Good the Celebrating Today’s Active Adults A SUPPLEMENT TO THE MAY 6, 2021 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Life THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 1 Luxury Rental Community for Residents 55+ Community Clubhouse in Eastern Montgomery County, Upper Dublin Township, PA Resort Style Living! Clubhouse, State of the Art Fitness Center, Community Room with Kitchen Facilities, and Pool. PLUS many resident events and activities for you to enjoy! Call Now to Reserve Your Apartment Home! 215.283.2121 S. Limekiln Pike/Route 152 & Dreshertown Rd., Dresher, PA 19025 www.DublinTerrace.com A Bruce E. Toll Community In this Issue... 6 Retired Physician and Former Museum President Publishes Poetry Collection 12 John Prine Fandom Sparks Musical Connection 20 Hebrew School Teacher Celebrates 60 Years in the Classroom 26 Bruce Rubin Keeps It Movin’ Living to the Power of You SageLife communities reflect priorities that matter most: dynamic lifestyle, adaptable care, and sophisticated amenities. Our mission is to encourage, empower and celebrate successful aging. Our communities are thoughtfully designed to reflect our commitment to ‘aging well’. WAVEBREAKMEDIA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS Living to the power of you. CO MING 2 02 2 AMBLER, PA MALVERN, PA WALLINGFORD, PA The501.com LivingAtEchoLake.com PlushMills.com DaylesfordCrossing.com RETIREMENT LIVING RETIREMENT LIVING RETIREMENT LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING & MEMORY CARE 215-461-4880 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 484-568-4777 THE GOOD LIFE 610-690-1630 PAOLI, PA 610-640-4000 MAY 6, 2021 3 EN JOY Carefree Liv ing ANTHOLOGY SENIOR LIVING KING OF PRUSSIA We are a place where life is enriched by a luxurious, carefree lifestyle and ample amenities. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, bar, and indoor pool. Discover a dynamic community that encourages you to live your best life. Last opportunity for pre-open pricing! Schedule your tour today. N O W O P E N! ANTHOLOGY OF KING OF PRUSSIA 484-392-5011 IND EPEND ENT L I V IN G PER SO N A L C A RE / ME MO RY C A RE 350 Guthrie Road / King of Prussia, PA AnthologySeniorLiving.com/King-of-Prussia EXPECT EXCEPTIONAL LIVING. As a resident at The Landing of Towamencin, you won’t need to worry about things like housekeeping, yard work, or transportation. You can focus on what’s really important: you. Rediscover a past hobby or uncover a new passion in a comfortable yet active environment tailored to you. It’s fi ve-star fun, with fi ve-star service. Expect exceptional living at an affordable price. Call (215) 395-6862 to schedule your in-person tour. Save up to $12,000 your fi rst year with our amazing incentives! 900 Towamencin Ave • Lansdale, PA • (215) 395-6862 TheLandingOfTowamencin.com 4 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE A Whole Lotta Heart JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 2100 ARCH STREET | PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 215-832-0700 PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE LAURA FRANK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GABE KAHN MANAGING EDITOR ANDY GOTLIEB STAFF WRITERS JESSE BERNSTEIN SOPHIE PANZER PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JENI MANN ART DIRECTOR STEVE BURKE DIRECTOR OF SALES SHARON SCHMUCKLER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN BARON TAYLOR ORLIN SHARI SEITZ CLASSIFIED SALES NICOLE MCNALLY Own Your Retirement! “Beaumont is a comfortably-sized Life Plan Community. Not huge, so it comes with excellent services and attention to detail. It has a quiet elegance and superb amenities. More people should know about Beaumont because I don’t know of another place quite like it.” - Resident since 2017 As the world opens up and home values remain high, this may be the perfect time to discover Beaumont. Here, residents cooperatively own and govern the community, and the professional management team works on their behalf rather than for an outside corporation. Residents have a direct say in the way they choose to live, and the support and care they receive – for life. Beaumont is a nationally recognized Life Plan Community. Schedule your visit today by contacting Audrey Walsh at 610.526.7000 or www.BeaumontRetirement.com. FINANCE DIRECTOR MIKE COSTELLO 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 5 Retired Physician and Former Museum President Publishes Poetry Collection SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF Donald Stoltz with volumes of “Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post” Courtesy of Dr. Donald Stoltz 6 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM We help you to keep family traditions at home. Have you recently noticed that your elderly loved Griswold Home Care can assist with: ones who are living independently at home could • Meal preparation and planning keeping your spouse, parents and grandparents • Bathing and dressing use some help? We understand the importance of safe, and in the place they love — their home. Griswold Home Care is here to help. “We care for your loved one like they are our own. Call us for a personalized consultation.” – David Rosen, RN Owner and Native Philadelphian Philadelphia 215.515.8679 GriswoldHomeCare.com • Safety supervision and companionship • Medication reminders • Everyday chores and more! D ARDEN COURTS OFFERS COMPLIMENTARY HOME VISITS Our specially trained Arden Courts memory care advisors would like to help you with your memory care needs. Our staff who have been regularly tested for COVID-19 and follow all CDC protocols and can either meet at your home or at another location of your choice to discuss: • Planning for a crisis • Safety home assessment • Planning for a future with dementia • Memory assessment • How to place in a memory care community during COVID-19 Help is just a phone call away. Call today to schedule your personalized home visit. To arrange for your home visit, contact: Arden Courts of Warminster 215.957.5182 Arden Courts of Yardley 215.321.6166 © 2021 ProMedica Health System, Inc., or its affiliates YOU DESERVE THE VERY BEST! Nationally Recognized for our Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation by U.S. News and World Report and Medicare with a Five-Star Rating. For more information contact Kellie, Clinical Liaison by calling 215-934-3021 or by email at Kelliea@paulsrun.org PaulsRun.org/Save WE ARE VA C C IN A T E D ! Retirement Community 9896 Bustleton Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19115 8 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE r. Donald Stoltz, 85, is used to the thrill of seeing his name in print. Th e retired doctor and former president of the Curtis Center Museum of Norman Rockwell Art in Philadelphia is also a prolifi c author who has published 22 books for children and adults over the course of his life. Th e Northeast Philadelphia resident self-published his latest book, “It Could Be Verse,” in April. Th e volume is a collec- tion of poems written in the rhyming style he used for many of the children’s books he wrote and illustrated in his younger years. Th e cover is illustrated with a painting of his wife, Phyllis Stoltz. Th e poems in the collection range from lighthearted rhymes about birds fl ying into museums to fi nal goodbyes for a dying friend. Th ere are also poems about Jewish holidays, from helping an old man in need on Chanukah to staff at a Catholic hospital celebrating Passover with a patient while he recovers from surgery. Stoltz grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, and his parents were founding members of what was then called Congregation Shaare Shamayim. He knew he wanted to be a doctor from a young age and attended Central High School, Temple University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Aft er he graduated from PCOM in 1961, he married and opened a family medicine practice in his parents’ base- ment. His initial base of patients was a group of 50 or 60 families in the neighbor- hood who invited him to their weddings and bar mitzvahs. When many young parents who went to him for health care told him that their children were struggling with toilet train- ing, he started looking for a children’s book that might help them. “I looked all over, and I couldn’t fi nd one about toilet training. So I decided to write it, and I wrote ‘Th e Story of Tommy Toilet,’” he said. Th e book sold in local bookstores and pharmacies, and Stoltz said it wasn’t long before every house in the neighborhood had a copy. He discovered that he enjoyed writing to help children learn about challenging topics, so he decided to write more. Next came a book about Nelson Needle, which was written to help children scared of getting shots. Th en came “Peter Th e Very Poor Eater,” about picky eating. One of his favorites was “How Dad and Mother Made My Brother,” which covered early sex education. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “Th at was a very interesting book, not only to write, but to illustrate,” he said. Aft er 12 years, he joined a new practice with two other doctors located on Roosevelt Boulevard. He went on to write more books, including a book for older children called “Th e Bubble Trip to Israel,” which he created with Al Weisner. Most of them are available on Amazon. He also compiled the “Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post,” series, which analyzes every cover painting artist Norman Rockwell did for the Saturday Evening Post. He started the project aft er he received a book of Rockwell artwork as a gift from his wife. His brother, Marshall Stoltz, tracked down Rockwell’s phone number in the hopes of getting it autographed. To everyone’s surprise, Rockwell answered the phone. When he heard that Donald Stoltz was a big fan, a doctor and a fellow artist, he invited the family up to his studio in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. For Stoltz, who saved every issue of the Saturday Evening Post when his father had it delivered to his childhood home, it was a dream come true. He became friendly with Rockwell and visited him several times. During one of the visits, he asked Rockwell if anyone had ever created a compilation of all his Saturday Evening Post covers. When Rockwell said no, Stoltz off ered to use his experience in writing and publishing to do it himself. Over the course of a year, the Stoltz brothers organized and wrote descriptions of every cover Rockwell ever illustrated. The initial print run was 10,000 books. Stoltz said Simon & Schuster later acquired the rights and ran a second printing of See Poetry, Page 10 PLAN AHEAD FOR peace of mind. W H E N YO U M A K E YO U R F I N A L A R R A N G E M E N TS I N ADVA N C E , you can plan a memorial that truly reflects your faith and passions. Whether planning for yourself or a loved one, rely on your Dignity Memorial professionals to help you design a memorial that honors the customs and rituals you cherish. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. ® FOREST HILLS/SHALOM ROOSEVELT HUNTINGDON VALLEY TREVOSE 215-673-5800 215-673-7500 Memorial Park Memorial Park > DignityPennsylvania.com < JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 9 Terriana / iStock / Getty Images Plus Donald and Phyllis Stoltz 10 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Poetry Continued from Page 9 160,000 copies. When the books were finished, Donald and Marshall Stoltz decided to display the covers to the public. In 1975, the broth- ers opened the Curtis Center Museum of Norman Rockwell Art in Philadelphia at 601 Walnut St. Donald Stoltz was the pres- ident and Marshall Stoltz was the curator. The museum drew many visitors, including celebrities. One day, Marshall Stoltz told Donald Stoltz to bring his son down to the museum to meet the entire St. Louis Cardinals football team. Stoltz also remembered the time his father, who often helped curate and guide museum visitors, approached a man, told him he looked familiar and asked if they went to the same synagogue. “My father said, ‘I go to Shaare Shamayim and I live in Northeast Philadelphia.’ And the man said, ‘No, I live in Los Angeles,’” Stoltz said. “And it turned out it was Dustin Hoffman.” Regardless, your retirement years should be all you’ve hoped and planned for. Masonic Village can provide peace of mind during trying times so you can continue to thrive and enjoy life, even amidst a pandemic. Put your concerns to rest, because you have a team of people who care about you. Inside the safety and security of our beautiful campus, all necessary services are available - and if needed, delivered to your doorstep - so you can live worry-free. I would say he’s a very uplifting person. He says he’s never depressed, and he’s just a very happy person, and he loves people.” Financial advice from a knowledgeable neighbor. PHYLLIS STOLTZ After running the museum for 22 years, Stoltz said he and his brother closed it when the company that owned their building tripled the rent. They published another book, “The Advertising World of Norman Rockwell,” and took the exhib- its on the road, giving lectures about Rockwell at various venues across the country. Stoltz retired from medicine in 1998 and got another job working for a drug company, where he visited medical schools to lecture about new kinds of medicine. Now, he spends his time paint- ing and continues to write books, poems and short stories. His three children and seven grandchildren live in Philadelphia, and he sees them often. “I would say he’s a very uplifting person,” Phyllis Stoltz said. “He says he’s never depressed, and he’s just a very happy person, and he loves people.” l E. Matthew Steinberg Managing Director – Investments (888) 800-1152 matthew.steinberg@opco.com Serving Investors in Philadelphia and South Jersey for 27 Years. Clients able to invest a minimum of $500,000 are likely to best utilize our services. This material is not a recommendation as defined in Regulation Best Interest adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is provided to you after you have received Form CRS, Regulation Best Interest disclosure and other materials. ©2021Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Transacts Business on All Principal Exchanges and Member SIPC. 3414611.2 spanzer@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 11 John Prine Fandom Sparks Musical Connection JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF BrianAJackson /iStock / Getty Images Plus There are many pages in a long, rich life. What will you be inspired to do next? Maybe you’ll engage with new people, spend more time with the ones you know best. Or take time to just be. a why not kind of person i am To learn more, call 215-593-2513 or visit RydalPark.org 12 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE Whatever your next chapter brings, you can open up the time and space for it here, in a community that supports your goals every step of the way. ...to be continued JEWISHEXPONENT.COM I n 1964, Bruce Rits Gilbert saw Th e Beatles play at the Milwaukee Arena. It was the type of show that might have sparked a lifetime of obsession, a sold-out show that opened with “Twist and Shout” and ended with a cover of “Long Tall Sally.” Tickets topped out at about $5, and it was the fi rst and last time that the band ever played in Gilbert’s hometown. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that show fueling a lifetime of Beatlemania for Gilbert. But Gilbert, 67, escaped mostly unscathed that day (more Beatle-appreciator than maniac). Instead, a musician of a diff er- ent sort — someone a little quieter, a little weirder, a little funnier and a whole lot more country — caught his attention. From the fi rst time Gilbert heard the singer-songwriter John Prine’s music in 1973, he was hooked. “I’ve had dalliances with a whole lot of other singer-songwrit- ers and groups and the like,” Gilbert said. “But John Prine has always been my favorite. I’ve seen him a whole lot of times, and he’s just a remarkable musician.” From Milwaukee to his current home in Penn Valley, and through a decades-long career as a lawyer, a marriage, the task of raising three daughters and now, a pandemic, Gilbert has held Prine close and spread the word about his music far and wide. Voted Best Audiologist on The Main Line Since 2007! Meet BARRIE SZEMLER Boo Rits and The Missing Years perform at the Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts. From left: Nick Gunty, Bruce Rits Gilbert and Matt Lyons Photo by Nick Penney During the pandemic, Gilbert started two Prine-related proj- ects: a self-published tribute book called “John Prine: One Song At a Time” that serves as a comprehensive introduction to Prine and his music, and the appropriately-titled John Prine Album Club, where newly isolated family members would gather once a week via Zoom to discuss another Prine record. “It was a really nice way for us to honor and remember John Prine and his music,” Gilbert said. Gilbert grew up outside of Milwaukee, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison before heading to the now-de- funct Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. He met his wife, Andrea, the longtime president of Bryn Mawr Hospital, during his undergraduate years, and they’ll celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this August. Gilbert spent more than 20 years as general counsel for Universal Health Services in King of Prussia, and spent the last few years working for smaller health care startups. As his legal career wound down, Gilbert found himself with lots of time on Model SHE’S CALLED SIMPSON HOUSE HOME SINCE 2018 By the time she took up residence in Simpson House in 2018, Barrie Szemler had already lived on two continents and experienced a rich and varied career. In addition to being a wife and mother, Barrie worked at the Loyola University Library, taught ballroom dancing, hosted a radio show in Chicago and worked as a model, appearing in TV commercials. How has she managed to age so well? She credits a happy marriage and learning to think things through before making decisions. Plus, she says, “It helps to have good genes.” Call us today at 215-372-8665, or visit SimpsonHouse.org/GL-BS to see for yourself why Barrie and so many other worldly people choose Simpson House for retirement living. 2101 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 SimpsonHouse.org/GL-BS • 215-372-8665 See Musical, Page 14 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 13 Musical Continued from Page 13 his hands and energy to fill it; for the first time in his life, he picked up a guitar, and along with a few friends and musicians he’s met over the years, he records and performs as Boo Rits and The Missing Years. For Gilbert, Prine’s music — 18 studio albums, five live record- ings, two compilations and one video album — has served as a mile marker for his own life. In the spring semester of 1973, he heard Prine’s self-titled album for the first time, “which includes some of the best songs ever written,” Gilbert writes in the intro- duction to his book. As he raised his three daughters, Molly, Emily and Casey, he instilled in them an appreciation for Prine and what he sang about, to the extent that a father can. Now that he’s mostly retired, the inspiration he’s gotten from Prine is what keeps him hard at work writing and recording new music. And when Prine died at 73 last spring, felled by COVID-19, the totality of his output weighed on Gilbert. How could he express the loss that he felt, the pain that he experienced on April 7, 2020 when news of Prine’s death hit his phone? “It hit me as if a dear friend had died,” Gilbert recalls. To process Prine’s death and keep his extended family connected, Gilbert started the Album Club. Beginning the next week, Gilbert and his wife began weekly calls with their daughters, a few nephews and other extended family members. They would go album by album, song by song, and everyone would have a chance to talk about what the music See Musical, Page 18 Bruce Rits Gilbert with his grandson, Jack Photo by Molly Gilbert Zulauf At Dunwoody Village, you’re always close to everything. Our picturesque 83-acre community is conveniently situated in Newtown Square. Residents enjoy the quiet remove of our wooded trails and nature preserve, yet they’re still within walking distance to restaurants, shops and services. And Dunwoody is just a short drive to Center City— everything is within reach when you’re here. Call us today.   ®     
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ƒ„­…†    14 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE Pet Friendly JEWISHEXPONENT.COM PINE RUN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY You’ll Love Living Here! Discover Our Exceptional Levels of Care in Bucks County, PA Pine Run Retirement Community offers continuing care and affordable contract options on our 43-acre campus in beautiful Bucks County, PA. Pine Run features a variety of dining options, a new fitness and aquatics center, craft barn, walking trails, and easy access to the rich cultural life of Doylestown, as well as the security of being a part of the Doylestown Health System. • Independent Living • Lakeview Personal Care • The Garden Secure Memory Care • Pine Run Health Center Contact Pine Run Retirement Community today to begin finding the right senior living solution for you and your family. Download our brochure at PineRun.org or call 800.992.8992. 777 FERRY ROAD • DOYLESTOWN PA 18901 800.992.8992 • PINERUN.ORG A DV E R TO R I A L ASK THE EXPERTS Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks, Inc Funeral Pre-Arrangements – the gift of a lifetime Funeral directors, Carl Goldstein, President & Managing Director and his son, Seth Goldstein, Vice President & Funeral Director sat down to explain the importance of funeral pre-arrange- ments and how your family will probably not understand how grateful they are until later. Pre-arrangements take the decisions out of the hands of your family or friends while they are grieving, and give you control over the choices and how much you want to spend. Q – What are the first steps in making a pre- arrangement? A – (Carl) I’m sure a lot of people have that question. When you first come into Goldsteins’ to discuss a pre- arrangement, one of our funeral directors will go through a list of questions to determine for example what type of service you want, decide on a casket, and the chapel location. We really walk you through the entire process so that you are able to make decisions and changes as we go along. Q – Who pays for the funeral? A – (Seth) Great question. One of the many advantages of making a pre- arrangement is that you get to choose everything you want at today’s rates. So, even if the funeral is 10 or 15 years from now, your family doesn’t have to pay anything additional for the funeral services 16 MAY 6, 2021 provided by Goldsteins’. There are a few small items your family may be responsible for, such as a newspaper obituary if the cost has gone up or an additional limousine, but other than that everything is covered. We will not charge anything extra for those items you already selected. Q – Can you make changes once you made your decisions? A – (Carl) You are welcome to make changes at any time. You are never locked into anything. It is your service and you are welcome to make adjustments or add something at any time. One of our funeral directors can assist you. Q – What happens to the money for the funeral when you make a pre- arrangement? A – (Carl) The Irrevocable Life Insurance Policy option basically gives a family THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM A DV E R TO R I A L the fl exibility to pay out their pre- arrangement over a period of time greater than 1 year, if they want.  With the Irrevocable Trust option, which we still off er, families have only a year to lock in the prices.   The other positive thing about the insurance for families is if they choose a multi-year payout option, once they pay the fi rst premium, the contract is guaranteed by the insurance contract. For many people, if they pass away suddenly 6 months into a 3 year insurance payout, as long as the current premiums due have been paid up to that point, the whole contract is guaranteed. This is because insurance will always payout in full in the case of an accidental death. Leave behind a gift that your family could never repay Providing funeral counseling and pre-need arrangements Pre-planning a funeral is a gift. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one knows how hard it is to make decisions at a time of grief. Let your family know your wishes, don’t burden them with the costs of a funeral, and allow them to celebrate the life you lived. Our experienced funeral directors can guide you through the process, and assist you in making tough decisions. PHILADELPHIA CHAPEL Carl Goldstein, Supervisor 6410 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19126 ROTH-GOLDSTEINS’ MEMORIAL CHAPEL Stephen T. Collins • Mgr. Lic. No. 3355 Pacific & New Hampshire Avenues Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Southern NJ Chapels Available Caring. Committed. Compassionate. www.GoldsteinsFuneral.com 215-927-5800 • 1-800-622-6410 For deaf and hard of hearing: 267-331-4243 (Sorenson VP) Q – You say that pre-arrangements are a gift to your family, what does that mean? A – (Seth) We meet with families all the time after someone they care about has passed away and they are now grieving and having to make decisions about how JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SUBURBAN NORTH CHAPEL Bruce Goldstein, Supervisor 310 2nd Street Pike Southampton, PA 18966 to honor them. That is a lot of pressure, and guilt can guide many of these decisions. That’s why we say pre-planning is the one last gift you can leave your family. You’ve taken the worry about cost and knowing how to honor you out of their hands. Now all they have to do is comfort each other. That’s a pretty amazing gift. THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 17 Musical Continued from Page 14 Cheers to new friends. Enjoy a vibrant, carefree VHQLRUOLIHVW\OHZLWKȴUVWFODVV amenities in a scenic setting. Schedule a tour (610) 546-7460 meant to them. Molly Gilbert Zulauf, Gilbert’s eldest daughter, would call from Seattle to talk about the songs that had been “the soundtrack of my youth,” she said. Each week was another mini-education and discussion, and with the family recon- vened, everyone would fall back into their familiar roles. When Gilbert started tell- ing everyone about the music he was recording, too, Gilbert Zulauf knew that it was only a natural progression. “I never really thought he would turn into much more than a hobby, but I guess I should have known better, because my dad, when he does something, he really commits,” she said. Nicholas Gunty, part of a band called WhiteHorseVillage.org Newtown Square, PA Your Life, Your Way, Every Day! Independent Living Skilled Nursing Personal Care Rehabilitation Memory Care 15 Freedom Blvd. • West Brandywine, PA 19320 • 610.383.5100 • fvbrandywine.com 18 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Frances Luke Accord, helps produce the songs for Boo Rits and The Missing Years, and became closer with Gilbert as he gave notes on “John Prine: One Song At a Time.” Gilbert’s energy and creativity, he said, were infectious. “He doesn’t sound like a senior,” Gunty laughed. “He doesn’t sound like an old person. He sounds younger than his age.” The album-writing and recording process has been long, and Gilbert is hoping to release it this June. It’s a family affair; all three of his daughters and his granddaughter, Jane, appear on the album, and so does his nephew, a musician named Teddy Grossman. Gilbert tries his best to write Bruce Rits Gilbert songs, but somehow, Prine-like songs come out now and then. The album will even have a few Prine covers. Who were you expecting, The Beatles? l jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 Inspiring happier, Inspiring a happier, Inspiring happier, longer life a just just takes longer takes Inspiring a just happier, longer life takes a a little engineering. Inspiring a happier, little engineering. just takes a longer little life engineering. longer just takes a little life engineering. a little engineering. Thanks Club at at Shannondell, Shannondell, Thanks to to the the Model Model Railroad Railroad Club Thanks are to always the Model running Railroad and Club on at time. Shannondell, our our trains With more more trains are always running and on time. With our Thanks trains to are the always With more Model running Railroad and Club on at time. Shannondell, than feet of of track, this impressive hobby hobby room room than 1,000 1,000 this impressive our trains feet running With more than 1,000 of track, track, this and impressive hobby room Thanks to are feet the always Model Railroad Club on at time. Shannondell, brings smiles to to are feet the of of of children children and With adults alike. than 1,000 of faces track, this impressive hobby room our trains always running and on time. more brings brings smiles faces adults smiles to the the faces children and and adults alike. alike. brings 1,000 smiles feet to their faces of child children and another adults alike. than of the track, impressive hobby room Re-engineering their inner yet, another Re-engineering inner this child – – – yet, way way way Re-engineering their inner child yet, another Re-engineering their inner child – yet, another way brings smiles to the faces children and inspired. adults alike. Shannondell residents living more Shannondell residents are are are of living more inspired. Shannondell residents living more inspired. Shannondell residents are living more inspired. Re-engineering their inner child – yet, another way Shannondell residents are living more inspired. Visit Visit shannondell.com shannondell.com Bruce Gilbert’s granddaughter, Jane, with Gilbert’s book Photo by Bruce Rits Gilbert JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Visit Visit Visit or shannondell.com or shannondell.com 800.669.2318 call call shannondell.com 800.669.2318 call or or call more 800.669.2318 information. for more information. call or for 800.669.2318 800.669.2318 for more information. for for more information. 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 more information. 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 THE GOOD LIFE Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. MAY 6, 2021 19 SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF STAY SAFE, SECURE AND WELL-CARED-FOR WITH PCA. Free Food Delivered Right To You The Jewish Relief Agency can provide a monthly home-delivered box of nutritious kosher food to seniors in need. For service coordination you can rely on, choose PCA. To Apply: Call 610-660-0190 or visit www.jewishrelief.org 20 MAY 6, 2021 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has nearly 50 years of experience helping older adults get the care they need to stay in their own homes . 215-765-9040 pcaCares.org THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM jenifoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus Hebrew School Teacher Celebrates 60 Years In the Classroom E very year, Steven Horwits asks himself if he wants to keep teaching Hebrew school at Congregation Or Ami in Lafayette Hill. By the time he gets his new contract, the answer is always “yes.” Th is year marks Horwits’ 60th year in Or Ami’s classrooms. He has taught generations of families, and many students tell him he had their older siblings, parents and even grandparents in his classes. “Steve has been an amazing teacher and is a much-loved member of our congregation,” said Stefanie Bock, education director at the synagogue. Horwits, who turns 78 this month, was born in Manayunk. His parents were founding members of the synagogue where he now teaches, which was previously known as Ivy Ridge Jewish Community Center. He lives in the home they bought in Roxborough when he was 13. Horwits was one of the only Jewish students at Roxborough High School, and while he made friends with his non-Jewish classmates, he valued the sense of community he found at his synagogue. When he was still enrolled in high school, his mother encour- aged him to attend a Jewish teacher training program, thinking it would be a nice side job he could always turn to in the future. He said the program focused more on classroom management than on Judaism, and he took the bus from Roxborough to the class at the corner of Broad and Pine streets every Sunday. In September of 1961, he was called to Or Ami to substitute See Teach, Page 22 The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting NOW OPEN 215 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Senior Living that takes it to the top • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting is the newest senior living community in the Northern Philadelphia suburbs, and offers independent, personal care, and memory care options. • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting believes in providing luxurious amenities, exciting social opportunities, and exemplary care services to all the residents. • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting is close to parks, country clubs, dining, shopping, hospitals and health care clinics and more. Transportation services are available for residents to easily get around! Come explore the possibilities at The Pinnacle at Plymouth! Call today to learn more about our beautiful new community and touring options! 610.292.3030 | www.pinnacleatplymouthmeeting.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 21 Teach Continued from Page 9 for an ill teacher. “I thought, ‘Well, gee, that worked out nicely,’” he said. It turned into a permanent teaching position when the teacher never returned, and 18-year-old Horwits was put in charge of a class of 14-year-olds. “Every year after that, it just contin- ued,” he said. “I saw that I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and I just continued and continued, and to this day, I’m still doing it.” “I saw that I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and I just continued and continued, and to this day, I’m still doing it.” STEVEN HORWITS 3594 Bristol Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020 Offi ce: 215-355-9917 John E. Livezey President Jason Townsend Suzanne E. Townsend Vice-Presidents kingdavidmemorialpark@gmail.com His mother, who was a Hebrew school coordinator at the synagogue, was espe- cially pleased when he took up teaching, and they worked together on organizing events for the students. He’s taught a wide range of ages throughout his time at Or Ami, but has spent the past 10 years working with fourth, fifth and sixth graders. It’s a part-time job on Sundays and Tuesdays, and he worked full time at the Veterans Administration, now known as the Department of Veterans Affairs, for 35 years. He also now works part time in sales at a retail store in Chestnut Hill. Horwits found teaching extremely rewarding, but it wasn’t always easy. Some students showed no interest in their classes, and some parents showed no interest in their children’s classes beyond bar and bat mitzvah preparation. The latter could be especially frustrating, since it left him trying to find a way to boost students’ interest in the subject matter without causing conflict within the families. His goal is to get kids to value their See Teach, Page 22 22 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Steven Horwits holds artwork at Congregation Or Ami. Courtesy of Stefanie Bock JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 23 Teach Jewish education as more than a means to an end. He said many of them come from Reform backgrounds and have plenty of Jewish friends and neighbors, so he shares stories about growing up as one of the only Jewish kids at his school to give them a diff erent perspective on the meaning of community. “If you get involved and be a part of it, it’s going to be a lot more enjoyable for you,” he said. “I’m not over-religious, but I do like the holidays and the customs, and this is what I try to pass on to them.” He appreciates when students come back to visit years later and tell him how his classes impacted them. “When you’re there, you don’t really see how much of an impact you have on them. But when you see them 10, 15 years later, and they come back to you and say, ‘You know, it was a great year and I really learned something from you,’ I feel I’m a better Jewish person for it,” he said. He is even more excited when his pupils join him in the fi eld. Five of his former students are now his colleagues as Hebrew school teachers at Or Ami. “Some students, when I fi rst had them, had absolutely no interest in anything to do with Judaism,” he said. “And now 24 MAY 6, 2021 when they come to me and want to be my classroom aide, I know I did do something that impacted them. Even if they’re in high school or in college, they want to come in, they want to be a part of it, and that’s really exciting for me.” Excitement and challenge oft en go hand-in-hand in the class- room, and the need to switch to remote learning has made this year especially challenging. Horwits learned how to use Zoom, but many students don’t turn on their cameras or get distracted at home during classes, which can be frustrating. When parents approached him and said their children felt lost and needed extra support with their Hebrew, Horwits gave tutoring sessions on Zoom to three or four students at a time. Th e smaller group size is helpful for kids who get easily distracted or feel shy speaking in a class of 10. In spite of the obstacles, he can tell they are learning when they show him their reading skills. He said Or Ami brought students back for some in-person instruction in April. Although it is near the end of the Hebrew school year, he is excited to see his students again now that he is fully vaccinated. l THE GOOD LIFE spanzer@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Sergey Peterman / iStock / Getty Images Plus Continued from Page 9 “If you get involved and be a part of it, it’s going to be a lot more enjoyable for you. I’m not over-religious, but I do like the holidays and the customs, and this is what I try to pass on to them.” STEVEN HORWITS GlobalStock / gettyimages DEMENTIA SHOULD NOT DEFINE HER. Artis helps her be who she’s always been. TheArtisWay.com/GoodLife • 267-277-2307 Artis Senior Living of Huntingdon Valley: 2085 Lieberman Drive, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Artis Senior Living of Yardley: 765 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 25 Bruce Rubin Keeps It Movin’ JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF Chatchai Limjareon / iStock / Getty Images Plus I am HOME . The friends I’ve made, the amenities, the conveniences…I have everything I need here! Call Us Today! 