Carolyn R. Leeds

Carolyn R. Leeds

Carolyn passed February 9 after a brief illness. Born in Indianapolis, her family moved to Chicago, where she attended Principia and University of Chicago. Moving to New York in 1945, she worked as a fashion coordinator at Macy’s. On a 1947 visit to Indianapolis, she met Dr. James P. Leeds, and they married August 12, 1948. A stay at home mom until 1963, she took a ‘temporary’ position at the Jewish Community Center, accepting a permanent role with the Jewish Welfare Federation in 1966. Until retiring (the first time) in 1991, she held many positions, including Interim Director of the JCC. She was then asked to serve as Interim Director of Hooverwood Nursing Home, ultimately returning to the Federation to run the Capital Campaign for Simon Campus as Director of Special Projects and Endowment Department Associate, finally retiring December 2013 as Assistant Director of the Federation. In retirement, she enjoyed volunteering in the archives of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society housed at the Indiana Historical Society. In August 2019, she was honored by the Jewish Historical Society as an Indiana Jewish Legend.

Carolyn was a lifelong learner who attended several Elder Hostels, and for more than 10 years, Mini-University at IU-Bloomington. She loved politics, current events, travel, film, all performing arts, and honing her bridge skills.

Association Highlights: Appointed to Taskforce on Aging (CICOA) under Mayor Lugar, also serving as board member; 2nd President and first woman president of CICOA; Delegate to White House Conference on Aging during the Reagan administration; Lifetime member of the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah; Member, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.

Board Member: Visiting Nurse Service; Founding Board of Dialogue Today; Interfaith Council on Religion & Aging; IHC Board of Directors and IHC Foundation Board.

Carolyn was preceded in death by parents, Bessie (Auerbach) and Max Robbins, Husband, James Leeds, children, Katherine Leeds Schmitt and Kenneth Scott Leeds, and sister, Marjorie Kauffman. She is survived by daughter, Margaret (Peg) Leeds, brother, Gregg Sanderson; grand daughter, LeAnne (Schmitt) Lund, her husband, Isaac Lund, and their children Asher, Seth, Maggie and Evi.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, funeral services are private. We invite you to bring your "Carolyn-ism's" to a Zoom Gathering on Tuesday February 16, 2021 from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm EST where we will celebrate a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, please honor Carolyn’s lifelong commitment to community by donating to the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, or to Planned Parenthood of Indiana.

Topic: Zoom Gathering for Carolyn R. Leeds

Time: Feb 16, 2021 06:00 PM -7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91044321742

Meeting ID: 910 4432 1742

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,91044321742# US (New York)

+13017158592,,91044321742# US (Washington DC)

Dial by your location

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 910 4432 1742

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/awF4RNPWv