Dear Temple Beth Shira Family and Friends,
I’m proud to present the Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class of 5769!
Sheila Reich: After I graduated from Madison H.S. in Brooklyn, I attended Brooklyn College at night.
In 1961 I married and moved to Staten Island where we had two children. In the early 70s, we move to N.J. where I became very active in ORT. In the 80's my husband and I moved to Maine and soon after to Florida. I became a widow in 2001 and since have been very active in our singles group.
This August I am going on my first trip to Italy. I am also a lover of non-fiction, concerts and museums.
Nancy Alovis was born Nancy Haas on Long Island, NY. She studied theatre and speech at Hostra University and received a graduate degree from Yeshiva University in School Psychology. She moved to Florida in 2002 and helped found Temple Beth Shira in 2004. At the present time, she works part-time with her husband Rick at their call center inBoca Raton. She lives at home with her husband, and their three beautiful children, Jake, Jenny and Bari. Nancy enjoys singing, working out, swimming, entertaining, socializing, traveling and being a MOM.
Cliff Gross: I am proud to become a Bar Mitzvah the second time around after 47 years. I am a Philadelphia native and I love to have fun. I grew up in a household with two siblings, a brother, Mark and a sister, Elen. I have two great, wonderful children, Avra and Ari. I have been married to the same wonderful woman Rebecca for thirty five years. I am the luckiest man in the world.
Joan Kupferberg: Before I moved to Florida, I had a multi-faceted career. By day I was a Choral Director of Jericho High School. At night, I became a singing/strolling accordionist in the New York metropolitan area and a private voice teacher. Upon retiring, I became a Professor of Music at Post College, teaching many courses. Here, in Florida, I am again a choral director of a senior chorus of 32 voices, and am the lucky music director of Temple BethShira. I still teach classical voice.
Arlene Perlman: I’ve had the most extraordinary life…thanks to a wonderful family and a bevy of great friends. I thank all of you so much for coming here tonight from both near and far in support of my “special day”. My childhood dreams were of being a movie star…later dreams of Broadway! I ended up co-owner of the elegant Anderson Fur Company inAnderson, Indiana, with my brilliant husband, Mark, becoming its spokesperson. So my theatrical dreams turned into TV commercials, which thank goodness worked and the store became very well known in the midwest. Favorite theatrical performances over the years were Og in “Finian’s Rainbow”, Louise in “Gypsy”, Lola in “Damn Yankees” and “Mame”. I love to sing and still do in my Boca West Chorus, where I started a barbershop quartette, and, of course, in our Beth Shira choir, which I love!!! I thank Mark for all his encouragement over the years, especially for this challenge of becoming Bat Mitzvah at age 75! And, Cantor Ellen, I still have a dream…of one day, singing a duet with you!
Rick Alovis and his wife Nancy have been blessed with three wonderful children, Jake, Jenny and Bari. Rick is the President of ARK Teleservices with offices in NY, Florida, and St. Lucia.
Rick is also a licensed Optician and in NYC founded the Optical Exchange chain of eyewear stores. He was born inBrooklyn, New York and moved to Florida as a teen where he attended Miami Beach High School followed by theUniversity of Florida. He then moved back to New York only to return to Florida with his family in 2002.
Although they found Saturnia to be a home, Rick and Nancy felt something was missing from their corner of the world. Rick strongly felt that the West Boca community was in need of a warm, hamish congregation,with strong connections to the community. He is extremely proud of being a founder and the first President of Temple Beth Shira. His unending energy and enthusiasm have surely helped the Temple reach the point it is at today as well as the heights it will reach in the future.
This is a service you will not want to miss. These six wonderful people have worked very hard to accomplish such a monumental achievement. Please join us this coming Friday, June 26th at 7:30 at West Boca Community High School for a most inspirational service and celebration.
And now let me be the very first to wish Joan, Nancy, Rick, Arlene, Cliff and Sheila a most heartfelt MAZAL TOV!! I am exceedingly proud of every one of you!!
L’shalom,
Cantor Ellen Stettner |
