PASSIONS
Serving Families for Generations
Continued from Page 5
She worked for the Northeast Philadelphia-based Jewish
Times for about 10 years, and in that time, she also did freelance
work for the Baltimore Jewish Times as well as the Jewish Expo-
nent, including an interview with Elie Wiesel.

For the Baltimore paper, she and her Philly Jewish Times col-
league Alan Jaffe wrote a February 1984 cover story investigating
the Soviet-Jewish mafia. The cover image is a striking all black
background with a large gun and red print along the left side in
all-caps: Murder. Extortion. Kidnapping. Forgery. Arson.

“Is There a Soviet-Jewish Mafia in the United States?” the
headline reads. She met with sources Deep Throat-style at mid-
night in parking lots because people were afraid to talk to them.

Over about six months, they talked with police departments
and sources across the country with large Russian Jewish popu-
lations, from Los Angeles to New York, to write the story. Despite
some threats they received, “it was a great story to do,” she said.

After she stopped working for the paper, something happened
that led to another phase: She became a grandmother.

Her son Michael — one of her two kids in addition to daughter
Dina — had his first of three children, Rachel, and suddenly he
became the only one who knew how to be a parent, she laughed.

Paston thought there could be a book in there somewhere, which
became How to be the Perfect Grandma. A companion — How to
be the Perfect Grandpa — came out a few years later.

The book, which was published in 2001 and just had a cover
redesign, is chock full of short, humorous anecdotes from her
family and rules on how to be the perfect grandma. (Rule 18:
Grandma’s house should always be stocked with the good stuff.)
“There are stories in the book about him and his ridiculous
rules and regulations for me — not for his father, just for me.

Because I didn’t know anything about raising children,” she said.

A standout story to her was when he didn’t want her
taking Rachel on the boardwalk during a trip to the beach
because it was windy, so he didn’t give his mother a stroller
to take with her. (She bought a new one and took Rachel on
the boardwalk anyway.

“She did not blow out to sea. She’s 27 and got married this past
August, so I think she survived.”)
Now the grandmother to six “brilliant and wonderful”
grandchildren, being a grandmother led to another opportunity:
becoming a yenta for Jdate.

The dating service recently launched an ad campaign in which
five Jewish grandmothers serve as the new faces, or “yentas,” of
the company. They were called back for video interviews and
asked about dating stories and advice they’d give to those signing
up for Jdate.

Her first piece of advice to anyone venturing into the dating
world is to be safe. Her second? Trade up.

“Find somebody that you really admire,” she added, “that you
really feel can complement you, that you feel can add something
to your life, but that you could be independent, self-sufficient, on
your own. … Be your own person. Be secure. Be happy. It’s not
easy, this world, and dating is tough.”
As she waits to see what happens with the videos, she contin-
ues to audition for other jobs and work on her next writing piece,
teasing that it will be about the funny parts of getting older.

“It’s just been a hoot,” she reflected. l
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