Jerry Litwack

Jerry Litwack passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 7, 2026. He was born on April 15, 1931, in Maysville, KY, to Isadore Litwack and Ida Groban Litwack. At age six, his family moved to Cincinnati, OH, where he spent his formative years.

Jerry graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1949 and remained good friends with many of his Sigma Delta Chi fraternity brothers there. He went on to The Ohio State University, where he met the love of his life, Louise Levenstein from Greensburg, IN and they married in 1953. At OSU, he was a proud member of the ZBT fraternity and played on the varsity tennis team. He loved OSU and happily wore t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, hats, and anything he could find with that logo. He loved being able to walk into a restaurant in any city and see someone else in OSU gear to shout out OH, and they would shout back IO.

In 1954, he was called up as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and trained at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He was then assigned to French Morocco as a Communications Officer. After two years in Morocco, Jerry and Louise moved to Cincinnati, where he worked for the family business, Litt Brothers. In 1956, they moved to Shelbyville, IN where Jerry took over the Levenstein family scrapyard and wool business. He then purchased Shelby Dealer Supply Company in 1959, which he built into a very successful steel service center in the Midwest. He employed over 300 people and changed the name to Shelby Steel. He was known as a great and generous boss.

By 1980, he was ready to retire and sold his company. During his first retirement, he became President of the Board of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, President of the IHC Foundation, President of the Jewish Federation for three years, a member of the Executive Board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Board of Goldman Union Camp, Vice President of the Anti-Defamation League for Indiana Ohio & Kentucky, served on the National Board of the United Jewish Appeal Joint Distribution Committee, Member of the Board of Jewish Family and Children's Services, Dinner Chair for the City of Hope, and served on the National Planning and Campaign Cabinet for the United Jewish Appeal.

He then came out of retirement to start a new business called Action Steel, which he led from 1985 to 2000. He was a man on a mission to be a successful businessman and to do significant work to help lift up those in need. The positive impact of both his professional and community work has been felt by so many, and his irrepressible sense of humor has entertained everyone whom he met. He never met a stranger because he would always find a way to connect with everyone he said hello to.

He also stayed active by spending many hours of fun and frustration on the golf course. He made four holes-in-one on four different courses, and his best handicap was a seven. Jerry was very proud of his golf game and had a wonderful time playing all over the country with new and old friends.

Jerry lived an exceptionally full, happy life filled with family, good friends, lots of fun, great laughs, extensive travel, and big love. His wife of 66 years, Louise Litwack, passed away nearly seven years ago in 2019. He is survived by his children, Barry and Alla Litwack, Alix Litwack, Reid Litwack and Liz Lahr; grandchildren, Noah Bradtke-Litwack, Beth Neville, Isabella Litwack, Ian Amatetti, Lena Bradtke-Litwack, Abe Lahr, Ben Lahr, and Lucy Lahr; and great-grandchildren, Sophie, Henry, and Sloane.

Funeral services will be held at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, 6501 North Meridian Street, on Sunday, July 12th, at 1 PM. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at IHC from 12 PM until the time of the service. Burial will follow at IHC North Cemetery, 1300 East 161st Street.

To livestream the funeral services, click here.

Contributions in Jerry's honor may be made to the Jerry Litwack Youth Program Fund at IHC or to Second Helpings in Indianapolis.