Kinneret Apartments

8 Over 80 Honorees Announced

December 5, 2010

Bottom, Left to Right: Phyllis Kamenoff, Esther Gluskin, Harriett Lake, Jean Dolen; Top, Left to Right: Bob Weissmann, Berny Raff, Joe Lefkowitz, Abe Wise.

The Kinneret Council on Aging is proud to announce the 8 Over 80 honorees for 2011. KCOA will proudly pay tribute to these eight individuals over the age of 80 who have made significant contributions to the Central Florida community on Sunday, February 27th, 2011.

You can help us honor these eight individuals by making a donation the the KCOA in their honor. Click here for more 8 Over 80 information.

2011 8 Over 80 Honorees:

Abe Wise: Abe, 88, has lived in Orlando since 1946. Abe, whose business background is in real estate development and building, was part of a core group of individuals that laid the foundation for the building of Kinneret Apartments and the Jewish Community Center. He served as the JCC’s first President. He was also a founding member of Temple Israel and TOP Foundation, serving as TOP’s President as well. Abe and his wife Tess, has created an Endowment of Professorship in Judaic Studies at UCF. Abe and Tess celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this past October. Nominated by: Geanne Share.

Bob Weissmann: After retiring from a successful law firm in NYC, Bob, 81, became counsel to Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, specializing in Real Estate and Commercial transactions. In addition to his professional services, Bob currently serves as a mentor to many of the attorneys on staff and generously shares his time and experiences to help those around him grow. Bob currently serves on the board of Jewish Family Services, where he previously was a past president. He has also served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. He has an active lifestyle that includes biking, tennis and traveling. He is a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Bob and his wife Rita will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2011. Nominated by: Aaron J. Gorovitz, Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed.

Harriett Lake: Harriett is now 88 and is the leading private philanthropist in the Greater Orlando area to both Jewish and cultural organizations. She is a passionate advocate for political, economic and social change. Her personality and great intelligence is well known and she serves as a leader for countless other individuals to participate and give to their community, no matter how much time or money they can afford. Nominated by: Lois Silverberg.

Joe Lefkowitz: Joe, 84, is well known in the community for his commitment to many of the Jewish organizations and temples. Joe is also an astute businessman and entrepreneur, and has dedicated himself to advising and helping small business owners and other entrepreneurs to be successful. He recently was honored by SCORE, a non-profit who dedicates itself to free business counseling to small businesses for his 25 years of service. Joe is known as a man of his word, and is considered the “patriarch” of his large, extended family. Nominated by: Ryan Lefkowitz, nephew.

Phyllis Kamenoff: Phyllis, 86, is a caring, dynamic and creative person with inexhaustible energy. She was one of the earliest Jewish residents to come to Orlando, arriving in the 1940’s. She is a cancer survivor and often counsels others going through treatment. She is a 55 plus year member of Temple Israel, a founder of the Jewish Community Center, a longtime supporter of The Holocaust Center, JFS, Kinneret and Historical Society of Central Florida. Nominated by: Michael Kamenoff (son) and Jeff Gaeser (cousin).

Esther Gluskin: Esther, just celebrated her 85th birthday in November and will become a Bat Mitzvah on April 16, 2011. She is a retired Reading Specialist, and is now in her 12th year as a volunteer with the Orange County School system teaching and tutoring 3rd graders at Waterbridge Elementary. She does water aerobics 3 times a week, does yoga, sings with the Williamsburg singers and is currently President of her Hadassah group through SOJC. She has mastered the computer and not only plays daily scrabble games, but uses email and facebook to keep up with her friends and family. She is active in her temple, SOJC, the Chai Steppers and Hadassah. Nominated by: Gloria Gluskin.

Berny Raff: Berny, 83, is a longtime volunteer at Congregation Ohev Shalom. He has been President of the COS Seniors for 20 years. Ohev’s religious school children know Berny as he has feed them every Wednesday for the past 25 years. He also works on the monthly bulletin. Berny begins and ends every day with a smile, and touches the lives of every person he meets with his positive attitude and dedication. He is a devoted husband to his wife Eleanor, whom he visits daily in the nursing home. Nominated by: Susan Sparrow, OHEV Clergy Assistant.

Jean Dolen: Jean, is a Kinneret resident and will be 90 in April. She was part of the first graduating class of Queens College in New York in 1941. Jean is very active in the community and at Kinneret. She volunteers weekly for Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); OTTER (older teachers teaching early readers) by reading to a young child in a Head Start program, and volunteers one day a week at the Florida Blood Center. She works in the Kinneret Boutique and the Kinneret Co-op. She is active in the JCC and the Sisterhood of Congregation Ohev. Jean has the ability to transcend generations and as adored by her children and grandchildren. Nominated by: Beth Riehl (daughter) and Stacy-Ann Nembhard, Foster Grandparent program.

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