May 28, 1943 – February 3, 2026
February 4, 2026
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Elliot Lubar, a deeply respected leader of Jewish Family Services and a guiding presence in our community. His passing was recently shared through his obituary, which can be found here: https://www.blanegoodmanfunerals.com/obituaries/Elliot-Lubar/. Funeral services will be held online and in person at 11:30 AM on Friday, February 6, 2026 at Congregation Shalom, 7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point, WI.
Elliot served Jewish Family Services with distinction and devotion as Executive Director. Over a career spanning more than three decades at JFS, his leadership helped shape the agency during periods of significant growth and change, always in response to the evolving needs of the Jewish and broader community. As Elliot once said, the agency’s work was fundamentally about sustaining human life, a belief that guided his decisions and priorities throughout his tenure.
Among his many accomplishments, Elliot took particular pride in JFS’ leadership role in welcoming and resettling families from the former Soviet Union, when Milwaukee absorbed thousands of new immigrants in a short period of time. Under his guidance, JFS expanded rapidly to meet those needs, building what he described as an agency within an agency to support housing, employment, education, medical access, and resettlement services. He was equally proud of JFS’ early commitment to adults with exceptional needs, helping to establish supportive housing and case management programs that continue to serve individuals with developmental disabilities and serious mental illness across our community today.
Elliot also played a key role in strengthening JFS as an institution, including guiding the transition to a standalone headquarters that better protected client dignity and confidentiality while creating a more functional and welcoming environment for both staff and visitors. He believed deeply in hiring the right people, mentoring future leaders, and ensuring the organization would remain strong long after his formal leadership ended. His connection to JFS never wavered. Most recently, Elliot attended the ribbon cutting of Woodale Crossing this past July, a moment that reflected his pride in the continued growth of the agency and his enduring support for its mission.
Elliot was known not only for his professional accomplishments, but also for his humility, warmth, and deep sense of responsibility to the community. He often spoke of service not as a pursuit of recognition, but as an obligation rooted in values and care for others. His legacy lives on in the programs he helped build, the people he mentored, and the countless lives touched through his leadership. We will share additional information as it becomes available regarding opportunities to honor Elliot’s memory and to extend support to his family. May his memory be a blessing and a source of comfort to all who knew him.
With heartfelt condolences,
Dan Fleischman
Jewish Family Services
