THE AGING BRAIN

PRACTICING WHAT THEY TEACH

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DEAN’S MESSAGE

FROM YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

BOARD FOCUS

ON CAMPUS

ALUMNI NOTES

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updateupdateWURZWEILERWURZWEILERPUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Wurzweiler School of Social WorkYeshiva University

JONATHAN LEADER, BLOCK GRADUATION

ON THE COVER: WURZWEILER STUDENTS SITTING IN THE HERBERT AND FLORENCE TENZER GARDEN, MAIN CAMPUS, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

PHOTOGRAPH BY NORMAN GOLDBERG. IMAGE MANIPULATED IN ADOBE@ PHOTOSHOP, BY EMILY SCHERER STEINBERG.

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We had another productive academic year at Wurzweiler. The months leading up to our periodicreaccreditation visit from the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditationin April were hectic. That visit, which involved faculty, students, field instructors, universityadministrators, and our Board of Governors, went very well. The site visit team identified morethan 20 areas as reflecting program strengths and six areas in which additional clarification was

needed. The four-volume self-study, the site visitors report, and our re-sponse will be reviewed by the Accreditation Commission in early November.

The University recently announced its $400 million capital campaign,of which $275 million has already been raised. Wurzweiler’s share of thecampaign goal is $5 million—half has already been raised—with the major-ity of these new funds targeted for scholarship assistance.

The job market for social work graduates is strong and enrollment hasstarted to climb following the cyclical national downturn in graduateschool enrollment that we experienced from 1997–2000. The faculty has

been extremely productive in its scholarship and writing, and publications during 2000 totaled48 articles and book chapters. While we provided a listing of 2000 faculty publications in our lastissue, 13 additional items with a 2000 publication date have appeared and 18 additional publica-tions, including books by Daniel Pollack and David Schnall, have already appeared in 2001.

Faculty have been invited to present papers at professional conferences in Ireland, Israel, Cuba,England, and Finland, as well as at conferences throughout the United States and Canada. Dr.Margaret Gibelman was the keynote speaker at the 15th anniversary celebration of the Okinawa(Japan) Association of Social Workers. Dr. David Schnall was invited for a return visit by TheCenter for Management in Nicosia, Cyprus, to deliver a bi-communal seminar for leaders of non-governmental organizations from both sides of the politically divided island. Dr. Louis Levitt, pro-fessor emeritus, spent part of the spring semester lecturing on social policy at the school ofsocial work of the New Bulgarian University. Dr. Richard Caputo is guest editor for a specialissue of Families in Society on social justice, and Dr. Gibelman is guest editor for an issue ofNonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Dr. Charles Trent has been elected to the boardof the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, and I have beenelected to the Board of the Council on Social Work Education.

Daniel Pollack has returned from a year-long sabbatical in Israel. Dr. Charles Auerbach will beon sabbatical during fall 2001 and Dr. Gibelman will be on sabbatical for academic year 2001–02.

On a sad note, Dr. Esther Lentschner, who served on the faculty of the school in the 1960sand 1970s, passed away last spring. A memorial service at the school is planned for October 11.The writing award that Dr. Lentschner established in memory of her husband Walter will nowcarry both their names.

Other staff and faculty changes:■ Leslie Waltzer Pollak has been appointed director of development for both Wurzweiler andFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology. ■ Dr. Arthur Frankel, a member of our faculty since 1994, joins the faculty of the University ofNorth Carolina (Wilmington).■ Dr. David Schnall has been appointed Dean of the University’s Azrieli Graduate School ofJewish Education and Administration. He will continue as a member of our faculty teachingone course each semester and serving as doctoral student advisor.

In other school news, Wurzweiler students in the field work unit associated with the FortWashington Geriatric Centers sponsored an outstanding community program on hoarding behav-ior among the elderly, and this year’s HIV & Diversity conference is scheduled for December 10,2001, at the Main Campus.

Keep in touch.

Dorothy and David I. Schachne Dean, Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Yeshiva University

Robert M. BerenCHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. Norman Lamm ’49Y,B,RPRESIDENT

Daniel T. FormanVICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT

Peter L. FerraraDIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Robert R. SaltzmanDIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Helen KuttnerEDITOR

Emily Scherer SteinbergDESIGNER

Esther FinkleRamona FreedmanNorman GoldbergPeter Robertson

CONTRIBUTORS

WURZWEILER UPDATEIS PUBLISHED TWICE A YEAR BY

WURZWEILER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORKALUMNI ASSOCIATION

2495 AMSTERDAM AVENUENEW YORK, NY 10033-3299

(212) 960-0084

DESIGNED AND PRODUCEDTHROUGH THE OFFICE OF

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS500 WEST 185 STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10033-3201(212) 960-5398

Editorial contributions andsubmissions to Update are

welcome. This publication acceptsno responsibility for unsolicitedmanuscripts or photographs. All

submissions are subject to editingand are used at the editor’s

discretion. Opinions expressedin this publication do not

necessarily reflect official Schooland/or University policy.

Dean’s message

2 W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E

updateWURZWEILERWURZWEILER

Greetings to all and congratulations toour newest alumni—the WurzweilerClass of 2001.

Since our last column, our organiza-tion has experienced significant changes.The Executive Committee has been hardat work fostering relationships with admin-istration, faculty, alumni, and students toensure quality programming and servicesto the alumni body. This year, we havehad several alumni meetings and dinners,as well as a career networking event and aseminar on aging. We have been updatingalumni records and finding “lost alumni,”so please continue sending in email andpostal addresses of alumni you are intouch with.

As a Wurzweiler alumnus/a, you inter-act with former classmates, friends, faculty,and other professional social workers. Wepass the torch to you to continue theserelationships and help us further developyour alumni association. Let’s work to-gether to make both our professional andpersonal lives respected, celebrated, anddistinguished.

For those of you outside the New Yorkmetropolitan area, access to YU’s exclu-sive online community will afford you yetanother benefit: a connection to alumniall over the world to exchange ideas, net-work, and post job opportunities foraspiring new alumni.

To become more involved with youralumni association, contact Annette Pragerat (201) 385-1612 or Hoshana3@aol.com,or Joel Katz at (973) 428-9300 or jkatz@

ujfmetrowest.org.

L’hatzlchah—To success!

Joel Katz ’81, Annette Prager ’96Co-Presidents

From the Alumni Office

It’s been a busy year establishing theOffice of Alumni Affairs—from recruit-ing members to the Alumni Association

Executive Committee to the numerousmeetings and functions the Association hasheld. We hope you are pleased with theprogress we have made and will continueto make.

