Remembering Rudy Krisch

With regret, we note that another classmate has passed away.  Rudy died on June 25. Below is his obituary, followed by a featured article that expands on the obit.

RUDOLPH (RUDY) CHARLES KRISCH III

January 6, 1937 – June 25, 2017

   

Rudolph (Rudy) Charles Krisch III went to his Lord on June 25, 2017. He was born in S an Antonio, Texas, on January 6, 1937. He was preceded in death by his wife Jean Mayer Krisch, sons Rudy IV and Trevor Krisch, and his mother and father Rudy Jr. and Lucille Stewart Krisch.

He is survived by his son Stewart (Rhonda) Krisch, friend Annell Thompson, grandsons Rud (Lauren) and Cody (Katie) Krisch (mother Dana Schweers Krisch), granddaughter Courtney (Ryan) Odell, great-grandchildren Briley and Brinley Krisch and Griffin and Blake Odell, sister Nora (Al) Shire and nephew Alfred Shire.

Rudy led the family construction business his father started in 1927, which is celebrating its 90th year. He has successfully r un Krisch Construction throughout the years with the assistance of his sons and grandsons. He utilized his civil engineering degrees and his natural artistic ability in his work to help beautify San Antonio. There are very few places you can go in SA and not see his legacy and work including the River Walk, the museums, the missions and many parks across the city.

Rudy was a Scout Master for over 30 years, leading all three sons to the rank of Eagle Scout. He had a positive impact on many other lives throughout his years in scouting. Rudy was a Patron member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution, Descendants of Mexican War Veterans, Military Order of the Star and Bars, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Association, San Antonio Living History Association, Texas State Rifle Association, and Chi Epslon Civil Engineering Fraternity. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boerne.

He was a 1954 graduate of Jefferson High School and graduated from Texas A&M in 1961. Rudy loved Texas A&M Football and the Corps of Cadets and was proud to be a Texas Aggie.

He loved his family, along with nature and animals and was an avid historian. Rudy participated and helped lead numerous historical reenactment groups from the Texas Revolution and Civil War to World War II. He could often been seen defending the Alamo for tourists.

Rudy learned the value of hard work from his father and he learned to dream from his mother. His passing left a tremendous void in the lives of those that knew and loved him. They find solace in the knowledge that Rudy is in the hands of his lord.

A service will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 10:00 am at Porter Loring on McCullough with interment to follow at Locke Hill Cemetery.

You are invited to sign the

Guestbook at http://www.porterloring.com

Temple Bethel

Most of you probably remember Temple Beth-El standing on the corner of Belknap and Ashby Streets, standing across from San Pedro Park. Here is an article from the Rivard Report, a daily compendium or news and items of interest published in San Antonio. I thought you all might want to see and be reminded of what an imposing structure Temple Beth-El is.

Eighty years ago this month, on June 29, 1937, uniformed and plainclothes officers of the San Antonio Police Department raided the headquarters of the San Antonio Workers Alliance, a group that supported workers’ rights.

The police brought axes and “enthusiastically destroyed everything,” according to one participant. They smashed dishes in the kitchen, kicked over the stove, chopped up the piano, hammered chairs and benches to pieces, smashed the typewriter and duplicating machine, and arrested seven members of the alliance.

Among the first community leaders to respond with outrage was Rabbi Ephraim Frisch, the senior rabbi of San Antonio’s Temple Beth-El.

In a scathing letter to the San Antonio Light, Frisch condemned the police raid as worthy of praise from Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. When the editor of the Light truncated Frisch’s letter and consigned it to a corner of page 6, Frisch printed 800 copies and distributed them throughout the city.

Less than a year later, the fiery Frisch would openly challenge a wealthy and powerful board member of his own congregation, Julius Seligmann, owner of the largest pecan shelling operation in the nation and the target of a massive labor strike led by Emma Tenayuca. Frisch publicly sided with the strikers, condemning the six cents-per-pound pay and the wretched working conditions that often meant poor ventilation, no water or toilets, and a choking pecan dust that destroyed the workers’ lungs.

Over the ensuing decades, Temple Beth-El’s rabbis were equally visible and no less influential in the affairs of San Antonio, especially when social justice issues arose. That tradition continues today, with a new generation of rabbis who share their predecessors’ commitment to those issues.

There have been only four rabbis in the 80 years following Rabbi Frisch. Rabbi David Jacobson served for 38 years until 1976, followed by Rabbi Samuel Stahl, who served for 26 years. Rabbi Barry H.D. Block was senior rabbi for 21 years, retiring in 2013.

The temple’s online history says Jacobson, Stahl, and Block “used their prestige and moral authority to work for the peaceful desegregation of San Antonio, the initiation and perpetuation of an interfaith dialogue and partnership, the ongoing quest for human rights and equality, and the advancement of Jewish ideals for the betterment of the city of San Antonio.”

Rabbi Mara Nathan, the current senior rabbi, works with her congregation to support today’s struggles for equal rights, women’s and gender equality, working on behalf of people who are underprivileged, and alleviating childhood hunger in our community.

Nathan, who assumed leadership of the temple in 2014, is the first woman to serve as senior rabbi of a major Texas congregation. Her fellow clergy members are Rabbi Marina Yergin, who came on board in 2015, and Cantor Julie Berlin, who has served the temple since 2008.

This is getting a bit long. If you wish to finish the article, you can go to this website: https://therivardreport.com/tikkun-olam-repairing-the-world-at-temple-beth-el/