David Alexander Rakov

Born November 10th, 1935 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Florence Berman and Avner Rakov, David was the middle son of three brothers, the eldest Daniel and the youngest, Stephen. David graduated Harvard (1957) and Harvard Law School (1960) and married Lois Eisenberrg on February 13, 1963, at Beth El Synagogue in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Rather than, in his words, continuing on a “treadmill to oblivion” practicing law in Boston, David and Lois departed for the Peace Corps and West Africa, a four year adventure through Niger, Ivory Coast and Benin where he served as Assistant Director and then Director of Peace Corp Operations. During that time, sons Michael (1967) and Alan (1969) were born.

Returning home was an enormous adjustment, “the most obvious contrast being the enormous waste that seemed to be a part of daily life in America - wasted food, wasted paper bags, wasted bottles, wanted transportation, goods thrown away.”

After a period of seclusion in Maine, David accepted a job as General Counsel of the Illinois Department of Public Aid where he practiced law with a focus on social welfare. For 15 years, David and his family participated in an extended community of friends, neighbors and work colleagues including active participation in Temple Israel.

In 1985, David accepted the position of General Counsel at the University of Chicago Hospitals where he stayed for over a decade. After the departure of their sons for college, David and Lois moved to the Printer’s Row neighborhood of downtown Chicago, where they were members of the Chicago Loop Synagogue and greatly enjoyed classical music and Chicago theater.

In his later years, David returned to a longtime love, writing plays, and saw a number of his plays produced online as part of his 900 Penny Theatre project.

David is survived by his wife Lois, their sons Michael and Alan, their wives Nava and Billi and five Grandchildren, Alexander, Faye, Oliver, Noa and Sapir.

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Niger, 4864 Hwy 234, Box 180, White City, OR, 97503, or any other environmental or social justice cause.