The Executive Committee and thisoffice have strived to provide seminarsand social events that will give you valuebeyond your degree—and to provide areason for you to stay in touch. If there isa program or event that you would like tosee, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We would be remiss not to mention theco-presidents and vice presidents on theExecutive Committee who have been suchan integral part of this inaugural year:• Joel Katz ’81, Alumni Association

co-president• Annette Prager ’96, Alumni

Association co-president• Jeanne Atkatz ’94, Alumni Association

vice president• Rosa Perla Resnick ’76DSW, Alumni

Association vice president

While the work of the these alumni isgreatly appreciated, our initial goalremains—for all alumni to become moreinvolved with Wurzweiler School of SocialWork and its Alumni Association. Feelfree to attend a meeting to discuss howyour commitment can benefit both youand the Association.

Lastly, we are grateful to all who havecontributed to the Alumni Scholarship Fund.The participation rate increased nearly 60percent this year alone and it’s because“WSSW Alumni are creating the futuretogether.” Your generosity has allowed manybright and talented students to attend grad-uate school who would not have the financialmeans to do so. For those who have notcontributed to the fund yet, what betterinvestment could you make then to ensurethat your school continues to turn out thehigh caliber graduates and social workersit is known for nationally?

Watch your mail for the many oppor-tunities that await you from your Asso-ciation, including—for the first time ever—reunions! Best regards. ■

From your Association

Let’s meet online!

The Office of University AlumniAffairs announces an OnlineCommunity for alumni to recon-

nect, exchange ideas, and access careerand networking information. The Com-munity is password-protected and onlyalumni can register. And, best of all,it’s free!

The Online Community features■ an alumni directory■ a career resource center where youcan search for and post jobs, sharecareer advice, create and post resumes,join a mentoring program, and link toother career-related websites

■ Business Yellow Pages where you canpost an on-line ad for your product/service■ Free permanent email addresses■ Bulletin boards for posting messagesto other alumni or faculty members■ An event calendar for upcomingworldwide alumni functions■ Access to PlanetAll, a worldwidenetworking tool■ Hot links to other web resources■ Tools to build and store a personalweb page with up to one megabyte ofdisk space free of charge.To register for the Online Community,go to www.yu.edu/alumni.

W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E 3

May 2001 Wurzweiler Commencement

Meet Leslie Waltzer Pollak

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Leslie Waltzer Pollak is the new dir-ector of development for YeshivaUniversity’s Wurzweiler School of

Social Work and Ferkauf Graduate Schoolof Psychology. Pollak, who has nearly a

decade of experience ineducational fundraising,comes to YU from theHorace Mann School inRiverdale, NY, where, asalumni director, she wasresponsible for alumnirelations, the annual fund,and major gifts over aneight year period, and

played an integral part in their $35 millioncapital campaign.

“My new position at Yeshiva Universityaffords me the wonderful opportunity toutilize my professional skills to support pro-grams and professions I truly believe in,”says Pollak, who is familiar with the vitalongoing contributions made by socialworkers and psychologists.

“During the nine years I lived inManhattan, I volunteered as a rape crisisand domestic violence counselor at eightNew York City hospitals, so I have seenfirst-hand how mental health and socialwork professionals make a difference incritical situations.”

With the $5 million dollar capital cam-paign goal set by the University to sup-port academic programs, financial aid,facilities, and technology at Wurzweiler,and another $5 million targeted forFerkauf, Pollak will have the opportunityto raise donor awareness of the school’svital role in professional training andresearch in the field. ■

4 W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E

In memoriam

ESTHER MELTZER LENTSCHNER

Dr. Esther Meltzer Lentschner, a long-time faculty member and specialist in

gerontology and family and foster care services, died in April at the age of 87.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Radcliffe College, Dr. Lentschner received

her MSS from Case Western Reserve University School of Applied Social

Sciences and her DSW from Columbia University. She joined Wurzweiler in

1964 as a lecturer and was promoted to assistant pro-

fessor in 1967. During her years at the school, Dr.

Lentschner served as chairman of the school’s admis-

sions committee and directed an advanced leadership

training institute for senior citizen club leaders in

cooperation with the Central Bureau for the Jewish

Aged. Her published works included “Group Ap-

proaches to the Aged,” written for the Central Bureau

for the Jewish Agencies, and papers on the “Role of

the Social Worker in Homes for the Aged” for the

Associated Jewish Homes for the Aged and “Foster

Parent Training” for the Children’s Bureau. In recent years, she served on the

board of the New York Service Program for Older People, Inc., a non-profit,

community-based mental health center for older adults.

Dr. Lentschner always stressed the importance of language and social

action to her social work students.

“Esther was somebody who had high standards for students in terms of

their ability to use language to express how they were thinking and working,”

recalls Dr. Aaron Beckerman, professor emeritus. “This ability to use lan-

guage would be helpful to clients and workers themselves in understanding

what they were doing and how to express that to other people. She was ready

to offer students readings in literature—not limited to social work—which

she believed would give them a better understanding of what clients were

dealing with. She wanted them to understand the clients beyond the psycho-

logical component—race, class, and social factors.”

“She had a very deep devotion to the school,” he adds. “Even after retire-

ment and when she was ill, she found a way to get to functions.”

At an alumni dinner on the occasion of Wurzweiler’s 40th anniversary in

1997, New York State Assemblyman Vito Lopez ’71 presented two Assembly

proclamations: one honoring his alma mater, the other his favorite teacher.

“I wish my husband was here to see this,” said a visibly moved Dr.

Lentschner.

In 1999, she established The Walter S. Lentschner Award for Excellence in

Writing at Wurzweiler in memory of her husband, who was an editor. In time

for this year’s commencement, her family announced the prize will be

renamed the Esther and Walter S. Lentschner Award.

A memorial service will be held at Wurzweiler this fall on October 11th. ■

Dr. Esther Meltzer

Lentschner

Leslie WaltzerPollak

H O L D T H E D AT E

HIV and Diversity VChanges in the HIV/AIDS Epidemic:

Social Work Responses

December 10, 2001

Weissberg Commons, Belfer HallMain Campus, Yeshiva University

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 212 960-0820

Coming home to YU

The idea of pursuing a master’s de-gree after being out of school foreight years was both exciting and

overwhelming for Sari Feldman ’99. Shewas also unwilling to give up her career asa Jewish communal professional workingwith children and families. After looking

into many social workprograms in New YorkCity, she found only onethat could accommodateher needs—the master’sprogram at Wurzweiler.

