Fred Epstein, died September 10, 2014 surrounded by his loving family and Rabbi Susan Talve, peacefully at home. Born January 28, 1935, Fred, a native St. Louisan, dedicated himself to causes he believed in, including civil liberties, social justice, affordable day care, and public transportation. Fred’s final moments were spent in the arms of his loving wife of 57 years, Sara. Fred was a caring, attentive father to Becky, David, Ted and Michael; brother of Beryl Brasch and Betsy Mullener, brother-in-law of Nat Mullener and F.J., Del, Maury, Marianne, and John Pepper; father-in-law of Stewart Goldstein, Sharyn O’Halloran, Anna Maria Epstein, and Silvia Vergani; and grandfather of Madison, Catherine, Sophia, Bridget, Quinn, and Morgan. Fred found a balance in his life between family, friends, work, and the community. Typical of his times, Fred progressed smoothly from college graduation, to joining the family business started by his father, Milton, to marrying his love, Sara, whom he met at a Temple Youth Group meeting in high school.  But as Fred successfully ran a 350-employee company, he expanded his life’s work into a range of social issues.  He served as president of the local ACLU chapter, after which he served several terms on the local and national ACLU boards. His goal was to bring the cause of civil liberties to the attention of the general public, to actively pursue individual cases, and to achieve concrete results. Inspired by his mother’s love of children, Fred founded the first day care center in an industrial site in the state of Missouri. The Zelda Epstein Day Care Center provided affordable day care for children from the community at large. Fred had a knack for latching on to smart, progressive ideas and making them happen. He was a board member and president of Citizens for Modern Transit, the group that brought the light rail system, Metrolink, to St. Louis.  Fred vigorously dove into the details of how rights-of-way would be negotiated and the railcars would be styled.  He was also the first head of the St. Louis Desegregation Monitoring and Advisory Committee, which provided oversight of the 1970’s court order to integrate the public schools.  And when Fred retired from his day job, he carried on energetically with the Soros Foundation, helping a range of non-profit organizations operate more effectively–from the promotion of ethics in politics to criminal sentencing reform. Beyond all of these accomplishments, Fred’s gregarious nature, his love of people was what his family and multitude of friends will remember most. Fred didn’t greet you with a perfunctory “Hi, how are you?”  He listened for an answer and engaged in a meaningful conversation. He loved a good argument, even if it meant playing the devil’s advocate.All of us will miss his joyful smile.A memorial service for Fred will be held on Sunday, September 14th at 3:00 pm, at the Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63108. A reception will follow, also at CRC, until 7:00 pm. On Monday evening, September 15th, there will be a family visitation from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Park East Tower, 7th Floor Fireside Room, 4909 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63108. Memorial Contributions may be made in Fred’s honor to Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman, St. Louis, MO 63108; ACLU/EM, 454 Whittier Street, St. Louis, MO 63108, or the charity of one’s choice.