Lois Payne, 86, former director of the Jewish United Fund Women’s Division, died Monday of complications following a fall. “She was a strong woman who was very committed to Jewish life,” said Steven B. Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. “When she was director of our women’s division, it took a major step up in terms of fundraising for Jewish needs, locally and overseas, and in its emphasis on Jewish education.” Ms. Payne joined the Combined Jewish Appeal–which later became the Jewish United Fund–in 1952 as assistant director of its women’s division. She became the director in 1960, a position she held until she retired in 1977. A longtime resident of Hyde Park, Ms. Payne lived downtown during the last several years of her life. There are no immediate survivors. Services will be held Thursday in Birmingham, Mich.