“Wurzweiler was theonly program that allowedme the opportunity to

continue working full time at the 92ndStreet YM-YWHA and complete a gradu-ate degree in social work and a certificatein Jewish Communal Service,” Ms. Feld-man says. “As a PEP student, I was able tofulfill my field work requirements at the92nd Street Y, which encouraged me tobroaden my horizons and practice moreformally what I had been doing for so long.”

Two years and not much sleep later,she graduated. “Those two years were themost challenging, but, in the same vein,the most fulfilling. I left Yeshiva Universitya more developed individual both person-ally and professionally. Wurzweiler gave methe chance to prove that earning a special-

ized degree in a program that providesoptions, support, and excellence can onlybe in the best interest of the professionaland his or her constituents.”

Ms. Feldman enjoyed her time at Wurz-weiler so much that she made Yeshiva Uni-versity her next career move. “After I grad-uated with a master’s degree in social work,specializing in community organization, Ispent a lot of time searching for what shouldcome next in my professional life.” Shecame across a job opportunity for a SpecialEvents Coordinator at Yeshiva Universityand realized at that moment this was for her.

“The position requires the skills I deemto be my best—organization and commu-nication,” Ms. Feldman says. “I feel I am wellprepared to work in a large institution likeYeshiva University with its many person-alities and the responsibility of orches-trating nearly 100 events, both big and small,each year. I’m fortunate to love what I amdoing once again.”

Just as she once created structures forchildren and families to find growth anddevelopment in a recreational setting, Ms.Feldman now provides venues for com-mitted individuals to become more con-nected to the Yeshiva University family.She is proud to be a Wurzweiler School ofSocial Work alumna and hopes all YeshivaUniversity graduates find what makesthem happy while making a difference inthe lives of others. ■

Board focusFriendship is the best medicine

Everyone has experienced a “bad day”from time to time; but for someone re-turning into society after recovering

from a mental illness, feelings of inad-equacy, loneliness, and fear can be exas-

perated by lack of com-panionship. For almosta decade, Lilly Tempels-man ’79 has worked tobring camaraderie backinto the lives of the re-covering mentally ill ascoordinator of the Com-peer Program run by

the Division of Volunteer Services of theJewish Board of Family and Children’sServices (JBFCS) in New York City.

“Friendship is the best medicine,” shesays, reiterating the phrase she utilizes inher volunteer recruitment material.

The Compeer Program is part of aninternational, nondenominational supportservice that matches adult volunteersone-on-one with adult chronic mentallyill clients. There are 120 branches of the26 year-old program in 33 states, Canadaand Australia. It is headquartered inRochester, NY, and based in differentmental health agencies statewide (JBFCSis the designated agency in NYC). As“compeer” connotes, the volunteer offersweekly support and companionship in rela-tionship to the client’s needs—a shop-ping trip, dinner out, or telephone contact.The client’s therapist and Ms. Tempels-man, who recruits and trains Compeervolunteers, supervise the pair. Applicantsare screened, submit three letters of recom-mendation, and meet with Ms. Tempels-man, Compeer Coordinator, for an in-depthpsychosocial interview (“Our populationis too vulnerable and we have to make surethe volunteers can handle that aspect.”).

Matches are made according to geo-graphic location, age, and interests. Selectedvolunteers meet with the referring thera-pists and must submit monthly reports tothe agency. While there are currently 33Compeer partnerships throughout thefive boroughs, qualified volunteers are

W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E 5

The Aging Brain

More than 40 alumni from Wurzweiler and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychol-ogy gathered in March at Hyatt Classic Residence, Yonkers, NY for “The AgingBrain: Changes and Effect on Memory”—the first alumni program jointly sponsored

by The Wurzweiler School of Social Work and FerkaufGraduate School of Psychology Alumni Associations. Thedinner buffet and seminar were hosted by Regina Minsky’79, associate executive director, Classic Residence.

The guest speaker was Carlo Bayrakdarian, MD, anexpert in geriatric psychology serving as a consultant tonursing homes and assisted living facilities in New Yorkand Florida. In 1999–2000, he was a fellow in geriatric

psychiatry the Cornell Institute for Geriatric Psychology in White Plains, NewYork. Dr. Bayrakdarian tailored his presentation to be of value to both socialworkers and psychologists.

The Wurzweiler School of Social Work Alumni Association gratefully acknowl-edges Regina Minsky for her hospitality in offering Hyatt Classic Residence ofYonkers as the venue for this special event. ■

Sari Feldman

Lilly Tempelsman

Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian

hard to find because of the stigma associ-ated with mental illness, Ms. Tempelsmanexplains.

She believes her program is serving avital role.

“The aim of the match is to put the twoon an even footing and give the consumerconfidence that he or she has a contribu-tion to make. The volunteers are not ther-apists—they are adjuncts to therapy.”

Social work is a second career for Ms.Tempelsman, who has a degree in chem-istry and statistics and worked as a statis-tician for the New York City Departmentof Health after college. She was a dedicatedvolunteer while her three children wereat home, and decided during that time totake a social work aide course at the NewSchool for Social Research “to get a feel forthe profession.” Field placement was arequirement and Ms. Tempelsman—whois fluent in four languages and has a speak-ing knowledge of three more—found aspot in a social service program for emigresoperated by the National Council forJewish Women.

“I was interested in the social workfield, even if I had to start at the bottom,because it was useful work that I couldfeel good about,” she recalls. She enrolledin Wurzweiler under the extended optionwith the support of then Acting DeanSolomon Green, and obtained her degreein four years. While in her fourth year andnot yet able to accept a full time socialwork position, she volunteered at theJewish Conciliation Board, an organiza-tion that mediated family disputes, whichthen hired her after graduation. In 1983,the Conciliation Board affiliated with thevolunteer division of the Jewish Board ofFamily and Children’s Services and Volun-teer Director Betty Forhman tapped Ms.Tempelsman to run the Compeer Program.

When asked to join the Wurzweiler Boardof Governors in 1989, Mrs. Tempelsmanagreed. “I liked the School, and it’s impor-tant to bring a social worker’s perspectiveto the board.” (There are now twelve socialworkers and clinicians on the board ofdirectors.) She served on its academic sub-committee and enjoys working with DeanSheldon Gelman, whom she finds is“always open to ideas.” She stayed in touchwith her favorite instructor Elsbeth Couch,professor emerita, who now serves on the

Compeer Program’s Advisory Board. “Hercriticisms are constructive, not critical—as helpful as her analysis of studentpapers,” laughs Ms. Tempelsman. ■

On campusGlobalization is Blockconference theme

by Roberta Rohdin, MSW

Assistant director of field instruction

January’s two-day field instructors’conference, “The Impact of Globaliza-tion on Field Education,” drew parti-

cipants from the metropolitan area aswell as from such Block program localesas Texas, Ontario, and Alaska. The con-ference opened with an afternoon seminarfor out-of-town field educators, followedby the Dean’s reception and dinner.

