Stanley Bushman

1928 - 2025

Stanley Bushman

November 28, 1928 - March 7, 2025

Kansas City, Missouri - Stanley J. Bushman 96, died at home, peacefully, on Friday, March 7th, surrounded by Ann Canfield, his love of 59 years, and dear friends.

Stanley was born in Omaha, Nebraska to William J. And Esther Bushman. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Barbara Goodman, of St. Louis.

Stanley graduated from Westport High School, which he attended to participate in the boxing program, achieving the skills to compete in the Kansas City Golden Gloves. He later graduated from the University of Missouri.

As a young entrepreneur, he began his career by acquiring an apartment building where he served as owner, manager, and maintenance man ,and building on his initial success with investments in multiple properties, later forming a partnership, lasting over 60 years, with close friend Charles Helzberg, to invest in various types of real estate and other investment activities.

Stanley earned great respect in the Kansas City community for his business, acumen, attention to detail, and principled way he conducted business throughout his life. His real estate knowledge and position in the real estate community was recognized by Mayor Ilus Davis, who appointed him to The Kansas City Housing Authority, where he continued to, serve under Mayor Charles Wheeler.

Stanley was a visionary in the philanthropic community, serving as President of the Jewish Community Foundation, leader and major supporter of Village Shalom Continuing Care Retirement Community, creator and original funder of the Bushman Community Endowment Program, creating education for non-profits in the Jewish community to raise millions of dollars for their endowment programs, and with Charles Helzberg, Ann Canfield, and Sandy Baer, was an original funder of the Teenage Arts Council at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, was on the Board of Councilors of the non-profit Menorah Hospital, and ,as a young man, a Sunday School teacher at Congregation Beth Shalom.

He served on several corporate boards, including Prom Motor Hotels.

He devoted much time counseling leaders of profit and not for profit organizations, plus many people from varied backgrounds for whom Stanley, always, made time to hear their challenges and offer his advice. He, often, gave financial help to people, in his private and confidential style, with love and compassion, for which he, consciously, avoided recognition.

Stanley was a lifetime student of varied interests, including art, ballet, travel, architectural design, barbeque, and, perhaps, most of all, he was an exceptional and compassionate listener who loved life and enjoyed giving back to his community, a man of keen mind and strength of character.

His was a life of work, generosity, and passion.

Stanley is survived by Ann Canfield, his niece Jill Goodman of St. Louis, and nephew Todd Goodman of St. Louis and Newport Beach, California.

Heartfelt thanks go to the exceptional care provided by his loving caregivers led by Meron Samuel.

In lieu of flowers Stanley's wish is that you help someone, a friend or a stranger, each and every day as he tried to do throughout his life, or, alternatively, a donation to The Jewish Community Foundation of Kansas City, for the Strategic Growth Fund, 5801 W. 115th Street, Suite 104,Overland Park, Kansas.

Private burial will be followed by a memorial service on Sunday, March 9th, at 1 p.m. at Beth Shalom Congregation, 14200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas. The memorial service will be live-streamed with the

link bethshalomkc.org/livestreaming

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.louismemorialchapel.com