1110 Laurel Oak Road | Voorhees, NJ 08043 A Premier Life Plan Community. 26 MAY 6, 2021 (856) 679-4682 DCoonley@lionsgateccrc.org | www.lionsgateccrc.org Lions Gate has been made possible, in part, through the generosity of the Raymond and Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation. THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Enjoy a Fulfilling Life with Us! B ruce Rubin, 77, started running in the ’80s and has no plans to stop as he approaches his own 80s. Back then, it was to get in shape and, to this day, he can tell you the exact number on the scale that prompted him to get off the couch. Today, running plays a diff er- ent role in his life. From the streets of Lansdale to up and down the basketball courts at a tournament at Stanford University, from the National Senior Games to the Penn Relays at Franklin Field, Rubin has run and run. Alone or with a team, running is one of the things that’s helped give shape to his life from the fi rst time he put sole to hardwood or pavement, and surely the only arena where he once held a national record (4x400 for 75- to 79-year-olds). Rubin was born in Brooklyn, and spent the early part of his childhood in the East Flatbush neighborhood. He worked at his parents’ bakery, taking orders at the counter when he wasn’t out playing stickball in the P.S. 135 schoolyard. Aft er he graduated Brooklyn Technical High School, Rubin’s parents sold the bakery and moved to North Jersey, fi rst Passaic, The very best in compassionate care for your loved one and peace of mind for you! Learn more about the extraordinary experience that only The Hearth at Drexel can offer. Call 1-877-205-9428 or visit www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org/Care to schedule a virtual tour or to obtain additional information. Come for a Visit! Assisted Living • Memory Care • Respite Care 238 Belmont Ave. | Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org See Movin’, Page 28 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 27 LIFE, on a Scale of You . Rediscover your passions or devote more time to life-long hobbies, the choice is yours. Foulkeways is based on Quaker values and respect for the environment. Discover us today! Movin’ Continued from Page 27 then East Rutherford. A year at Northeastern University ended prematurely — “mathematics and some of the other subjects caught up to me,” Rubin recalled — and he soon ended up closer to home, at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in economics, later earned an MBA from Temple University and has worked as a consultant, adviser and executive ever since. Today, he’s a principal in the consult- ing company BHR Global Associates. It was around his college era when Rubin met the woman that would become his wife, Gail Mandel. At the Surf City Hotel bar on Long Beach Island, New foulkeways.org | 215-283-7010 1120 Meetinghouse Rd, Gwynedd, PA A Life Plan Community Bruce R ubin in competition mode. Courtesy of Bruce Rubin Jersey, the two hit it off before she had to return to Philadelphia for a week. He was spending the next week at the shore, and told her that she should come back to see him when she could. One week of spec- tacular weather and bottles upon bottles of Coppertone later, she screamed when she saw Rubin on the beach — he’d gotten so tan, she barely recognized him. Th ey started dating, and Rubin would come down to see her from his home in North Jersey. Soon, they married, and moved to Bensalem. Together, they had one son, Brad. Brad Brooks-Rubin, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., remembers when his 28 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM father began to run. Enough time has elapsed that Brooks-Rubin is comfortable saying that he wasn’t sure how much to expect of his dad’s bid for fi tness. “I didn’t expect it to be something that he would really focus on so much,” Brooks- Rubin said. At the least, it wasn’t something that he expected his dad to be talking about in a magazine article 30 years later. But Rubin came to enjoy running, much to his own surprise. Th e pounds came off , and the fi rst time he was able to run the whole 4.5 miles around his devel- opment without stopping was a day that he cherishes still. His successes didn’t move Gail much — she was a tennis player, and quite happy with that — but With grandsons Eliav and Adiv after a meet in Maryland Courtesy of Brad Brooks-Rubin it did catch the eye of Brooks-Rubin. In his 20s, he decided to join Rubin for a few runs and was “left in the dust,” he said, by his surprisingly speedy father. It motivated Brooks-Rubin, who even- tually ran three marathons. Today, he and his father still share a connection through running and competition; when Rubin comes to down the D.C. area to run or play basketball, he looks to Brooks-Rubin and two grandsons for encouragement. “It’s pretty cool for them to see their granddad competing,” Brooks-Rubin said of his sons, Eliav and Adiv. He also sees his father’s running as helpful to him aft er the mother’s death in 2017. See Movin’, Page 30 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 29 Movin’ Helping to care for the people you love! Continued from Page 29 “The athletics and the competition, the teamwork, the cama- raderie, all of the things that go along with competing in sport, really helped my dad take care of my mom and get through a number of really hard years,” Brooks-Rubin said. Rubin, though proud of what he’s accomplished in sports and business, isn’t the type to try sell you on himself. So you’ll have to let the people who know him best give the pitch. Dave Marovich runs and plays basketball with Rubin, and was part of the 4x400 team with Rubin at the 2019 Penn Relays. Rubin, Marovich said, is the straw that stirs the drink, a playmaker on the floor who takes on a similar role off of it, organizing transporta- tion, tournament entries and jerseys for the basketball team. “We might not be the best athletes in that event,” Marovich said, “but Bruce makes up for a lot of that by just his desire to compete.” Another friend of Rubin’s, Jim Van Horn, has nothing but praise for Rubin as a teammate away from any sport, too. The two met when they served together on the board of Beacon4Life, Flexible schedule Care for anyone recovering from surgery or illness Short- or long-term Hourly, daily, or s live-in schedule Competitive rates 215-885-7701 slhomecare.com PA State Licensed. All caregivers are bonded and insured. C ommonwealth SENIOR LIVING at WILLOW GROVE Welcome Home Serving seniors almost 20 years, our mission is to improve the lives of seniors, their families, and each other. Call for a free copy of our helpful guide Choosing the Right Personal Care Community. 215-706-8376 Personal Care & Memory Care 1120 York Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 www.CommonwealthSL.com 30 MAY 6, 2021 Grandson Adiv Brooks-Rubin and Bruce Rubin a professional networking organization in Philadelphia. It was clear from the first time he met Rubin, Van Horn said, that he was dealing with someone he could trust. “The thing that interested me most, and also impressed me most, about Bruce, was his dedication and his sincerity about things,” Van Horn said. “He clearly was a person of his word. He demonstrated a very high level of values and ethics.” The pandemic has put a stop to team competition for now, but Rubin sees hope on the horizon. Recently vaccinated and looking ahead to the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Rubin reports that his 3-on-3 basketball team is seeking a 6’5’’ baller born no later than Dec. 31, 1946, and preferably, in 1943. In other words, he said, “a tall old guy.” l jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Advertiser Index Anthology Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Arden Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Artis Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Attleboro Retirement Community. . . . . . . . . . 28 Beaumont at Bryn Mawr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Brightview Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Commonwealth Senior Living Willow Grove . 30 Dignity Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dublin Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Dunwoody Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Foulkeways at Gwynedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Freedom Village @ Brandywine . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Goldstein’s Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17 Griswold Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hearing Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hearth At Drexel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Jewish Relief Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 King David Memorial Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Leisure Care LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lions Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Masonic Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Paul’s Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) . . .20 Philadelphia Protestant Home . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Pine Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel . . . . . . 29 Rothkoff Law Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Rydal Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sage Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Seashore Gardens Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Shannondell at Valley Forge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Silver Lining Home Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Simpson House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting. . . . . . . . . 21 Waverly Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 West Laurel Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 White Horse Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Family means reframing your life this spring. At PPH, you have the reassurance of a strong family of friends that’s always there to share the journey. Get to know us at the last event of our spring virtual event series. We’ve saved the best for last! Please join us for: “Life Plan 101: Benefits of a Life Plan Community” Learn everything you ever wanted to know about life at PPH, from services and amenities to pricing and floor plans. Wednesday, May 12, at 1 p.m. Join us for this complimentary virtual event by calling 215-274-0228 or RSVP at PPHFamily.org/events. We are also open for safe, in-person tours, so give us a call to schedule yours today! THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 31 The loss of a beloved pet is emotional and our compassionate staff is here to help guide you through the process. Good the Celebrating Today’s Active Adults A SUPPLEMENT TO THE MAY 6, 2021 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Life THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 1 Luxury Rental Community for Residents 55+ Community Clubhouse in Eastern Montgomery County, Upper Dublin Township, PA Resort Style Living! Clubhouse, State of the Art Fitness Center, Community Room with Kitchen Facilities, and Pool. PLUS many resident events and activities for you to enjoy! Call Now to Reserve Your Apartment Home! 215.283.2121 S. Limekiln Pike/Route 152 & Dreshertown Rd., Dresher, PA 19025 www.DublinTerrace.com A Bruce E. Toll Community In this Issue... 