The second day’s activities for all atten-dees included a panel discussion on howimmigration, mass migration, and second-ary trauma shape social work practiceand field education in a global context:

■ Dr. Joyce Rosman Brenner ’64, ’83DSW,Israel field coordinator, talked about sec-ondary trauma in a nation immersed inpolitical and social strife, where peoplefaced with ever-present dangers haveadopted a business-as-usual attitude.These critical conditions create increasedanxiety that is manifested in such socio-logical and psychological responses asmass denial, rage, increased accidents,arguments, family violence, and self-destruction.■ Dr. Sue Ellen Mesbur, professor, RyersonSchool of Social Work, Toronto, spokeabout issues confronting her multiculturalcity and the impact of its immigrationpolicies on newcomers. She affirmed thenecessity for social workers to adopt in-novative responses to constricting policiesin their work with these diverse popula-tions. As an example, she cited the devel-opment of support groups for Rawandanrefugees and Holocaust survivors. Apoignant outcome of this group programwas the Holocaust survivors advising theRawandans that “they must tell their sto-ries to their children.”■ May Lai, director, alcohol and substanceabuse services, Hamilton-Madison House,NYC, spoke about the Asian experience andthe need for professional services thatwould address, with sensitivity, the bilingualand bicultural needs of new immigrants,foreign students, and clients. She offeredthat field instructors consider how emigreestudents’ own issues can reverberate in theclient situation.

Following the panel discussion, theschool’s Faculty Players reenacted student-field instructor situations as an exercisein examining complex learning issues andteaching techniques.

Luncheon was highlighted by keynotespeaker Ruth W. Messinger, president,American Jewish World Service, and aWurzweiler field instructor. Ms. Messingerpointedly discussed such world issues aspoverty, AIDS, and wars, and the implica-tions of meeting the needs of various cul-tural groups with grounded social programs.She emphasized the importance of culturalcompetency while working with diversegroups and not making value assumptionswhen helping to develop responses tocritical psychosocial, sociopolitical, andeconomic issues. ■

6 W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E

Ruth W. Messinger at the Block conference.

Engaging the elderly

During an advocacy visit to the New York State Legislature,Elsbeth Couch, now professor emerita, was about to entera hearing on family and children’s services when she was

told that the hearing on services for the elderly was at anotherlocation. A diplomatic Professor Couch was said to exclaim, “Doyou think because I have white hair that I do not have an interestin services for children?”

Associate Professor Susan Bendor, a gerontologist who oftenrelates the story, is all too familiar with prevailing stereotypesabout the elderly. In her fourth term as co-chair of the WashingtonHeights & Inwood Council on Aging, Inc. (WHICOA), she seeks re-spect not only for clients’ needs, but alsofor their contributions to their community.

“Our goal is to improve and deliver ser-vices for the elderly, to plan for the future,and to influence social policy as it affectsthe elderly in the community,” says Dr. Ben-dor, who came to WHICOA in 1989 uponassuming responsibility for Wurzweiler’sgerontology-related courses and activities.

Founded in 1972, WHICOA is an um-brella organization of community and gov-ernment agencies serving the elderly inthe Washington Heights-Inwood area.Nearly 100 agencies cover needs relating tohome care, medical services, housing,transportation, Meals on Wheels, andother social services. A volunteer organization offers legal serv-ices once a month.

Dr. Bendor was impressed with the vitality of many seniors whovisit WHICOA’s 11 member centers and saw good field opportunitiesfor Wurzweiler students to work with active elderly. Unfortunately,many sites did not have an MSW-level social worker on staff to su-pervise students. When Rebecca Prentiss Carel, executive directorof Fort Washington Services for the Elderly and then WHICOAco-chair, indicated that several area senior center directors wereinterested in mentoring students, a new collaborative project wasborn. Dr. Bendor and Dr. Arthur Frankel, Samuel Hausman Pro-fessor of Communal Social Work, worked with Fort WashingtonServices on a grant to the United Way Strategic Alliance Fund topay the salary of a roving supervisor. The individual, selected byboth Wurzweiler and WHICOA agencies, had to both meet theschool’s academic criteria and be comfortable working at differ-ent agencies. (Vicki Meyer, a Wurzweiler adjunct instructor anddoctoral student, was the first supervisor under the grant.)

“One of the things students are learning is the vital impor-tance of collaboration, because they are working with clientswho have several agencies in their lives,” Dr. Bendor says, refer-ring to the multiple service needs of many elderly. “They haveto look at what is in the client’s best interest.”

One of WHICOA’s current goals—and the subject of a recentlegislative breakfast—is to turn some neighborhood apartmentbuildings with large elderly tenancies into NORCS (NaturallyOccurring Retirement Community Support service program),which would make them eligible for on-premises social services.“One of our goals is to let lawmakers know that legislation mayhave to be reexamined to broaden the qualifications, so thesebuildings can apply,” Dr. Bendor explains. Fern Herzberg ’87,

WHICOA co-chair and executive directorof Arc Fort Washington, a dynamic inter-agency council on the aging, is taking aleadership role in the development ofNORCS in the community.

Dr. Bendor is passionate about engagingthe elderly in community life. Many activeelderly she knows through WHICOA, likethe retired musicians in their 70s and 80swho have formed a jazz ensemble, havemuch experience and knowledge to offerthe younger generation. At a recent meet-ing of the Association for Gerontologistsin Higher Education, Dr. Bendor presented“Universities Can Forge Creative Partner-ships Between Young and Old,” which

outlined how colleges and universities can actively involve theelderly in social interactions with students on campus.

“I would like to engage Wurzweiler in the lives of the elderly inthis community,” she says. She recently asked Rita Palter, an 85year-old Washington Heights resident who has been auditingher classes and would like to attend Wurzweiler, to speak to hergerontology students.

Dr. Bendor also sees the benefit of on or near campus inter-generational housing for retired seniors and intergenerationalcouncils, where seniors and students discuss issues of mutual in-terest. Her ultimate goal, is “for young and old not to be polarized.”

