Hazel Loewenstein made a Jewish home; played violin for Terre Haute Symphony

Hazel Anderson Loewenstein (1914-1996), was a formidable addition to the Terre Haute community. Born and reared a Mormon in Utah, Hazel converted to Judaism when she married Dr. Werner Loewenstein (1909-1990) in 1941. Whether mobilizing Sisterhood ladies to bake for an oneg or serving as the president of the PTA, Hazel could always be counted on to do more than her share.

She held two masters degrees, one in music and a second in physical education. She was teaching music and modern dance at Indiana State Teacher’s College (ISTC) when she met her future husband. She continued to teach at ISTC up until she became pregnant with her first child. In 1965, after years of commuting to Bloomington through the verdant hills of southern Indiana, she completed a Ph.D. in social work from Indiana University.

After her Ph.D., she taught social work at Indiana State University, formerly ISTC. An accomplished violinist, she played in the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra for many years.

Mother created a Jewish home with the same energy and enthusiasm she brought to all her endeavors. We observed Shabbat every Friday, complete with Bon Ton Bakery challah, grape juice for the children and Mogen David for the adults. We celebrated the Jewish holidays and all three of her children completed Temple Israel’s religious school program. Values that Hazel and Werner passed on to their three children include family, education and a love of Judaism.

Family update: Ruth Loewenstein, their oldest, is a recently retired microbiologist living in Chicago. Dr. Paul Loewenstein, their youngest, is a plastic surgeon in Milwaukee, married to Jody Kaufman Loewenstein. They have three sons: Andrew (Alyssa), an attorney in West Palm Beach, Fla.; Daniel (Elizabeth), a health information technology specialist, of Denver, Colo.; and Scott (Shu), a plastic surgery resident at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Mother created a Jewish home with the same energy and enthusiasm she brought to all her endeavors.

Thanks to Daniel and Elizabeth, Paul and Jody became grandparents in November 2016 with the birth of Olivia Mason Loewenstein.

I am Miriam Loewenstein Zimmerman, their middle child, married to Richard Zimmerman, from Lafayette, Ind. Married for 48 years, Richard and I have been blessed with three children and six grandchildren.

Our oldest, Rebecca Goodman (Jason), serves as a Jewish educator at a conservative San Francisco synagogue. Our son, Josh (Erin), is a risk manager for Amgen. Our youngest, Leah Sharp (Ian), teaches physics at the College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif.

Each of my children has two children. Thus, Hazel and Werner had three children and six grandchildren. To date, they have seven great-grandchildren. I am grateful to my siblings for contributing to this article.