Stevan Labush elected as board chairman of Touro Fraternal Association

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CRANSTON – Stevan Labush was elected as the new chairman of the Board of Directors of Touro Fraternal Association at the organization’s June meeting. Jeffrey Davis was elected to replace Labush as the board vice chairman.

“Touro has always had a special place in my heart, and I look forward to leading our organization toward a bright future,” said Labush, who succeeds Alan Lury as chairman.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the board has met remotely each month. The crisis forced Touro to hold its first-ever mail-in election, in May, for its board and officers. A total of 153 votes were cast – much higher participation than in-person voting in recent years. 

Winning the contested election for three-year terms on the board were Larry Berman, Davis, Andrew Gilstein, Lury and Michael Smith. Jeffrey Stoloff run unopposed to fill a two-year vacant board seat.

All of the lodge officers ran uncontested. Elected to one-year terms for Harmony Lodge were Berman, president; Jeffrey Harpel, vice president; David Altman, treasurer; and Jonathan Finkle, secretary. Elected for Friendship Lodge were Stoloff, president; Adam Halpern, vice president; and Peter Silverman, treasurer.  Lester Nathan was appointed to continue as secretary on a temporary basis.

At the June board meeting, Labush appointed the following as association officers: Bruce Wasser, secretary; Jonathan Finkle, treasurer; Barry Schiff, chaplain; Mitchell Cohen, inside guard; and Ried Redlich, faithful guide.

Labush has been a Touro member for nearly 30 years. He was a lodge president and officer, and has been a board member for 25 years, chairing several committees.

Labush is an associate professor of accounting and finance at Johnson & Wales University, where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He also runs a tax preparation, bookkeeping and consulting business in Cranston.

Labush is the president of the Greater Providence Hebrew Free Loan and a past president and current board member of the Temple Beth-El Brotherhood. He taught Sunday School at Temple Beth-El, in Providence, for 16 years. He is also a past president of the Temple Am David Men’s Club. 

Labush and his wife, Rhonda, live in Warwick.

Davis, the new vice chairman, has been active in Touro for more than 25 years. He was a lodge president and officer, and has been a board member for 15 years. 

Davis is the treasurer of the Greater Providence Hebrew Free Loan; a board member at Temple Emanu-El, in Providence; and the president of the River Farms Condo Association, in West Warwick, where he lives with his wife, Cindy. Davis works part time at Shalom Memorial Chapel, in Cranston.

More information about the organization is available on its website, at www.tourofraternal.org, or by calling 401-785-0066.

Submitted by Touro Fraternal Association.