Dr. Bendor sees social workers as key figures in fighting forsocially responsible legislation. She is currently chairperson ofthe Nassau County Division of National Association of SocialWorkers—the largest in New York State—and is on the execu-tive committee, NYS Chapter’s board of directors. She has alsotestified before the Nassau County Legislature about the humancosts of social service cuts. ■

W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E 7

Practicing what they teach

The success of a school’s program is directly related to the reputation of its faculty, says Dean Sheldon R. Gelman. In that

respect, Wurzweiler is fortunate to have individuals who are not only scholars and practitioners in their areas of expertise,

but who also are advocates for their profession and the greater community. Following is a cross-section of faculty who truly

reflect the school’s commitment to education, research, and service.

Susan Bendor at a legislative breakfast.

From literature to social work

In an earlier career as a screenwriterand novelist, Assistant Professor Jon-athan Fast ’99 PhD was keeping up

with the family. His father, the novelistHoward Fast, has had a long and distin-

guished career and, at 86,is still productive. Dr. Fasthimself authored sevencritically acclaimed nov-els (four of which havebeen optioned to moviesand television), reviewedfor the New York Times

and The Los Angeles

Times, and has also written theatrical andindustrial films. Later in his career, Dr.Fast was a contract writer for the featureanimation division at Disney Enter-tainment. He worked on an early versionof Beauty and the Beast, and created a

screenplay for the yet-to-be producedfeature film Hansel and Gretel. Dr. Fastalso spent several years writing “informa-tional films” for companies such asXerox, Hewlett Packard, and OccidentalChemical. In the process, he garneredgold and silver medals at the New Yorkand Chicago Film Festivals.

And then he turned 42.Reflecting on his career, he realized that

he disliked the isolation and was growingweary of the self-centered life of the artist.

“It was a midlife transition—a difficultperiod. You reach a certain age and youbegin to realize that your days are num-bered, and you wonder what you’ve reallydone for your fellow man. It can be anopportunity to recreate yourself.”

And that is just what he did. Dr. Fast,who attended Princeton University andearned a BA from Sarah Lawrence College,returned to school and obtained a master

of social work degree from Columbia Uni-versity. After receiving his MSW, hedevoted the next few years to direct clin-ical practice with children, working atpsychiatric hospitals and community-basedagencies, and the welfare of childrenremains among his primary interests. Hehas published several articles on socialwork with children and teens, and is cur-rently involved in cite-based research andprogram evaluation for the Port ChesterSchool System.

Dr. Fast believes that “the spiritual ori-entation of YU provides an ideology thatencourages helping people and intellectualinquiry—the two pillars that the social workprofession are built upon. When I first camehere, a colleague taught me an expression,‘tikkun olam.’ It means ‘healing the earth,’and reflects an important value of Judaism.”

There are other things that he lovesabout Wurzweiler. “The dean is patient with

8 W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E

Seeking social justice

In over two decades as a lawyer and social worker, Assis-tant Professor Vicki Lens ’00PhD has championed soci-ety’s less fortunate in both the courtroom and the

classroom. After receiving her masters in social work from SUNY-

Stony Brook in 1977, Dr. Lens opted to pursue a law degree.After graduating from New York LawSchool, she was a lawyer with NassauSuffolk Law Services, where she ad-vocated for the poor in the areas ofhousing, public assistance, SocialSecurity disability benefits, and Medi-caid. As the lead attorney in Koster v.

Webb, she won a landmark federalclass action suit on behalf of home-less families in Nassau County re-sulting in an Emergency Assistance

to Families housing provision. She was later an attorneyfor the Legal Aid Society in New York City, where she wasinvolved in several other class action lawsuits on behalf ofhomeless families and public assistance recipients. Later,as an assistant state attorney general, Dr. Lens estab-lished the Suffolk County Public Advocacy Unit and pros-ecuted businesses engaged in illegal practices. She alsotaught poverty law as an adjunct at Touro Law Center.

Eventually, the field of social work beckoned again.“As a lawyer, I was limited to tackling issues based on

legal precedents and law, while social work allows you todeal with problems in a broader, more holistic way.” As afaculty member for the last two years, Dr. Lens, whoteaches social policy, cultural diversity, and law and socialwork, enjoys her social work students and cites them asa major motivating factor. “Wurzweiler students are eagerto learn and are enthusiastic and sincere in their com-mitment to their fields. They are also a diverse group,which makes classroom discussions very interesting andchallenging.”

Dr. Lens’ research and writing focuses on the law’simpact on social policy. Her most recent article, “The Su-preme Court, Federalism, and Social Policy: The NewJudicial Activism,” which appears in Social Service Review,

analyzes the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions oncivil rights and social welfare legislation. Her analysis ofthe Supreme Court decision in Jaffee v. Redmond—whichestablished that conversations between therapists (includ-ing social workers) and clients were privileged conversa-tions not to be disclosed in federal civil actions—appearedin Social Work. Scheduled to appear in Social Work in

Education is an article cowritten with Dr. Beth Grube,assistant professor, on “Student-to-student harassment:Impact of Davis v. Monroe.” She recently submitted anarticle on the impact of judicial reforms on managed careand is working on an article about the Supreme Court andsocial justice and an analysis of a recent Supreme Courtsexual harassment decision. ■

Vicki Lens

Jonathan Fast

my shortcomings, and supportive of myaccomplishments. My colleagues are afascinating bunch, policy mavens, re-searchers, ethicists, and clinicians. There’seven an anthropologist.”

Dr. Fast enjoys his class contact withstudents from varied walks of life. “In theConcurrent Program we have traditionalstudents, while in the PEP program wehave older students, people of color, andthose who have worked in human servicesfor a number of years. They bring a uniqueperspective to our classes.”

And with a father’s pride, he speaks ofhis daughter Molly Jong-Fast, who is alsoa writer. Her book, Normal Girl, wasrecently reviewed in the New York Times.She currently writes for popular maga-zines and is working on her second novel.

It has been a long journey from litera-ture to social work education, and listeningto Dr. Fast speak, it’s clear that the journeyis far from over.

“In the future I hope to be able to drawmore on my writing experience in the wayof text books and extended works—per-haps even multimedia instructional mate-rials and the use of the Internet for con-tent delivery.” ■

Wurzweiler remembersCeil Weisman

Words like “mentor” and “friend”were used throughout Wurz-weiler’s recent tribute to the late

Dr. Celia B. (Ceil) Weisman, professoremerita, who passed away after heart sur-gery last July at the age of 81. Colleaguespast and present joined friends, alumni,and family members in sharing memoriesof the petite, energetic woman whoenjoyed both a local and internationalreputation as a champion of the elderlyand the social work profession (seeUpdate, winter 2000).