6 Retired Physician and Former Museum President Publishes Poetry Collection 12 John Prine Fandom Sparks Musical Connection 20 Hebrew School Teacher Celebrates 60 Years in the Classroom 26 Bruce Rubin Keeps It Movin’ Living to the Power of You SageLife communities reflect priorities that matter most: dynamic lifestyle, adaptable care, and sophisticated amenities. Our mission is to encourage, empower and celebrate successful aging. Our communities are thoughtfully designed to reflect our commitment to ‘aging well’. WAVEBREAKMEDIA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS Living to the power of you. CO MING 2 02 2 AMBLER, PA MALVERN, PA WALLINGFORD, PA The501.com LivingAtEchoLake.com PlushMills.com DaylesfordCrossing.com RETIREMENT LIVING RETIREMENT LIVING RETIREMENT LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING SUPPORTIVE LIVING & MEMORY CARE 215-461-4880 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 484-568-4777 THE GOOD LIFE 610-690-1630 PAOLI, PA 610-640-4000 MAY 6, 2021 3 EN JOY Carefree Liv ing ANTHOLOGY SENIOR LIVING KING OF PRUSSIA We are a place where life is enriched by a luxurious, carefree lifestyle and ample amenities. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, bar, and indoor pool. Discover a dynamic community that encourages you to live your best life. Last opportunity for pre-open pricing! Schedule your tour today. N O W O P E N! ANTHOLOGY OF KING OF PRUSSIA 484-392-5011 IND EPEND ENT L I V IN G PER SO N A L C A RE / ME MO RY C A RE 350 Guthrie Road / King of Prussia, PA AnthologySeniorLiving.com/King-of-Prussia EXPECT EXCEPTIONAL LIVING. As a resident at The Landing of Towamencin, you won’t need to worry about things like housekeeping, yard work, or transportation. You can focus on what’s really important: you. Rediscover a past hobby or uncover a new passion in a comfortable yet active environment tailored to you. It’s fi ve-star fun, with fi ve-star service. Expect exceptional living at an affordable price. Call (215) 395-6862 to schedule your in-person tour. Save up to $12,000 your fi rst year with our amazing incentives! 900 Towamencin Ave • Lansdale, PA • (215) 395-6862 TheLandingOfTowamencin.com 4 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE A Whole Lotta Heart JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 2100 ARCH STREET | PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 215-832-0700 PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE LAURA FRANK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GABE KAHN MANAGING EDITOR ANDY GOTLIEB STAFF WRITERS JESSE BERNSTEIN SOPHIE PANZER PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JENI MANN ART DIRECTOR STEVE BURKE DIRECTOR OF SALES SHARON SCHMUCKLER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN BARON TAYLOR ORLIN SHARI SEITZ CLASSIFIED SALES NICOLE MCNALLY Own Your Retirement! “Beaumont is a comfortably-sized Life Plan Community. Not huge, so it comes with excellent services and attention to detail. It has a quiet elegance and superb amenities. More people should know about Beaumont because I don’t know of another place quite like it.” - Resident since 2017 As the world opens up and home values remain high, this may be the perfect time to discover Beaumont. Here, residents cooperatively own and govern the community, and the professional management team works on their behalf rather than for an outside corporation. Residents have a direct say in the way they choose to live, and the support and care they receive – for life. Beaumont is a nationally recognized Life Plan Community. Schedule your visit today by contacting Audrey Walsh at 610.526.7000 or www.BeaumontRetirement.com. FINANCE DIRECTOR MIKE COSTELLO 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 5 Retired Physician and Former Museum President Publishes Poetry Collection SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF Donald Stoltz with volumes of “Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post” Courtesy of Dr. Donald Stoltz 6 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM We help you to keep family traditions at home. Have you recently noticed that your elderly loved Griswold Home Care can assist with: ones who are living independently at home could • Meal preparation and planning keeping your spouse, parents and grandparents • Bathing and dressing use some help? We understand the importance of safe, and in the place they love — their home. Griswold Home Care is here to help. “We care for your loved one like they are our own. Call us for a personalized consultation.” – David Rosen, RN Owner and Native Philadelphian Philadelphia 215.515.8679 GriswoldHomeCare.com • Safety supervision and companionship • Medication reminders • Everyday chores and more! D ARDEN COURTS OFFERS COMPLIMENTARY HOME VISITS Our specially trained Arden Courts memory care advisors would like to help you with your memory care needs. Our staff who have been regularly tested for COVID-19 and follow all CDC protocols and can either meet at your home or at another location of your choice to discuss: • Planning for a crisis • Safety home assessment • Planning for a future with dementia • Memory assessment • How to place in a memory care community during COVID-19 Help is just a phone call away. Call today to schedule your personalized home visit. To arrange for your home visit, contact: Arden Courts of Warminster 215.957.5182 Arden Courts of Yardley 215.321.6166 © 2021 ProMedica Health System, Inc., or its affiliates YOU DESERVE THE VERY BEST! Nationally Recognized for our Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation by U.S. News and World Report and Medicare with a Five-Star Rating. For more information contact Kellie, Clinical Liaison by calling 215-934-3021 or by email at Kelliea@paulsrun.org PaulsRun.org/Save WE ARE VA C C IN A T E D ! Retirement Community 9896 Bustleton Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19115 8 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE r. Donald Stoltz, 85, is used to the thrill of seeing his name in print. Th e retired doctor and former president of the Curtis Center Museum of Norman Rockwell Art in Philadelphia is also a prolifi c author who has published 22 books for children and adults over the course of his life. Th e Northeast Philadelphia resident self-published his latest book, “It Could Be Verse,” in April. Th e volume is a collec- tion of poems written in the rhyming style he used for many of the children’s books he wrote and illustrated in his younger years. Th e cover is illustrated with a painting of his wife, Phyllis Stoltz. Th e poems in the collection range from lighthearted rhymes about birds fl ying into museums to fi nal goodbyes for a dying friend. Th ere are also poems about Jewish holidays, from helping an old man in need on Chanukah to staff at a Catholic hospital celebrating Passover with a patient while he recovers from surgery. Stoltz grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, and his parents were founding members of what was then called Congregation Shaare Shamayim. He knew he wanted to be a doctor from a young age and attended Central High School, Temple University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Aft er he graduated from PCOM in 1961, he married and opened a family medicine practice in his parents’ base- ment. His initial base of patients was a group of 50 or 60 families in the neighbor- hood who invited him to their weddings and bar mitzvahs. When many young parents who went to him for health care told him that their children were struggling with toilet train- ing, he started looking for a children’s book that might help them. “I looked all over, and I couldn’t fi nd one about toilet training. So I decided to write it, and I wrote ‘Th e Story of Tommy Toilet,’” he said. Th e book sold in local bookstores and pharmacies, and Stoltz said it wasn’t long before every house in the neighborhood had a copy. He discovered that he enjoyed writing to help children learn about challenging topics, so he decided to write more. Next came a book about Nelson Needle, which was written to help children scared of getting shots. Th en came “Peter Th e Very Poor Eater,” about picky eating. One of his favorites was “How Dad and Mother Made My Brother,” which covered early sex education. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “Th at was a very interesting book, not only to write, but to illustrate,” he said. Aft er 12 years, he joined a new practice with two other doctors located on Roosevelt Boulevard. He went on to write more books, including a book for older children called “Th e Bubble Trip to Israel,” which he created with Al Weisner. Most of them are available on Amazon. He also compiled the “Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post,” series, which analyzes every cover painting artist Norman Rockwell did for the Saturday Evening Post. He started the project aft er he received a book of Rockwell artwork as a gift from his wife. His brother, Marshall Stoltz, tracked down Rockwell’s phone number in the hopes of getting it autographed. To everyone’s surprise, Rockwell answered the phone. When he heard that Donald Stoltz was a big fan, a doctor and a fellow artist, he invited the family up to his studio in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. For Stoltz, who saved every issue of the Saturday Evening Post when his father had it delivered to his childhood home, it was a dream come true. He became friendly with Rockwell and visited him several times. During one of the visits, he asked Rockwell if anyone had ever created a compilation of all his Saturday Evening Post covers. When Rockwell said no, Stoltz off ered to use his experience in writing and publishing to do it himself. Over the course of a year, the Stoltz brothers organized and wrote descriptions of every cover Rockwell ever illustrated. The initial print run was 10,000 books. Stoltz said Simon & Schuster later acquired the rights and ran a second printing of See Poetry, Page 10 PLAN AHEAD FOR peace of mind. W H E N YO U M A K E YO U R F I N A L A R R A N G E M E N TS I N A DVA N C E , you can plan a memorial that truly reflects your faith and passions. Whether planning for yourself or a loved one, rely on your Dignity Memorial professionals to help you design a memorial that honors the customs and rituals you cherish. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. ® FOREST HILLS/SHALOM ROOSEVELT HUNTINGDON VALLEY TREVOSE 215-673-5800 215-673-7500 Memorial Park Memorial Park > DignityPennsylvania.com < JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 9 Terriana / iStock / Getty Images Plus Donald and Phyllis Stoltz 10 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Poetry Continued from Page 9 160,000 copies. When the books were finished, Donald and Marshall Stoltz decided to display the covers to the public. In 1975, the broth- ers opened the Curtis Center Museum of Norman Rockwell Art in Philadelphia at 601 Walnut St. Donald Stoltz was the pres- ident and Marshall Stoltz was the curator. The museum drew many visitors, including celebrities. One day, Marshall Stoltz told Donald Stoltz to bring his son down to the museum to meet the entire St. Louis Cardinals football team. Stoltz also remembered the time his father, who often helped curate and guide museum visitors, approached a man, told him he looked familiar and asked if they went to the same synagogue. “My father said, ‘I go to Shaare Shamayim and I live in Northeast Philadelphia.’ And the man said, ‘No, I live in Los Angeles,’” Stoltz said. “And it turned out it was Dustin Hoffman.” Regardless, your retirement years should be all you’ve hoped and planned for. Masonic Village can provide peace of mind during trying times so you can continue to thrive and enjoy life, even amidst a pandemic. Put your concerns to rest, because you have a team of people who care about you. Inside the safety and security of our beautiful campus, all necessary services are available - and if needed, delivered to your doorstep - so you can live worry-free. I would say he’s a very uplifting person. He says he’s never depressed, and he’s just a very happy person, and he loves people.” Financial advice from a knowledgeable neighbor. PHYLLIS STOLTZ After running the museum for 22 years, Stoltz said he and his brother closed it when the company that owned their building tripled the rent. They published another book, “The Advertising World of Norman Rockwell,” and took the exhib- its on the road, giving lectures about Rockwell at various venues across the country. Stoltz retired from medicine in 1998 and got another job working for a drug company, where he visited medical schools to lecture about new kinds of medicine. Now, he spends his time paint- ing and continues to write books, poems and short stories. His three children and seven grandchildren live in Philadelphia, and he sees them often. “I would say he’s a very uplifting person,” Phyllis Stoltz said. “He says he’s never depressed, and he’s just a very happy person, and he loves people.” l E. Matthew Steinberg Managing Director – Investments (888) 800-1152 matthew.steinberg@opco.com Serving Investors in Philadelphia and South Jersey for 27 Years. Clients able to invest a minimum of $500,000 are likely to best utilize our services. This material is not a recommendation as defined in Regulation Best Interest adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is provided to you after you have received Form CRS, Regulation Best Interest disclosure and other materials. ©2021Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Transacts Business on All Principal Exchanges and Member SIPC. 3414611.2 spanzer@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 11 John Prine Fandom Sparks Musical Connection JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF BrianAJackson /iStock / Getty Images Plus There are many pages in a long, rich life. What will you be inspired to do next? Maybe you’ll engage with new people, spend more time with the ones you know best. Or take time to just be. a why not kind of person i am To learn more, call 215-593-2513 or visit RydalPark.org 12 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE Whatever your next chapter brings, you can open up the time and space for it here, in a community that supports your goals every step of the way. ...to be continued JEWISHEXPONENT.COM I n 1964, Bruce Rits Gilbert saw Th e Beatles play at the Milwaukee Arena. It was the type of show that might have sparked a lifetime of obsession, a sold-out show that opened with “Twist and Shout” and ended with a cover of “Long Tall Sally.” Tickets topped out at about $5, and it was the fi rst and last time that the band ever played in Gilbert’s hometown. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that show fueling a lifetime of Beatlemania for Gilbert. But Gilbert, 67, escaped mostly unscathed that day (more Beatle-appreciator than maniac). Instead, a musician of a diff er- ent sort — someone a little quieter, a little weirder, a little funnier and a whole lot more country — caught his attention. From the fi rst time Gilbert heard the singer-songwriter John Prine’s music in 1973, he was hooked. “I’ve had dalliances with a whole lot of other singer-songwrit- ers and groups and the like,” Gilbert said. “But John Prine has always been my favorite. I’ve seen him a whole lot of times, and he’s just a remarkable musician.” From Milwaukee to his current home in Penn Valley, and through a decades-long career as a lawyer, a marriage, the task of raising three daughters and now, a pandemic, Gilbert has held Prine close and spread the word about his music far and wide. Voted Best Audiologist on The Main Line Since 2007! Meet BARRIE SZEMLER Boo Rits and The Missing Years perform at the Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts. From left: Nick Gunty, Bruce Rits Gilbert and Matt Lyons Photo by Nick Penney During the pandemic, Gilbert started two Prine-related proj- ects: a self-published tribute book called “John Prine: One Song At a Time” that serves as a comprehensive introduction to Prine and his music, and the appropriately-titled John Prine Album Club, where newly isolated family members would gather once a week via Zoom to discuss another Prine record. “It was a really nice way for us to honor and remember John Prine and his music,” Gilbert said. Gilbert grew up outside of Milwaukee, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison before heading to the now-de- funct Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. He met his wife, Andrea, the longtime president of Bryn Mawr Hospital, during his undergraduate years, and they’ll celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this August. Gilbert spent more than 20 years as general counsel for Universal Health Services in King of Prussia, and spent the last few years working for smaller health care startups. As his legal career wound down, Gilbert found himself with lots of time on Model SHE’S CALLED SIMPSON HOUSE HOME SINCE 2018 By the time she took up residence in Simpson House in 2018, Barrie Szemler had already lived on two continents and experienced a rich and varied career. In addition to being a wife and mother, Barrie worked at the Loyola University Library, taught ballroom dancing, hosted a radio show in Chicago and worked as a model, appearing in TV commercials. How has she managed to age so well? She credits a happy marriage and learning to think things through before making decisions. Plus, she says, “It helps to have good genes.” Call us today at 215-372-8665, or visit SimpsonHouse.org/GL-BS to see for yourself why Barrie and so many other worldly people choose Simpson House for retirement living. 2101 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 SimpsonHouse.org/GL-BS • 215-372-8665 See Musical, Page 14 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 13 Musical Continued from Page 13 his hands and energy to fill it; for the first time in his life, he picked up a guitar, and along with a few friends and musicians he’s met over the years, he records and performs as Boo Rits and The Missing Years. For Gilbert, Prine’s music — 18 studio albums, five live record- ings, two compilations and one video album — has served as a mile marker for his own life. In the spring semester of 1973, he heard Prine’s self-titled album for the first time, “which includes some of the best songs ever written,” Gilbert writes in the intro- duction to his book. As he raised his three daughters, Molly, Emily and Casey, he instilled in them an appreciation for Prine and what he sang about, to the extent that a father can. Now that he’s mostly retired, the inspiration he’s gotten from Prine is what keeps him hard at work writing and recording new music. And when Prine died at 73 last spring, felled by COVID-19, the totality of his output weighed on Gilbert. How could he express the loss that he felt, the pain that he experienced on April 7, 2020 when news of Prine’s death hit his phone? “It hit me as if a dear friend had died,” Gilbert recalls. To process Prine’s death and keep his extended family connected, Gilbert started the Album Club. Beginning the next week, Gilbert and his wife began weekly calls with their daughters, a few nephews and other extended family members. They would go album by album, song by song, and everyone would have a chance to talk about what the music See Musical, Page 18 Bruce Rits Gilbert with his grandson, Jack Photo by Molly Gilbert Zulauf At Dunwoody Village, you’re always close to everything. Our picturesque 83-acre community is conveniently situated in Newtown Square. Residents enjoy the quiet remove of our wooded trails and nature preserve, yet they’re still within walking distance to restaurants, shops and services. And Dunwoody is just a short drive to Center City— everything is within reach when you’re here. Call us today. Decidedly Different . ® Decidedly Convenient. 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Pine Run features a variety of dining options, a new fitness and aquatics center, craft barn, walking trails, and easy access to the rich cultural life of Doylestown, as well as the security of being a part of the Doylestown Health System. • Independent Living • Lakeview Personal Care • The Garden Secure Memory Care • Pine Run Health Center Contact Pine Run Retirement Community today to begin finding the right senior living solution for you and your family. Download our brochure at PineRun.org or call 800.992.8992. 777 FERRY ROAD • DOYLESTOWN PA 18901 800.992.8992 • PINERUN.ORG A DV E R TO R I A L ASK THE EXPERTS Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks, Inc Funeral Pre-Arrangements – the gift of a lifetime Funeral directors, Carl Goldstein, President & Managing Director and his son, Seth Goldstein, Vice President & Funeral Director sat down to explain the importance of funeral pre-arrange- ments and how your family will probably not understand how grateful they are until later. Pre-arrangements take the decisions out of the hands of your family or friends while they are grieving, and give you control over the choices and how much you want to spend. Q – What are the first steps in making a pre- arrangement? A – (Carl) I’m sure a lot of people have that question. When you first come into Goldsteins’ to discuss a pre- arrangement, one of our funeral directors will go through a list of questions to determine for example what type of service you want, decide on a casket, and the chapel location. We really walk you through the entire process so that you are able to make decisions and changes as we go along. Q – Who pays for the funeral? A – (Seth) Great question. One of the many advantages of making a pre- arrangement is that you get to choose everything you want at today’s rates. So, even if the funeral is 10 or 15 years from now, your family doesn’t have to pay anything additional for the funeral services 16 MAY 6, 2021 provided by Goldsteins’. There are a few small items your family may be responsible for, such as a newspaper obituary if the cost has gone up or an additional limousine, but other than that everything is covered. We will not charge anything extra for those items you already selected. Q – Can you make changes once you made your decisions? A – (Carl) You are welcome to make changes at any time. You are never locked into anything. It is your service and you are welcome to make adjustments or add something at any time. One of our funeral directors can assist you. Q – What happens to the money for the funeral when you make a pre- arrangement? A – (Carl) The Irrevocable Life Insurance Policy option basically gives a family THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM A DV E R TO R I A L the fl exibility to pay out their pre- arrangement over a period of time greater than 1 year, if they want.  With the Irrevocable Trust option, which we still off er, families have only a year to lock in the prices.   The other positive thing about the insurance for families is if they choose a multi-year payout option, once they pay the fi rst premium, the contract is guaranteed by the insurance contract. For many people, if they pass away suddenly 6 months into a 3 year insurance payout, as long as the current premiums due have been paid up to that point, the whole contract is guaranteed. This is because insurance will always payout in full in the case of an accidental death. Leave behind a gift that your family could never repay But will appreciate forever Providing funeral counseling and pre-need arrangements Pre-planning a funeral is a gift. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one knows how hard it is to make decisions at a time of grief. Let your family know your wishes, don’t burden them with the costs of a funeral, and allow them to celebrate the life you lived. Our experienced funeral directors can guide you through the process, and assist you in making tough decisions. PHILADELPHIA CHAPEL Carl Goldstein, Supervisor 6410 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19126 ROTH-GOLDSTEINS’ MEMORIAL CHAPEL Stephen T. Collins • Mgr. Lic. No. 3355 Pacific & New Hampshire Avenues Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Southern NJ Chapels Available Caring. Committed. Compassionate. www.GoldsteinsFuneral.com 215-927-5800 • 1-800-622-6410 For deaf and hard of hearing: 267-331-4243 (Sorenson VP) Q – You say that pre-arrangements are a gift to your family, what does that mean? A – (Seth) We meet with families all the time after someone they care about has passed away and they are now grieving and having to make decisions about how JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SUBURBAN NORTH CHAPEL Bruce Goldstein, Supervisor 310 2nd Street Pike Southampton, PA 18966 to honor them. That is a lot of pressure, and guilt can guide many of these decisions. That’s why we say pre-planning is the one last gift you can leave your family. You’ve taken the worry about cost and knowing how to honor you out of their hands. Now all they have to do is comfort each other. That’s a pretty amazing gift. THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 17 Musical Continued from Page 14 Cheers to new friends. Enjoy a vibrant, carefree VHQLRUOLIHVW\OHZLWKȴUVWFODVV amenities in a scenic setting. Schedule a tour (610) 546-7460 meant to them. Molly Gilbert Zulauf, Gilbert’s eldest daughter, would call from Seattle to talk about the songs that had been “the soundtrack of my youth,” she said. Each week was another mini-education and discussion, and with the family recon- vened, everyone would fall back into their familiar roles. When Gilbert started tell- ing everyone about the music he was recording, too, Gilbert Zulauf knew that it was only a natural progression. “I never really thought he would turn into much more than a hobby, but I guess I should have known better, because my dad, when he does something, he really commits,” she said. Nicholas Gunty, part of a band called WhiteHorseVillage.org Newtown Square, PA Your Life, Your Way, Every Day! Independent Living Skilled Nursing Personal Care Rehabilitation Memory Care 15 Freedom Blvd. • West Brandywine, PA 19320 • 610.383.5100 • fvbrandywine.com 18 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Frances Luke Accord, helps produce the songs for Boo Rits and The Missing Years, and became closer with Gilbert as he gave notes on “John Prine: One Song At a Time.” Gilbert’s energy and creativity, he said, were infectious. “He doesn’t sound like a senior,” Gunty laughed. “He doesn’t sound like an old person. He sounds younger than his age.” The album-writing and recording process has been long, and Gilbert is hoping to release it this June. It’s a family affair; all three of his daughters and his granddaughter, Jane, appear on the album, and so does his nephew, a musician named Teddy Grossman. Gilbert tries his best to write Bruce Rits Gilbert songs, but somehow, Prine-like songs come out now and then. The album will even have a few Prine covers. Who were you expecting, The Beatles? l jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 Inspiring happier, Inspiring a happier, Inspiring happier, longer life a just just takes longer takes Inspiring a just happier, longer life takes a a little engineering. Inspiring a happier, little engineering. just takes a longer little life engineering. longer just takes a little life engineering. a little engineering. Thanks Club at at Shannondell, Shannondell, Thanks to to the the Model Model Railroad Railroad Club Thanks are to always the Model running Railroad and Club on at time. Shannondell, our our trains With more more trains are always running and on time. With our Thanks trains to are the always With more Model running Railroad and Club on at time. Shannondell, than feet of of track, this impressive hobby hobby room room than 1,000 1,000 this impressive our trains feet running With more than 1,000 of track, track, this and impressive hobby room Thanks to are feet the always Model Railroad Club on at time. Shannondell, brings smiles to to are feet the of of of children children and With adults alike. than 1,000 of faces track, this impressive hobby room our trains always running and on time. more brings brings smiles faces adults smiles to the the faces children and and adults alike. alike. brings 1,000 smiles feet to their faces of child children and another adults alike. than of the track, impressive hobby room Re-engineering their inner yet, another Re-engineering inner this child – – – yet, way way way Re-engineering their inner child yet, another Re-engineering their inner child – yet, another way brings smiles to the faces children and inspired. adults alike. Shannondell residents living more Shannondell residents are are are of living more inspired. Shannondell residents living more inspired. Shannondell residents are living more inspired. Re-engineering their inner child – yet, another way Shannondell residents are living more inspired. Visit Visit shannondell.com shannondell.com Bruce Gilbert’s granddaughter, Jane, with Gilbert’s book Photo by Bruce Rits Gilbert JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Visit Visit Visit or shannondell.com or shannondell.com 800.669.2318 call call shannondell.com 800.669.2318 call or or call more 800.669.2318 information. for more information. call or for 800.669.2318 800.669.2318 for more information. for for more information. 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 more information. 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403 THE GOOD LIFE Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® Living to Inspire ® © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. © 2017 Shannondell, Inc. MAY 6, 2021 19 SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF STAY SAFE, SECURE AND WELL-CARED-FOR WITH PCA. Free Food Delivered Right To You The Jewish Relief Agency can provide a monthly home-delivered box of nutritious kosher food to seniors in need. Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has nearly 50 years of experience helping older adults get the care they need to stay in their own homes . For service coordination you can rely on, choose PCA. To Apply: Call 610-660-0190 or visit www.jewishrelief.org 215-765-9040 pcaCares.org ©Jewish Relief Agency 2021 20 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM jenifoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus Hebrew School Teacher Celebrates 60 Years In the Classroom E very year, Steven Horwits asks himself if he wants to keep teaching Hebrew school at Congregation Or Ami in Lafayette Hill. By the time he gets his new contract, the answer is always “yes.” Th is year marks Horwits’ 60th year in Or Ami’s classrooms. He has taught generations of families, and many students tell him he had their older siblings, parents and even grandparents in his classes. “Steve has been an amazing teacher and is a much-loved member of our congregation,” said Stefanie Bock, education director at the synagogue. Horwits, who turns 78 this month, was born in Manayunk. His parents were founding members of the synagogue where he now teaches, which was previously known as Ivy Ridge Jewish Community Center. He lives in the home they bought in Roxborough when he was 13. Horwits was one of the only Jewish students at Roxborough High School, and while he made friends with his non-Jewish classmates, he valued the sense of community he found at his synagogue. When he was still enrolled in high school, his mother encour- aged him to attend a Jewish teacher training program, thinking it would be a nice side job he could always turn to in the future. He said the program focused more on classroom management than on Judaism, and he took the bus from Roxborough to the class at the corner of Broad and Pine streets every Sunday. In September of 1961, he was called to Or Ami to substitute See Teach, Page 22 The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting NOW OPEN 215 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Senior Living that takes it to the top • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting is the newest senior living community in the Northern Philadelphia suburbs, and offers independent, personal care, and memory care options. • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting believes in providing luxurious amenities, exciting social opportunities, and exemplary care services to all the residents. • The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting is close to parks, country clubs, dining, shopping, hospitals and health care clinics and more. Transportation services are available for residents to easily get around! Come explore the possibilities at The Pinnacle at Plymouth! Call today to learn more about our beautiful new community and touring options! 610.292.3030 | www.pinnacleatplymouthmeeting.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 21 Teach Continued from Page 9 for an ill teacher. “I thought, ‘Well, gee, that worked out nicely,’” he said. It turned into a permanent teaching position when the teacher never returned, and 18-year-old Horwits was put in charge of a class of 14-year-olds. “Every year after that, it just contin- ued,” he said. “I saw that I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and I just continued and continued, and to this day, I’m still doing it.” “I saw that I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and I just continued and continued, and to this day, I’m still doing it.” STEVEN HORWITS 3594 Bristol Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020 Offi ce: 215-355-9917 John E. Livezey President Jason Townsend Suzanne E. Townsend Vice-Presidents kingdavidmemorialpark@gmail.com His mother, who was a Hebrew school coordinator at the synagogue, was espe- cially pleased when he took up teaching, and they worked together on organizing events for the students. He’s taught a wide range of ages throughout his time at Or Ami, but has spent the past 10 years working with fourth, fifth and sixth graders. It’s a part-time job on Sundays and Tuesdays, and he worked full time at the Veterans Administration, now known as the Department of Veterans Affairs, for 35 years. He also now works part time in sales at a retail store in Chestnut Hill. Horwits found teaching extremely rewarding, but it wasn’t always easy. Some students showed no interest in their classes, and some parents showed no interest in their children’s classes beyond bar and bat mitzvah preparation. The latter could be especially frustrating, since it left him trying to find a way to boost students’ interest in the subject matter without causing conflict within the families. His goal is to get kids to value their See Teach, Page 22 22 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Steven Horwits holds artwork at Congregation Or Ami. Courtesy of Stefanie Bock JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 23 Teach Jewish education as more than a means to an end. He said many of them come from Reform backgrounds and have plenty of Jewish friends and neighbors, so he shares stories about growing up as one of the only Jewish kids at his school to give them a diff erent perspective on the meaning of community. “If you get involved and be a part of it, it’s going to be a lot more enjoyable for you,” he said. “I’m not over-religious, but I do like the holidays and the customs, and this is what I try to pass on to them.” He appreciates when students come back to visit years later and tell him how his classes impacted them. “When you’re there, you don’t really see how much of an impact you have on them. But when you see them 10, 15 years later, and they come back to you and say, ‘You know, it was a great year and I really learned something from you,’ I feel I’m a better Jewish person for it,” he said. He is even more excited when his pupils join him in the fi eld. Five of his former students are now his colleagues as Hebrew school teachers at Or Ami. “Some students, when I fi rst had them, had absolutely no interest in anything to do with Judaism,” he said. “And now 24 MAY 6, 2021 when they come to me and want to be my classroom aide, I know I did do something that impacted them. Even if they’re in high school or in college, they want to come in, they want to be a part of it, and that’s really exciting for me.” Excitement and challenge oft en go hand-in-hand in the class- room, and the need to switch to remote learning has made this year especially challenging. Horwits learned how to use Zoom, but many students don’t turn on their cameras or get distracted at home during classes, which can be frustrating. When parents approached him and said their children felt lost and needed extra support with their Hebrew, Horwits gave tutoring sessions on Zoom to three or four students at a time. Th e smaller group size is helpful for kids who get easily distracted or feel shy speaking in a class of 10. In spite of the obstacles, he can tell they are learning when they show him their reading skills. He said Or Ami brought students back for some in-person instruction in April. Although it is near the end of the Hebrew school year, he is excited to see his students again now that he is fully vaccinated. ● THE GOOD LIFE spanzer@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Sergey Peterman / iStock / Getty Images Plus Continued from Page 9 “If you get involved and be a part of it, it’s going to be a lot more enjoyable for you. I’m not over-religious, but I do like the holidays and the customs, and this is what I try to pass on to them.” STEVEN HORWITS GlobalStock / gettyimages DEMENTIA SHOULD NOT DEFINE HER. Artis helps her be who she’s always been. TheArtisWay.com/GoodLife • 267-277-2307 Artis Senior Living of Huntingdon Valley: 2085 Lieberman Drive, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Artis Senior Living of Yardley: 765 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 25 Bruce Rubin Keeps It Movin’ JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF Chatchai Limjareon / iStock / Getty Images Plus I am HOME . The friends I’ve made, the amenities, the conveniences…I have everything I need here! Call Us Today! 