Marlyn Essman, a past president of the Jewish Community Center who devoted much of her adult life to supporting Jewish and general causes, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, of complications from a recent fall. She was 81 and a lifelong resident of greater St. Louis.

Marlyn Rose Schaeffer Essman was born to Sam and Bessie Rosen Schaeffer in St. Louis on Jan. 24, 1934.

Mrs. Essman began her philanthropic career going door-to-door with a tin can collecting funds for the United Jewish Appeal, which she said inspired her to devote her life to philanthropic endeavors. This included initiatives and institutions that helped children, older adults, animals, arts and culture, and the Jewish community.

Among the many major positions Mrs. Essman held was chairing the Operation Exodus fundraising campaign of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. The drive resulted a total  of $7.5 million, contributed to help the massive exodus of Jews from the Soviet Union, including 1 million to the State of Israel, 250,000 to the United States and several hundred who settled in the Jewish community of St. Louis. 

She and her husband, Alyn Essman, a past president of the Jewish Federation, said they considered it a great privilege to provide help during one of the most dramatic periods in world Jewish history.

She was also a member of the St. Louis Chapter of Hadassah and served as its vice president for membership and education. She was an active member of the of the National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section. She was a former vice president of Congregation Shaare Emeth. She and her husband published a High Holidays songbook for the congregation to use during services. 

In addition to her many leadership positions within the  Jewish community, Mrs. Essman’s activities reached a broad spectrum of local cultural and educational institutions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club.

Her leadership and philanthropic activities were honored by numerous awards and recognition, including being named a St. Louis Woman of Achievement by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Journal newspapers in 1992; an honorary doctor of arts and letters from UMSL; the Jewish Community Centers’ President’s Award and the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club Woman of the Year Award.

The family’s obituary for Mrs. Essman praised her as a “passionate and determined advocate for those in need, who inspired others in her community to do the same. The intelligence and wisdom she brought to community organizations raised the bar for community service in the St. Louis Metropolitan area…Marlyn set an example for her family and for her community of the depth and breadth of true charity. ”

Funeral services were held Tuesday at Shaare Emeth, with Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey Stiffman officiating. Burial was at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery.

In his eulogy, Stiffman said, “Marlyn was a giant of giving and caring in our community.  The list of her achievements is too long to enumerate completely this afternoon…In the Jewish community she was a giant of tzedakah, of caring giving.  Marlyn always stood out.  She could not abide long, convoluted discussions. She would raise her hand and say, ‘We’ve talked long enough.  Let’s vote and get on with important things.’ She would rather work for her causes than sit and talk.”

Stiffman shared a statement by St. Louis Zoo President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Bonner, who wrote, “I think that the qualities that impress everyone with the privilege of working with Marlyn are her integrity and honesty. She was always prepared to bring persistence and perseverance to any campaign in which she was involved.”

In addition to her husband, survivors include daughters Sharyn Essman and Judy (Todd) Taylor, six grandchildren, and a sister, Priscilla Ayers.

Memorial contributions preferred to the St. Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63110 or Congregation Share Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road.