“She left many generations of students,”said Dean Sheldon Gelman, who announ-ced that the soon-to-be released NASWtext on aging, which carries a forward byDr. Weisman, now is dedicated to her.

One of those early students was Dr.Louis Levitt, professor emeritus. Althoughhe worked under Dr. Weisman’s directionat Yeshiva University’s Gerontological In-

stitute in the 1970s, Dr.Levitt first knew her as hisfield work supervisor at theEducational Alliance in theearly 1950s.

“She set a magnificentexample for all of us,” he said.

“Students were herequals. The opportunity wasthere to learn from her. As afriend and a motivator, Iappreciated her a lot,” saidDebra Shrag ’80, who collat-ed groups on elderly issueswith Dr. Weisman at theJCC on the Palisades inTenafly, NJ.

“She was a friend, teacher,and colleague dedicated to world peaceand social justice,” offered Michael Cronin,United Nations representative, Inter-national Federation of Social Workers,and a Wurzweiler doctoral student. Heannounced that a plaque has been dedi-cated to her at the Federation’s Swissheadquarters and a memorial lecture hasbeen established.

Other speakers included master ofceremonies Dr. Eli Levy; Dr. Norman Linzer’60, who gave a d’var Torah; Elaine Myers,

executive director, ShelterOur Sisters and former chair,Bergen County Human Ser-vice Advisory Committee,where Dr. Weisman served asboard chair; Janet Sharma,executive director, VolunteerCenter of Bergen County; Dr.Rosa Perla Resnick ’76DSW;Dr. Susan Bendor; and UNcolleague Helen Hamlin. Aletter from Reuben Schindler’73DSW, former dean, Bar-Ilan School of Social Work,was read.

The most affecting mo-ments were offered by tearfuldoctoral student Jinsheng

Qiu ’99, who spoke of her close friend-ship with Dr. Weisman and of spendingan afternoon with her a week before hersurgery. Son Marc and wife Debbie, whoattended with children Ariel and Aaron,were glad the children would now have afuller understanding of the woman theyonly knew as “Grandma.”

“There was no personal or economicgain in all her work,” Marc Weisman saidof his mother. “She reached that level ofsuccess—she loved what she did.” ■

W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E 9

Marc Weisman

Wurzweiler recently hosted the Ellsworth G. Stanton III Annual Lecture in Gerontolog-ical Social Work at the Geraldine Schottenstein Cultural Center, Midtown Campus. Thelecture is a joint effort of the New York City Schools of Social Work and is funded bythe James N. Jarvie Commonweal Service. Dr. Fernando M. Torres-Gil, associate dean atUCLA School of Public Policy & Social Research, former assistant secretary for aging inthe US Department of Health & Human Services, and past president of the AmericanSociety on Aging, presented this year’s lecture. Dr. Torres-Gil is the author of fourbooks and more than 70 articles in the field. From left: Ellworth Stanton III, DeanSheldon Gelman, and Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil.

SCHOOL HOSTS ANNUAL STANTON LECTURE

Graduation 2001

The keynote speaker at Wurz-weiler School of Social Work’s42st Diploma and Hooding Cere-mony on May 24 was NicholasScoppetta, commissioner, NYCAdministration for Children’sServices. Among the graduat-ing master of social work stu-dents were 11 ACS employeeswho attended Wurzweiler under

the school’s specialized Plan for Employed Personsto further their professional training. David I.Schachne, chair, Wurzweiler Board of Governors,also received a special recognition award for hisservice to the school.

Other awardees were: Rochelle A. Bobrow,National Association of Social Workers Award (pre-sented by Alma Carten, DSW, president, NYCChapter); Lenore Jeanne Shepard, The OutstandingStudent Clinician Award (presented by MurrayItzkowitz, board member, Society for Clinical SocialWork); Eden Jill Rosen, Dean’s Award; MelissaAbate and Riquelma Moreno, Faculty Award; FaithRisa Silberstein, Esther and Walter LentschnerAward for Excellence in Writing; Amy Gross-Kirschenbaum, Edward Grupper Memorial Award;Francis David Ayuso, Advocacy Award, and Ari E.Fisch, Research Award.

Jacquelyn Yvonne Sanders-Cropper and EdenJill Rosen spoke on behalf of their fellow students.

Faculty promoteWurzweiler locally,nationally, andinternationally

Dr. David Schnall,Herbert H. SchiffProfessor of Man-agement andAdministration—and newlyappointed dean of

Azrieli Graduate School of JewishEducation and Administration—returned to Cyprus earlier this yearto continue the lecture series hebegan last summer on issues ofinterest to local nongovernmentalorganizations, professionals, andvolunteers. Dr. Schnall, who spentlast year as a Fulbright Scholar atHebrew University’s BaerwaldSchool of Social Work, visitedCyprus last July at the request ofthe Nicosia office of the J. WilliamFulbright Foundation. His two-partpresentation, “NGOs—StrategicPlanning for the 21st Century,” triedto set out 3-5 year projections forlocal organizations and attracted 50participants from both the Greekand Turkish communities.

“These are rare opportunities forpeople from both sides to meet to-gether,” Dr. Schnall explains. Resi-dents from one sector are notallowed to travel to the other, butwith special approval and “bureau-cratic maneuverings” are allowed toparticipate in programs within thegated, 100-meter UN buffer zone,where both UN and Fulbright head-quarters are located.

Due to a limited travel schedulebetween Cyprus and Israel, Dr.Schnall was only able to offer onesession, as opposed to the three hegave last year. This second lectureon leadership development, co-spon-sored by the Nicosia ManagementAssociation, focused on managerialissues and the NGOs.

Dr. Schnall was invited to pres-ent a paper at the World Congressof Jewish Studies in Jerusalemthis August and plans to keep intouch with his Nicosia contacts. ■

Joan Beder’93DSW has beenawarded aNational KidneyFoundation grantthrough its Councilof Nephrology

Social Workers to conduct a studyon the “Effectiveness of a SocialWork Psychoeducational Programin Improving Adherence BehaviorAssociated with Risk of Cardiovas-cular Disease in Dialysis Patients.”Dr. Beder, who designed the one-year study, and Wurzweiler profes-sor and co-principal investigatorDr. Susan Mason are working withdata coordinators and patients at12 dialysis centers in Dallas and12 in San Diego. The researcherswill determine the usefulness ofsupport services together with aneducational video and study guidein affecting the behaviors of dialysispatients, who must adhere to arestricted diet and other precau-tions to prevent such secondarysymptoms as fluid retention. Thepatients view the video and readthe guide, created by social work-ers in the field, during a dialysissession and are monitored after-ward for behavioral changes. The12 sites in each city are dividedinto control and intervention groupsand comparisons will be made be-tween related groups in each city.

“We hope to show that socialworkers are a critical componentin behavioral change,” says Dr.Beder. Follow-up is done throughself- and computer-generatedreports and checks on such dataas weight gains to see if patientsare in compliance with their regimen.

“So far the preliminary resultshave been promising and we areseeing changes in the interventiongroups,” she adds. “Analysis hasto show that the intervention issignificant and we are banking onthat being the case.” Dr. Bederexpects to present her findings atthe National Kidney Foundation’sOctober conference in SanFrancisco. ■

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Communal philanthropist Jonathan Leader received theDistinguished Service Award at Wurzweiler’s 24th annualBlock Education Plan Commencement. Mr. Leader is chairmanof the Leader Family Fund, a charitable fund that focuses onimproving the quality of life in New York City. He and wifeDina have launched an initiative to award honoraria to lineworkers who have direct contact with clients at local Jewish-sponsored social service agencies. The Faculty Award waspresented to Yael Amir. Student speakers were Laura Safranand Mordechai Aaron Salzberg.

Nicholas Scoppetta

Dr. ArthurFrankel, SamuelHausman Pro-fessor of Com-munal SocialWork, is currentlyin the third year

of a five-year, $350,000 NYCHealth and Hospitals Corpora-tion grant to evaluate the effec-tiveness of four programs devotedto drug treatment, case manage-ment, and job training for women,as well as adolescent drug pre-vention. He serves as the grant’sprimary investigator and designerwith coinvestigators Dr. CharlesAuerbach, professor, doing dataanalysis and Dr. Heidi HeftLaPorte ’92DSW working on casemanagement.

In recent years, NYC MayorRudy Giuliani has mandated thedevelopment of drug treatmentprograms for women utilizing whatDr. Frankel refers to as a “onestop shop” approach, i.e., includ-ing services relating to treatment,healthcare, case managementand job training at one site. Eachsite has a different emphasis. Thefirst site, set up two years ago atBrooklyn’s Cumberland Hospital,is run in conjunction with NYC’sAdministration for Children’sServices for mothers and childrenunder their program. BronxHospital’s ASPIRE works withNYC’s Human Resources Admini-stration to locate jobs. JacobiHospital’s Growth and RecoveryCenter focuses on psychologicaltreatment both with groups andindividual psychotherapy. Inaddition, Harlem Hospital’sAdolescent Plus program has adrug prevention program andsoon expects to start a drugtreatment program for 25 teen-agers and their families.

“[Mayor] Giuliani had theforesight to provide the funds tostart these programs—there arefew treatment programs focusedjust on women and the idea of the‘one stop shop’ has never beforebeen done on such a wide scale,”Dr. Frankel explains. He alsobelieves the investigators’ reports

to HHC management will yieldmuch material for publication.“There will be significant informa-tion coming out from this studythat will set the benchmark fordrug treatment programs forwomen.” ■

Dr. MargaretGibelman, pro-fessor anddirector of thedoctoral pro-gram, was thekeynote speaker

at the 15th anniversary celebra-tion of the Okinawa Associationof Social Workers in March. Shelectured to about 300 Japanesesocial workers on “Social Workin the New Millenium: An Inter-national Perspective.” The Jap-anese Association of SocialWorkers in Tokyo and the OkinawaAssociation of Social Workersarranged for Dr. Gibelman tomeet with officials of the Healthand Welfare Departments and theDirector of the Council of SocialWelfare, as well as tour severalsocial service agencies during hervisit. Dr. Gibelman’s book WhatSocial Workers Do (NASW Press,1995) has been translated intoJapanese and is widely used inJapan. ■

Patricia Rose-Attia ’83, adjunctinstructor, is encouraged by theresponse to her seminar seriesat Our Place, a Brooklyn drop-infacility serving Orthodox boys andgirls (in separate facilities) age15–19 with concerns rangingfrom substance abuse and home-lessness to family issues andeating disorders (see “A programgrows in Brooklyn,” Update, win-ter 2000). The series began lastsummer and continues to be ingreat demand by the community’sadults who volunteer their time towork with these at-risk children.

“Great progress has beenmade over the past months,”says Ms. Rose-Attia, who hastaught a section of the substanceabuse elective for the past sevenyears. One of the biggest strides,she notes, is how adult volunteers

at the facility have familiarizedthemselves with the referral pro-cess and are now able to detectwhen to refer a teen to a profes-sional. “They use their volunteerstatus to network with other vol-unteers and professionals,broadening their experience.”

The seminars are coordinatedby Norman Linzer, PhD, ’60,Samuel J. and Jean Sable Chairin Jewish Family Social Work andAlan Sirote ’84, director, FamilyCrisis Intervention Program, atBikur Cholim of Boro Park, theagency supervising Our Place.

Recently, one of the volun-

teers announced his applicationto Wurzweiler’s Plan for EmployedPersons, which allows humanservices employees to attendclasses on evenings and Sundays.“This is a very pleasing result,”she adds.

Underway is an initiative fromMs. Rose-Attia’s agency ArmsAcres—a private health caresystem for individuals sufferingfrom alcoholism and chemicaldependency—to establish asatellite office near the facility so itsprofessionals can collaboratewith Our Place volunteers. ■

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� EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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■ ExecutiveCommitteeAlumni Associationgoverning body(membership subject tonomination and vote)

Subcommittees:

■ Special EventsMeet and plan reunions;plan and co-host dinnershonoring both current andretiring faculty

■ Jewish Com-munal ServiceDesign and implementprogramming specificallytargeted towards the Jewishcommunity at large

■ CommunicationsAssist WSSW and theOffice of Alumni Affairs onthe Update; assist inconstructing an alumni webpage

■ Student-AlumniRelationsInitiate student mentoringprograms (career network-ing events, open forumsfor students, etc.); workwith Office of CareerDevelopment

■ CareerNetworkingCoordinate and implementcareer networking “wineand cheese” parties andother events; assist in post-ing job opportunities onYU’s Online Community

■ ContinuingEducationCoordinate and implementcontinuing education pro-grams, seminars, symposia,etc., in conjunction withWSSW faculty and Officeof Alumni Affairs.

