Jacobs instead of Melvin K. Jacobs.) Cynthia Romanoff, born in Toledo, is the daughter of Noel and Sandy Romanoff and the niece of Marla Levine. She worked in the family business for 20-25 years. Romanoff Electric is a major contractor in the Toledo area. Her grandfather, Max Romanoff, an electrician, founded the company. In her interview, she talked about the history of the company and the many commercial buildings they have built, including the Honda Plant in Marysville, Ohio. The Romanoffs are major philanthropists to the Toledo Jewish community.
Walter Rosengarten
Walter David Rosengarten was born on December 31, 1943 in Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from Whitmer High School in 1962 and from Michigan State University with a BS in Hotel Restaurant Management in 1966. Afterwards, he attended the Officer Candidate School in the US Army and was a 1st Lieutenant from 1966-1969. In 1970 he assumed the presidency of Ralco Products and worked there for thirty years. He was President of the Trade Association-International Packaged Concrete Manufacturers Association, and has also owned a travel agency, and was involved in retail sales, as well as working as a realtor. He was an online English tutor while living abroad and an active volunteer ESL teacher for Russian refugees. His additional volunteer activities include serving as a board member of The Temple, Congregation Shomer Emunim. Earl Maurice Rosengarten, Walter's father, was born on June 17, 1901 in Toledo, and he was a Waite High School graduate around 1919. He received a BA Degree in Liberal Arts from The University of Michigan in 1923. Along with Oscar Ralph, they founded the Ralph Coal Company which later became Ralco Products. Among other activities, Earl served as the President of the Collingwood Avenue Temple, and President of the Jewish Community Service Association from 1942-1947. He passed away on November 15, 1988 in Florida.
Meyer Shall
Meyer Shall was born in Pinchev, Poland, On May 28, 1902. In 1913 he came to Toledo with his mother and siblings to join his father and extended family. His father was a shoemaker, and for a time the family lived at the back of the store. He and his brother, Morris, sold papers at the corner of Summit and Cherry and had to fight to keep their corner. He attended Erie Elementary, Woodward High School, and one year at The University of Toledo. In 1926, he married Rea. Over the years he owned several clothing stores called Meyer's, and during the Depression, he worked as a peddler. He and Rea had three children, and he belonged to B'Nai Birth Bowling League and B'Nai Jacob, where he was on the board of directors. He died on February 23, 1990.
Hy Wittenberg
Hyman Wittenberg was born in Toledo on September 26, 1919. He attended Scott High School and served as a Warrant Officer in the Army during WWII. Wittenberg was the co-owner of Wittenberg Bondsmen, iconic writer of bail, probate, and guardianship bonds. He was active in the Jewish community, B'nai Birth and Orthodox Jewish congregation, Etz Chaim. He died on April 3, 2003.