Former leader of LV Jewish community Wallerstein dies

Wednesday, July 2, 2003 | 8:25 a.m.

As a child actress in Chicago's Yiddish Theater, Kay Wallerstein played roles that were the opposite of her lifelong dedication to Judaism.

"Because my mother was American-born, she was cast as the shiksa," said Dena Marienthal of Southern California, using a Yiddish word that means non-Jewish girl. "She was young, brilliant and could remember her lines, so that was the role they gave her."

But make no mistake about it, Las Vegas socialite Wallerstein was dedicated to her beliefs and, in the city's formative years, played a major role in the growth of the Jewish community in Southern Nevada.

Kay Novak Wallerstein, who raised large sums of money to build the original Temple Beth Sholom at its old downtown location, started a theater group at the temple and served as state chairwoman for the United Jewish Appeal, died June 17 in Los Angeles from an apparent stroke. She was 95.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 33 years were at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Wallerstein was a Las Vegas resident from 1945 to 1978 and a resident of Los Angeles the last 25 years.

"My mother was really a star -- not in the entertainment sense -- but as a star personality," Marienthal said. "She had a lot of charisma."

Sun Publisher Barbara Greenspun recalled that her longtime friend was difficult to say no to when she took on one of her many fundraising projects.

"She was very active in raising money for all types of events in the community," Greenspun said. "When casino owners saw her coming, they'd hide. She was very persuasive."

In 1963, Wallerstein, serving as state chairwoman for the United Jewish Appeal, pulled off the coup of her charitable ventures, bringing former President Harry Truman to Las Vegas for a fundraiser she organized and hosted.

Wallerstein later raised money for the Truman Library, donated books and documents to the facility and corresponded with Truman until his death in December 1972.

Born Kay Novak on March 24, 1908, in Chicago, she was the daughter of the former Dena Wexler and Hyman Novak, a pioneer in Yiddish language radio. As a child, she portrayed ingenues in plays, which served her well as an adult organizing the Temple Beth Sholom Players. Her Las Vegas productions often featured walk-ons by town VIPs, some of whom were men who dressed up in outrageous women's costumes for their cameo appearances, Marienthal said.

Kay was long married to Harry Wallerstein, a local businessman who owned and operated Tinch Furniture in downtown Las Vegas. He died in 1971.

Seven years later, Kay moved to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She became an active member of Temple Beth Zion in Los Angeles.

In addition to her daughter, Wallerstein is survived by a sister, Evelyn Gardner; a brother, Sherwin Novak; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Her son, Robert Wallerstein, a retired Southern California municipal judge, died two months ago.

The family said donations can be made in Kay Wallerstein's memory to the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, 500 U.S. West Highway 24, Independence, Mo. 64050-1798, or to Temple Beth Zion, 5555 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif., 90036.