MAIL OR FAX COUPON TO: Director of Alumni Affairs, Wurzweiler School of Social WorkYeshiva University, 500 West 185th Street, New York, NY 10033

Phone: (212) 960-0084 Fax: (212) 960-5336

YES, I would like to get involved with the following WurzweilerSchool of Social Work Alumni Association activities:YES,

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W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E 1 1

1 2 W U R Z W E I L E R U P D AT E

WSSW Alumni Notes

1960’S

Janice ’69, and Joseph ’77 Green-farb are proud to announce thewedding of their son, DanielDoron Levy to Ruthie Anteby onDecember 10, 2000. Janice re-cently celebrated her 28th anni-versary as a school social workerfor the NYC Board of Educationand Joseph was part of a profes-sional delegation to Yemen.

Norman Linzer ’60, professor andSamuel J. and Jean Sable Chair inJewish Family Social Work, andwife Diane proudly announce themarriage of son Menachem toDevora Cohen. Mazel tov!

1970’S

Jerome A. Chanes ’74 is associateexecutive director of the Na-tional Foundation for Jewish Cul-ture, and on the adjunct facultyof Barnard College. He most re-cently authored a widely-usedmonograph, A Profile of the

American Jewish Community,and book, A Dark Side of His-

tory: Antisemitism through

the Ages. Chanes is also the reci-pient of a grant from the NationalEndowment for the Humanitiesfor “Image and Identity: JewishSelf-Representation,” a series ofpublic programs around thecountry in 2001.

Richard Corman ’76 received theSaul Schwartz Distinguished Ser-vice Award from the New JerseyAssociation of Jewish CommunalService. He serves as the execu-tive director of the JCC of CentralNew Jersey.

Simon S. Kaminetsky ’79 wasappointed regional director, LongIsland, for UJA-Federation of NewYork.

Vicki Horowitz Rashbaum ’72 hasspent the last decade working asa bilingual school social workerat the Barnard School, part ofthe City School District of NewRochelle, NY. She works with

300 four-year-olds and their fam-ilies and runs parent workshopsin Spanish for the Hispanic com-munity. Additionally, Vicki is afield instructor for BSW studentsfrom Iona College. She and herhusband reside in Larchmont, NY.

Meir Wikler ’72, ’83 authored thebook, Partners with Hashem:

From Tots through Teens and

Beyond, Effective Guidelines

for Successful Parenting. Thefirst printing sold out in just onemonth’s time. Dr. Wikler residesin Brooklyn, NY.

1980’S

Debbie Estrin ’83 is director ofmarketing and communicationsat the Jewish Federation ofGreater Dallas. She is married toDr. Timothy Jackson and has afive-year-old daughter, SerenaChani. The family resides in Dallas.

Phil Feldman ’86 was recentlypromoted to coordinator of adultoutpatient services at BarnertHospital Counseling Center inPaterson, NJ. He is also directorof advanced clinical seminars,which provides continuing edu-cation workshops for clinicalsocial workers in Clifton, NJ.

Toni Levi Goldrich ’84 has beena social worker in the Phila-delphia public schools for 15years. She is married and has twochildren, Marissa, 11 and Steven,6. She lives in Philadelphia.

James E. Lark ’88 won the 1997“Outstanding Social WorkerAward” in recognition of hisexceptional professional service.The award was presented to himby Ruth Messinger for the NYCChapter, National Association ofSocial Workers, Jewish Board ofFamily and Children’s Services,and NYC Schools of Social Work.He currently resides in Bronx, NY.

Barry S. Mael ’82 is currentlyexecutive director of the MarlboroJewish Center in Marlboro, NJ.He resides in Highland Park, NJ.

Susan Silverman Mintz ’81 iscurrently employed as directorof patient services with theKidney Foundation of Canada–Central Ontario Branch. She hasworked in direct practice and asa field practice supervisor formost of her career. Her practiceinterests have included workwith individuals suffering fromchronic illnesses and the elderly.Mintz has also enjoyed teachingService Methods courses in theGerontology program at SenecaCollege, Toronto. She has beenmarried to Howard Mintz for thepast 19 years. The couple residesin Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Laurence C. Segall ’84 is currentlyan elder care consultant for AtriaAssisted Living, Sunrise AssistedLiving, and Brighton GardensAssisted Living. He specializes inissues regarding transition, sep-aration, loss, anger management,and chronic/terminal illness. Heresides in Stamford, CT.

1990’S

Ann Burke ’95 was promoted toproject manager for the Home-less Women Veterans and Man-hattan VA Medical Center in NewYork City. She is also sad toreport that her father, Harry, 83,passed away in September 2000after a long illness.

Gary Golio ’97 reports that afterworking for two and a half yearsin substance treatment programsin both the Bronx and West-chester, NY, he has opened hisown private practice. Gary isvery gratified by the work he isdoing and wishes all of his class-mates well.

Adeena Davis Haber ’95 and herhusband Marc are proud to an-nounce the birth of their children,Yonatan Zvi and Daniel Men-achem. The twins were born onSeptember 15, 2000. The Haberfamily resides in Efrat, Israel,where Adeena works as a geri-

atric social worker in a nursinghome in Jerusalem.

Jennifer Jordan Hirsh ’96 wasmarried to husband Larry on Nov-ember 5, 2000 in East Syracuse,NY. She is currently employed asa CSW at a skilled nursing facilityin Queens.

Barry Nove ’92 is the financialresource development directorfor the United Jewish Fund andCouncil of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ellen R. Shurak ’95 and her hus-band are currently enjoying timewith their eight-month-old daugh-ter, Carly Lilly. Ellen is a clinicalsocial worker at Four WindsHospital in Katonah, NY. Thefamily resides in South Salem, NY.

2000’S

Namomie Denard ’00 is workingas a social worker in the preven-tive program at the Flatbush Hai-tian Center, Inc. She is proud toreport that, since her graduation,she has received a substantialpay increase and more respectat work, and has a newfound pridein her work helping and assistingher clientele.

We mourn theloss of…

Carol Brod ’78, who passed awaythis May at age 57, from compli-cations for treatment of a braintumor. Our condolences to herfamily.

Mildred (Mickey) Teicher, wife offormer Wurzweiler Dean MortonTeicher, in Miami in June. A Jew-ish art historian with degrees fromthe University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill and Barry Univer-sity, she served as director of theBeck Museum of Judaica, BethDavid Congregation, Miami. Ourcondolences to the Teicher family.