Alexander Holstein

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Alexander Holstein died peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 3, 2020 in his 96th year.

A former industrialist in Syracuse, NY, Alex was at the forefront of the civic, cultural, educational, and religious affairs of Central New York, our state, and our nation.

Alex was Vice President of Operations at SYROCO, a company founded by his grandfather in 1890. He graduated from the College of Engineering at Syracuse University and received his Masters degree from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Alex met his wife, Chuckie, on a blind date in 1941. They married in 1946 and have been together for 79 years.

Alex came from a family of civic entrepreneurs. He was a third-generation philanthropist in the Syracuse community. His grandfather, Adolph Holstein, was one of the founders of the Central New York Community Foundation, the United Way of Central New York (formerly the Community Chest), Bradley Brook Camp for children, and the Syracuse Jewish Federation. His father carried on the family tradition of involvement in the civic, cultural, and religious affairs of our community, and Alex continued the family tradition.

As a strong supporter of quality health care for all, Alex served on the board of Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital for 25 years and later the Crouse Health Foundation. He was a Director of the Hospital Association of New York State (HANYS), chair of the NYS Hospital Trustees Advisory Board, and the National Congress of Hospital Governing Boards.

His involvements in the religious community have been many. He is the founder and first Chair of the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York, created in 2001 to serve local Jewish agencies and synagogues. He was a member of the Syracuse Jewish Federation Board of Directors, campaign chair, and served on the board of the Interreligious Council of Central New York (Interfaith Works) where he helped to create its Foundation. He, along with Chuckie, received the 2001 Interreligious Council’s Leadership Award for “Devotion to Diversity, Distinction in Service, and Dedication to Community”. He was a member of Temple Concord and served on the Board of Trustees, where four generations of the Holstein family have been involved in leadership positions. He was active in the American Jewish Committee and served as President of its local chapter and on its national board for several years.

Alex’s community activities have been broadly based. For his dedicated service to his community in 2003 he received the distinguished Syracuse Post Standard Achievement Award. He was an active member of the Central New York Community Foundation where he was one of the founders of the Neighborhood Leadership Program. At the Everson Museum he served as Chairperson of the Board shortly after the I. M. Pei facility was built. He hosted Yoko Ono and John Lennon when they spent time in Syracuse for Yoko’s art show. For several years he was a member of the boards of the Urban League and Dunbar Center. During his chairmanship of the Dunbar Center Board, he was instrumental in the fund-raising, design, and construction of the current facility. He was very honored when an African American youth athletic organization, the Salt City Classics, presented him with their "Humanitarian Award".

Education of his children and grandchildren was very important to Alex, who also served on the board of trustees of Manlius Pebble Hill School and chaired the board for three years.

As a citizen trustee, he helped better the place where we live by participation and leadership on civic boards. He was the first chair of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA), a commissioner of the City of Syracuse Charter Revision Commission, City of Syracuse Community Renewal Policy Committee and Chair of the Economic Base Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Syracuse Urban Arts Commission. In support of economic development, Alex was Vice-President of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, director of the Marine Midland Bank (HSBC), and director of the investment firm, Alliance Capital Management Corporation.

His personal philosophy that peace among peoples and nations is possible through dialogue motivated him to be one of the founders of an early interfaith dialogue group seeking peace in the Middle East. Later, he became an active participant in SAMED (Syracuse Area Middle East Dialogue), a unique group that includes Muslims, Jews, and Christians who for many years have worked together to identify the paths towards peace. He also participated in the Interreligious Council’s Dialogue on Racism.

Alex was a caring, loving, and all-around great guy. He adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Precious to him were the international trips that he and Chuckie treated their grandchildren to for their bar and bat mitzvahs.

Alex is survived by his wife, Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, their children, Carol Killian (Ron), David Holstein (Jeanne), Elizabeth Holstein, his daughter-in-law Alyse Holstein, and his eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Alex was predeceased by his son, Philip Holstein (Alyse) and his daughter-in-law, Barbara Holstein (David).

Services will be private but will be live streamed on the Sisskind Funeral Service Facebook page beginning at 12:55 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6. Contributions may be made to Temple Concord, the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York, the Everson Museum and Manlius Pebble Hill School. Due to Covid 19 there will be no Shiva.
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