H EADLINES
Former JCC
President Shirley
Conston Dies at 94
OB ITUARY
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
SHIRLEY CONSTON’S
father, Alex Stanton, cared
deeply about helping the Jewish
community. Before the United States
entered World War II, the
Philadelphia businessman
traveled to Washington, D.C.,
with a prominent rabbi to try to
convince President Franklin D.

Roosevelt to fi ght the Nazis. He
also served as general chairman
of the Allied Jewish Appeal,
the “overseas complement” to
Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia, according to the
Jewish Federation’s website.

Young Shirley watched her
father and absorbed the lesson.

As an adult, Conston served
as president of the Jewish
Community Centers of Greater
Philadelphia from 1980 to 1984.

In the 1970s, she chaired the host
community activities for the
Council of Jewish Federations’
General Assembly,
the Federation of Jewish Agencies’
annual banquet and the 30th
anniversary of the state of
Israel festivities in Philadelphia,
among other eff orts.

So when she died on Sept.

19 at 94, Conston left behind a
similar legacy as her father.

“She felt it was extremely
important to strengthen Jewish
bonds,” said her son, Stuart
Conston. Th e Kaiserman JCC in
Wynnewood was one of the
JCCs that Conston led as
president. On Sept. 23, the
Kaiserman board of directors
honored her with a resolution.

“Countless individuals,
families and community
members have benefi ted from
the institution she helped
shape and build,” read part of
See Conston, Page 24
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Questions can be directed to VirtualSeminars@arden-courts.org
FREE DEMENTIA VIRTUAL SEMINAR
Conversations with Dr. Tam Cummings
A Monthly Education Series for the Dementia Caregiver
Approach, Conversations
and the Five Senses
Understanding changes in vision, hearing and the
damage to the brain means learning to adjust our
behavior to the abilities of a person living with dementia.

Recognizing how to approach a person living with
dementia, how to have a conversation based on the
person living with dementia’s capacity, and how to
adjust our voice pitch and tone, body language will be
addressed. Things we accidently do that trigger Fight,
Flight, Flee or Fawn will also be discussed.

Tam Cummings, Ph.D., Gerontologist
Author, Untangling Alzheimer’s: The Guide
for Families and Professionals
Shirley Conston
Courtesy of the Conston family
© 2021 ProMedica
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
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