H eadlines
Former Jewish Federation CEO Dies at 79
OB ITUARY
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
HAROLD BONAVITA-
Goldman, the
former president and CEO of the
Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia, died from
COVID complications on Feb.

5. He was 79.

He moved to Philadelphia
in the early 1980s and led two
prominent Jewish organiza-
tions in the region, according to
a synopsis of his life provided by
his family. From 1983 to 1999,
he served as CEO of Jewish
Family and Children’s Service.

From 2000 to 2006, he guided
Jewish Federation.

“He was the first out gay
leader in both organizations,”
the synopsis read.

After stepping down from
Jewish Federation, he moved to
New York City with his husband
John Bonavita-Goldman, but
he didn’t leave Jewish organi-
zational life. He stepped up to
serve as executive director of
his synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun
on the Upper West Side and
remained in the position for
five years.

Harold Bonavita-Goldman is
survived by John, his husband of
11 years and partner of 39 years,
as well as his sister Marilyn
Weinman, her husband Bernie
and their four children.

“He really liked helping
people,” John
Bonavita- Goldman said.

Harold Bonavita-Goldman
was born in 1942 in Memphis,
Tennessee. After earning his
juris doctor degree from the
University of Memphis, he
provided legal services to the
Harold Bonavita-Goldman
Courtesy of John Bonavita-Goldman
poor in Tennessee and Illinois.

During that period, he
grew apart from his Orthodox
upbringing. As a kid, he got
beaten up on the playground
for having payos and wearing
a kippah, according to his
husband. “He stopped doing that,”
John Bonavita-Goldman said.

“He tried to fit in.”
But in the early 1980s, Harold
Bonavita-Goldman’s father
died, and he felt a sudden desire
to reconnect. While he didn’t go
back to being Orthodox, he did
rediscover Jewish life.

“That was really a turning
point for him,” John Bonavita-
Goldman said.

And Harold Bonavita-
Goldman turned toward
Philadelphia, moving here for
the job as CEO of JFCS.

At JFCS, he fulfilled the
organizational mission of
helping the poor, said Ande
Adelman, a volunteer at the time.

The CEO was a great listener
who excelled at fundraising and
securing government contracts,
which gave JFCS the money it
needed to operate smoothly.

But Harold Bonavita-
Goldman didn’t just fulfill the
mission; he added to it.

According to
Paula Goldstein, who has been with
JFCS since 1984 and now
serves as president, Harold
Bonavita-Goldman started a
program for people struggling
with HIV and AIDS. He also
created a management counsel
to bring together leaders of
programs and the leaders of
the organization.

“You felt when you were a
program director you had
access to him and you started to
understand how decisions were
made,” Goldstein said.

On the personal side, Harold
Bonavita-Goldman was also
building. He met and fell in
love with his future husband, a
radiologist, shortly after moving
PLAN AHEAD FOR peace of mind.

W H E N YO U M A K E YO U R F I N A L A R R A N G E M E N TS I N A DVA N C E ,
you can plan a memorial that truly reflects your faith and passions.

Whether planning for yourself or a loved one, rely on your
Dignity Memorial professionals to help you design a memorial
that honors the customs and rituals you cherish.

When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help.

® FOREST HILLS/SHALOM
ROOSEVELT HUNTINGDON VALLEY
TREVOSE 215-673-5800
215-673-7500 Memorial Park
Memorial Park
> DignityPennsylvania.com <
6 FEBRUARY 17, 2022
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM