DONALD KAUFMAN (Obituary)

Donald R. Kaufman, an executive coach and co-founder of The Kaufman Partnership, died on Sunday, August 25 at his Philadelphia home on Washington Square, surrounded by his beloved family.
"Don," as he was known, was a real estate developer and mortgage broker before co-founding The Kaufman Partnership with his wife, Karen Kaufman, in 1985. The business recently celebrated its 34th anniversary.
He was born in 1939 in McKeesport, PA to Byron G. Kaufman and Grace B. Kaufman (Logan), and graduated from Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills PA in June of 1957. Don was in the United States Navy during high school and received an honorable discharge in December of 1957.
After the Navy, Kaufman worked in a variety of financial services roles in New York and Pennsylvania. In 1969, he founded First National Bond & Mortgage, headquartered in Jenkintown, PA. According to his family, it was the first company in the area specializing in the FHA housing market.
In 1973, Kaufman married Karen Debra Hoffman. "He knew I was a businesswoman, and he always empowered me," said his wife. "He was a great support and gentle in his guidance."
Don Kaufman earned a Master of Science degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania when he was in his fifties. His and Karen's work in the program led them to develop The Kaufman Impression Management System, an instrument that identifies and measures impression factors that enhance executive and leadership presence.
Executive coaching was an ideal match for Kaufman, who brought his integrity, kindness, and empathy to his clients. For him it was not only a business, but also a calling and a way to help others.
"People admired and adored him because he was gentle and genuinely interested in other people," said his son, Marc.
Don and Karen were partners in love and in life, sharing family events, participating in charities and community activities, and enjoying golfing and sailing, including solo sails to the British and American Virgin Islands. They were active members of Society Hill Synagogue. He was an avid reader and especially enjoyed books about military history.
Kaufman was a founding member of both the Center for Organizational Dynamics and the Psychoanalytic Coaches Association, and served on the Executive Board of the Friends of Independence National Historical Park. At the Union League of Philadelphia, he served as President of Investment Club Two.
Kaufman loved his family unconditionally. "He had a way of inspiring by example, how we should be," said David. His sister Patricia Houtz said, "He had a quality of seeking the truth, always in pursuit of knowledge. He was a role model for me."
"Don said he wanted to be remembered as being strong, persistent, unique and charming," his wife said, "and he was all of those things."
In addition to his sons Marc and David and his sister Patricia, Don Kaufman is survived by his brother Russell W. Kaufman; his first wife Karen; his daughters-in-law Heidi Grad and Elizabeth Grad; father-in-law Len Hoffman; brother and sister-in-law Louis Hoffman and Sheri Gordon; three grandchildren, Max, Caleb and Abigail; and 13 nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 28, at Goldstein's' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sachs Funeral Home, 6410 North Broad Street, Philadelphia PA 19126.
The family will be sitting Shiva on Wednesday between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and again between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. as well as Thursday between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Independence Place community room, 241 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Independence Historical Trust , https://inht.org/, Society Hill Synagogue Rabbi Discretionary fund, https://www.societyhillsynagogue.org/ and Penn Hospice,
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/penn-medicine-at-home.