1110 Laurel Oak Road | Voorhees, NJ 08043 A Premier Life Plan Community. 26 MAY 6, 2021 (856) 679-4682 DCoonley@lionsgateccrc.org | www.lionsgateccrc.org Lions Gate has been made possible, in part, through the generosity of the Raymond and Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation. THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Enjoy a Fulfilling Life with Us! B ruce Rubin, 77, started running in the ’80s and has no plans to stop as he approaches his own 80s. Back then, it was to get in shape and, to this day, he can tell you the exact number on the scale that prompted him to get off the couch. Today, running plays a diff er- ent role in his life. From the streets of Lansdale to up and down the basketball courts at a tournament at Stanford University, from the National Senior Games to the Penn Relays at Franklin Field, Rubin has run and run. Alone or with a team, running is one of the things that’s helped give shape to his life from the fi rst time he put sole to hardwood or pavement, and surely the only arena where he once held a national record (4x400 for 75- to 79-year-olds). Rubin was born in Brooklyn, and spent the early part of his childhood in the East Flatbush neighborhood. He worked at his parents’ bakery, taking orders at the counter when he wasn’t out playing stickball in the P.S. 135 schoolyard. Aft er he graduated Brooklyn Technical High School, Rubin’s parents sold the bakery and moved to North Jersey, fi rst Passaic, The very best in compassionate care for your loved one and peace of mind for you! Learn more about the extraordinary experience that only The Hearth at Drexel can offer. Call 1-877-205-9428 or visit www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org/Care to schedule a virtual tour or to obtain additional information. Come for a Visit! Assisted Living • Memory Care • Respite Care 238 Belmont Ave. | Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 www.TheHearthAtDrexel.org See Movin’, Page 28 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 27 LIFE, on a Scale of You . Rediscover your passions or devote more time to life-long hobbies, the choice is yours. Foulkeways is based on Quaker values and respect for the environment. Discover us today! Movin’ Continued from Page 27 then East Rutherford. A year at Northeastern University ended prematurely — “mathematics and some of the other subjects caught up to me,” Rubin recalled — and he soon ended up closer to home, at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in economics, later earned an MBA from Temple University and has worked as a consultant, adviser and executive ever since. Today, he’s a principal in the consult- ing company BHR Global Associates. It was around his college era when Rubin met the woman that would become his wife, Gail Mandel. At the Surf City Hotel bar on Long Beach Island, New foulkeways.org | 215-283-7010 1120 Meetinghouse Rd, Gwynedd, PA A Life Plan Community Bruce R ubin in competition mode. Courtesy of Bruce Rubin Jersey, the two hit it off before she had to return to Philadelphia for a week. He was spending the next week at the shore, and told her that she should come back to see him when she could. One week of spec- tacular weather and bottles upon bottles of Coppertone later, she screamed when she saw Rubin on the beach — he’d gotten so tan, she barely recognized him. Th ey started dating, and Rubin would come down to see her from his home in North Jersey. Soon, they married, and moved to Bensalem. Together, they had one son, Brad. Brad Brooks-Rubin, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., remembers when his 28 MAY 6, 2021 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM father began to run. Enough time has elapsed that Brooks-Rubin is comfortable saying that he wasn’t sure how much to expect of his dad’s bid for fi tness. “I didn’t expect it to be something that he would really focus on so much,” Brooks- Rubin said. At the least, it wasn’t something that he expected his dad to be talking about in a magazine article 30 years later. But Rubin came to enjoy running, much to his own surprise. Th e pounds came off , and the fi rst time he was able to run the whole 4.5 miles around his devel- opment without stopping was a day that he cherishes still. His successes didn’t move Gail much — she was a tennis player, and quite happy with that — but With grandsons Eliav and Adiv after a meet in Maryland Courtesy of Brad Brooks-Rubin it did catch the eye of Brooks-Rubin. In his 20s, he decided to join Rubin for a few runs and was “left in the dust,” he said, by his surprisingly speedy father. It motivated Brooks-Rubin, who even- tually ran three marathons. Today, he and his father still share a connection through running and competition; when Rubin comes to down the D.C. area to run or play basketball, he looks to Brooks-Rubin and two grandsons for encouragement. “It’s pretty cool for them to see their granddad competing,” Brooks-Rubin said of his sons, Eliav and Adiv. He also sees his father’s running as helpful to him aft er the mother’s death in 2017. See Movin’, Page 30 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 29 Movin’ Helping to care for the people you love! Continued from Page 29 “The athletics and the competition, the teamwork, the cama- raderie, all of the things that go along with competing in sport, really helped my dad take care of my mom and get through a number of really hard years,” Brooks-Rubin said. Rubin, though proud of what he’s accomplished in sports and business, isn’t the type to try sell you on himself. So you’ll have to let the people who know him best give the pitch. Dave Marovich runs and plays basketball with Rubin, and was part of the 4x400 team with Rubin at the 2019 Penn Relays. Rubin, Marovich said, is the straw that stirs the drink, a playmaker on the floor who takes on a similar role off of it, organizing transporta- tion, tournament entries and jerseys for the basketball team. “We might not be the best athletes in that event,” Marovich said, “but Bruce makes up for a lot of that by just his desire to compete.” Another friend of Rubin’s, Jim Van Horn, has nothing but praise for Rubin as a teammate away from any sport, too. The two met when they served together on the board of Beacon4Life, Flexible schedule Care for anyone recovering from surgery or illness Short- or long-term Hourly, daily, or s live-in schedule Competitive rates 215-885-7701 slhomecare.com PA State Licensed. All caregivers are bonded and insured. C ommonwealth SENIOR LIVING at WILLOW GROVE Welcome Home Serving seniors almost 20 years, our mission is to improve the lives of seniors, their families, and each other. Call for a free copy of our helpful guide Choosing the Right Personal Care Community. 215-706-8376 Personal Care & Memory Care 1120 York Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 www.CommonwealthSL.com 30 MAY 6, 2021 Grandson Adiv Brooks-Rubin and Bruce Rubin a professional networking organization in Philadelphia. It was clear from the first time he met Rubin, Van Horn said, that he was dealing with someone he could trust. “The thing that interested me most, and also impressed me most, about Bruce, was his dedication and his sincerity about things,” Van Horn said. “He clearly was a person of his word. He demonstrated a very high level of values and ethics.” The pandemic has put a stop to team competition for now, but Rubin sees hope on the horizon. Recently vaccinated and looking ahead to the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Rubin reports that his 3-on-3 basketball team is seeking a 6’5’’ baller born no later than Dec. 31, 1946, and preferably, in 1943. In other words, he said, “a tall old guy.” l jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Advertiser Index Anthology Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Arden Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Artis Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Attleboro Retirement Community. . . . . . . . . . 28 Beaumont at Bryn Mawr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Brightview Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Commonwealth Senior Living Willow Grove . 30 Dignity Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dublin Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Dunwoody Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Foulkeways at Gwynedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Freedom Village @ Brandywine . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Goldstein’s Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17 Griswold Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hearing Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hearth At Drexel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Jewish Relief Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 King David Memorial Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Leisure Care LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lions Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Masonic Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Paul’s Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) . . .20 Philadelphia Protestant Home . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Pine Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel . . . . . . 29 Rothkoff Law Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Rydal Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sage Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Seashore Gardens Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Shannondell at Valley Forge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Silver Lining Home Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Simpson House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting. . . . . . . . . 21 Waverly Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 West Laurel Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 White Horse Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Family means reframing your life this spring. At PPH, you have the reassurance of a strong family of friends that’s always there to share the journey. Get to know us at the last event of our spring virtual event series. We’ve saved the best for last! Please join us for: “Life Plan 101: Benefits of a Life Plan Community” Learn everything you ever wanted to know about life at PPH, from services and amenities to pricing and floor plans. Wednesday, May 12, at 1 p.m. Join us for this complimentary virtual event by calling 215-274-0228 or RSVP at PPHFamily.org/events. We are also open for safe, in-person tours, so give us a call to schedule yours today! THE GOOD LIFE MAY 6, 2021 31 The loss of a beloved pet is emotional and our compassionate staff is here to help guide you through the process.