Robert M. Beren

Mr. Robert M. Beren died Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida surrounded by his loving family. He lived an exemplary life defined by excellence which led him to many accomplishments in a myriad of fields.Mr. Beren was born in 1925, in Marietta, Ohio, where he lived until he left for Harvard College. During high school, he was captain of the debate team, star of the senior class play and a stellar basketball player. His freshman year was quickly interrupted by distinguished service in World War II as a member of General George Patton's 3rd Army. After college, he attended Harvard Business School graduating with high distinction as a Baker Scholar.Mr. Beren's long career began in Marietta, Ohio, where he joined the family oil and gas business. Soon thereafter, he moved to Wichita, Kansas to expand. He first started Beren Corporation with his brother and then Berexco Inc. which he grew to become the largest independent oil and gas company in Kansas and Nebraska. He was Co-Chairman of the Council of Active Independent Oil and Gas Producers and on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association.He was primarily responsible for the discovery of oil and gas under the Hugoton Gas Field in Southwest Kansas in the 1990s. It is still one of the most prolific basin in Kansas today and for which he received the prestigious Southwest Kansas Royalty Association Oil and Gas Appreciation Award. He was also inducted into the Kansas Oil and Gas Hall of Fame.Equally important to Mr. Beren was his career as a community leader and philanthropist. Locally, he was president of Ahavath Achim Hebrew Congregation overseeing the construction and dedication of its new building. He was chairman of the Wichita United Jewish Appeal (UJA), President of the Wichita School Board spearheading the desegregation of the school system and Chairman of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce.Nationally, he served as Chair of the Board of Yeshiva University where he received a Doctor of Humane Letters, was a Board Trustee of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Board of Governors of Hillel International, Board Trustee of the Foundation for Jewish Camp as well as an early activist of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).Passion for excellence in education, both secular and Jewish, led to Mr. Beren's active support of Ohr Torah Stone, Boys Town Jerusalem, Tikvah and The Jerusalem College of Technology. He endowed two professorships at Harvard and one at the University of Kansas (KU). He gave the naming gift for the Robert M. Beren Hall at Harvard Winthrop House, Robert M. Beren Academy in Houston and the Robert M. Beren Petroleum Center at KU.Mr. Beren loved sports. He was a Limited Partner of the Chicago White Sox and General Partner of the Wichita Wings Indoor Soccer Team. He was the benefactor of multiple tennis centers around the world including at Harvard, in Israel, at Marietta College, in Riga, Latvia and at Camp Ramah in California.When he moved from Kansas to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Mr. Beren continued his Jewish involvement. He was particularly active in the Palm Beach Synagogue, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Meyer Jewish Preparatory School and Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens. He also hosted many visitors at home seeking his expert guidance and support.Ultimately, his greatest pride and legacy is his four children, Nancy (Larry Jefferson) Beren, Amy (Robert) Bressman, Julie (Marc) Platt and Adam (Ellen) Beren, his 14 grandchildren and the 20 great grandchildren he shared with his former and late wife Joan S. Beren. Each learned from him the value of excellent work, dedication to a world greater than themselves and the importance of giving back to one's community both Jewishly and secularly.He is already greatly missed by his sister, Lela Gae (Norman) Jacoby and her entire extended family. Additionally, he is survived by his friend, June Garson.Mr. Robert M. Beren will be buried in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.Contributions in his memory may be sent to Ahavath Achim Congregation, 1850 N. Woodlawn, Wichita, Kansas 67208.May Robert M. Beren's memory always be for a blessing.