Robert S. Goldenhersh, a prominent real estate attorney and past president of Temple Israel, died of respiratory failure Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Mr. Goldenhersh was 85 and had been a long-time resident of Creve Coeur.

Mr. Goldenhersh was a founding partner of the Clayton-based law firm of Rosenblum, Goldenhersh, Silverstein & Zafft. An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that Mr. Goldenhersh was considered “one of the area’s pre-eminent real estate attorneys.” During his career, which spanned six decades, Mr. Goldenhersh represented some of Greater St. Louis’s largest home-builders and commercial developers.

The same article quotes Mr. Goldenhersh’s children as indicated that his respect for Abraham Lincoln was one of the reasons he decided to enter the practice of law.

Goldenhersh was born and reared in East St. Louis. His college career at Washington University in St. Louis was interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. He later graduated from the university with bachelor’s and law degrees.

Goldenhersh founded his firm in 1953 with lifelong friend Stanley Rosenblum. The two had been classmates at Washington University, where they finished second, and first in their class, respectively. The partners also received their master of law degrees at New York University.

Mr. Goldenhersh served as president of Temple Israel in the mid-l970s.

He was a member of Washington University’s Eliot Society and was a Creve Coeur Squire. He was also active in the Jewish Federation and Washington University School of Law alumni activities. Mr. Goldenhersh married Jeanne Waldman in 1950. She died in 1997.

Funeral services were held last Sunday at Temple Israel. Burial was at the New Mount Sinai Cemetery.

Among the survivors are a son, Larry (Debra Serra) Goldenhersh of San Diego; two daughters, Peggy (Wayne Barsky) Goldenhersh and Lucy Goldenhersh, both of Los Angeles; a brother, Edward (the late Bernice) Goldenhersh of Los Angeles; and five grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Washington University School of Law, Attention: Gina Sholtis, Campus Box 1202, St. Louis, MO 63130.