Obituaries

Janet Grundfest Mayersohn

Photo of Janet Grundfest Mayersohn
JANET GRUNDFEST MAYERSOHN, age 91, of Little Rock, passed away at home on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016. She was born July 21, 1924 in Little Rock, daughter of Mable and Sam Grundfest. She was raised in Little Rock before moving with her family to New York City in the late 1930s and subsequently to Indianapolis in the early 1940s. Janet attended high school in New York City prior to attending the University of Wisconsin where she graduated in 1946 with a degree in Economics. She was an active member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority and also participated in the schools theatre department. She loved being outdoors and spent several wonderful summers attending Burr Oaks Camp (LO-HE-HA) along with several cousins. She excelled in water sports and was quite the sharpshooter! She met the love of her life, Arnie "Sugah" Mayersohn in Hollywood, Fla., and they were married in 1947. In 1949, they moved back to Little Rock where her husband began a career at Sterling Stores Company, Inc. which was founded by her father, Sam and her uncle, Dave Grundfest, Sr. Janet was a fabulous wife and mother. She devoted her life to raising her children and being actively involved in all of their activities including ballet, cheerleading, Brownie/Cub Scouts, PTA, school events and sports. She was a long-time member of Temple B'Nai Israel, an officer of the Sisterhood, member of the Council for Jewish Women and worked on the Women's Emergency Committee during the 1957 school desegregation crisis. She also worked to raise money for the Arkansas Association for Hearing Impaired Children hosting several of their annual fundraising events. Janet was well known for her ability to light up the room with her smiling personality and warmth. She was known for being one of the nicest and most generous ladies around and always opened her home and her pool for all of her friends' children and grandchildren. She really knew how to entertain and throw a party! Janet was predeceased by her husband, Arnie and her sister, Loris Birnkrant and is survived by daughter, Loris M. Fullerton and husband, Jay of Little Rock; a son, Arnold "Arnie" Mayersohn, Jr. and wife, Betsy of St. Louis, Mo.; two granddaughters, Sarah Mayersohn of Washington, D.C. and Rani Mayersohn of St. Louis and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins. The family is so very thankful for the wonderful care and love Janet received from her special companions, Bertha Roberts, Belinda Wilson and Dorothy Mitchell. We also want to acknowledge her dear friends that included her in their Monday lunch group and the Saturday night dinner group for many years. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Arnold Mayersohn Leadership Fund, c/o Temple B'Nai Israel, 3700 Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, AR 72212 or the Loris Mayersohn Fullerton Endowed Scholarship Fund, UALR, Office of Development, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204. There will be a memorial service on Monday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at Temple B'Nai Israel officiated by Rabbi Barry Block. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published February 14, 2016

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