Treasures of Baycrest 2011 Brochure

ToREASURES f Baycrest
2011
Treasures of Baycrest
At the turn of the 20th century, Torontos Jewish community was rapidly building a strong infrastructure to accommodate the needs of its growing population. The welfare of one of its most vulnerable segments the frail elderly was a primary concern. In 1918, the volunteers of the Ezras Nashim Society collected money door-to-door to open Baycrests forerunner, the Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home, on Cecil Street. Over 30 years later, community leaders purchased a 25-acre tract of land at Bathurst Street and Baycrest Avenue where the new Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital opened in 1954. It was the first time in Ontario that a chronic care hospital and a home for the aged were housed in the same facility. From its humble beginnings, Baycrest has developed into one of the worlds premier academic health sciences centres focused on aging and brain health. Baycrest now comprises: a comprehensive system of care for aging patients; one of the worlds top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience; dedicated centres focused on mitigating the impact of age-related illness and impairment; and, unmatched global knowledge exchange and commercialization capacity. Thanks to a leadership gift from longtime supporter Joseph Gottdenker, the Treasures of Baycrest exhibit honours and tells the stories of the exceptional men and women donors, volunteers, staff, friends and clients who have contributed to Baycrests transformation. Located on the main floor of Baycrest Hospital in the Silverman Garden Court, the exhibit is updated regularly to pay tribute to the hundreds of individuals deserving of this honour.
Joseph Gottdenker
I was born Jewish in Poland in 1942 and survived the war because of a righteous Catholic family who raised me as their own child. Miraculously, after the war I was reunited with my parents, Bina and Bendet Gottdenker, and we immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 and moved to Toronto in 1958. Being the only child of Holocaust survivors, and a survivor myself, has been a fundamental force in my life. So when I discovered how well Baycrest served the unique needs of survivors and their families, I couldnt help but get involved. In addition to establishing an endowment fund in honour of my parents to support Baycrests annual Yom Hashoah memorial service, I was pleased to sponsor, Caring for Aging Survivors of the Holocaust, a first-of-its-kind resource book designed to ensure elderly survivors, all over the world, are cared for with the utmost sensitivity and respect. After joining and later co-chairing the Baycrest Foundations Endowment Committee in 1984, I became Treasurer of the Foundation Board, and then Chair of the Donor Recognition Committee. When my mother lived at Baycrest after my father passed away, I saw firsthand the exceptional way in which Baycrest cares for its clients, especially survivors with cognitive disorders whose long-term memories of the war can often be agonizing. This experience motivated me to pay tribute to the many individuals who have played a part in making Baycrest the special place it is, by sponsoring Treasures of Baycrest, an exhibit first conceived by Pinchas Gutter and the recognition committee. My belief in Baycrest and my desire to help secure its future also led me to support the Gottdenker Hall of Honour a new approach to recognition that is building momentum in giving which opened in 2011. It is extremely meaningful for me to give back in this way and to help Baycrest achieve its ambition to be the global leader in aging and brain health.
The Treasures of Baycrest exhibit has been generously donated by Joseph Gottdenker.
A message from
Honourary Treasures
Slova Greenberg
and the Women of the Ezras Nashim Society
William E. Reichman
President and Chief Executive Officer, Baycrest
The remarkable men and women immortalized on these pages, and in the beautiful exhibit in the Silverman Garden Court, truly are treasures of Baycrest. Each and every one, in his or her own special and unique way, has made a lasting contribution to Baycrests extraordinary evolution into a renowned global leader in aging and brain health. The 2011 Baycrest Treasures are representative of the many exceptional professionals, generous benefactors, visionary leaders, valued volunteers, and influential friends who have made Baycrest what it is today, and laid the groundwork for what it can be tomorrow. It is due to their skills, talents, generosity and compassion that Baycrest is ready to embark on a quest to develop next practices and new approaches to care that will define the future for healthy aging, and benefit seniors around the world for generations to come. On behalf of Baycrest, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to these individuals for all they have done, and continue to do, for this organization. Their stories are Baycrests story.
he Jewish community of early 20th century Toronto was burgeoning with new arrivals from Eastern Europe and the few social services available to them were mainly organized by the women.
One such remarkable woman was Slova Greenberg who, in 1913, helped found the Ezras Nashim Society to visit the sick. As part of her duties, Greenberg visited 90-year-old Pearl Fieman who lived in a city home but was not thriving due to the lack of kosher meals. In the waves of new immigrants, there were many elderly people like her who did not have family to look after them. Moved by their plight, the Ezras Nashim raised enough money going door-to-door to open the Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home (forerunner of Baycrest) in 1918. It was the first ethnically distinct home of its kind in Ontario. Fieman moved in and lived to be 100. Today, Baycrest continues to draw inspiration from these remarkable women and its Jewish heritage.
Sam Ruth
1921 - 2006
aycrest is a lasting legacy to the ideals, vision and compassion of the late Sam Ruth who served as Chief Executive Officer from 1956 to 1980, and was then Founding President of the Baycrest Foundation until 1988. He attempted to retire several times but stayed on as a consultant until 2001. Even after he officially retired, Sam stayed involved.
Of all his contributions to Baycrest, Sam was most proud of the part he played in developing its unique continuum of care, which provides a full range of services to the elderly on one campus. Baycrest became a model for long-term care centres around the world and Sam was called on to provide his expertise to governments, ethnic communities and health care agencies. At the time Sam was enticed to Toronto from his position as a hospital administrator in Cleveland, Ohio, Baycrest was a home for the aged and chronic care hospital with 172 residents and 87 patients. During his tenure, Baycrest opened a day centre for seniors, a new 372-bed home for the aged, and a seniors apartment building and community centre. As Foundation President, he spearheaded the capital campaign for the new 300-bed Baycrest Hospital. His focus was always on how he could help others, and how Baycrest could do it better.
TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011
2011 Treasures
Elkie Adler
1945 - 2005
lkie Adler would have been thrilled and proud to see the Elkie Adler MS Clinic thrive and flourish at Baycrest. Elkie, who passed away in 2005, was stricken with multiple sclerosis at a young age and suffered from the disease for many years. As a long-standing Baycrest supporter and Womens Auxiliary member, she dreamed of seeing an MS clinic open on the Baycrest campus. Elkie was a vital, courageous and generous individual who suffered quietly but was never defined by multiple sclerosis, says Pearl Gryfe, Clinical Director of Baycrests Elkie Adler MS Clinic, who worked closely with Elkie for many years. She always strived to ensure that living with a disability did not mean being isolated or deterred from experiencing life to the fullest and she wanted that vision to be reflected in everything she did. In 2000, Elkie funded a unique pilot program through the Assistive Technology Clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre designed to provide technical innovations to people with MS. The small pilot program soon grew into an innovative multidisciplinary medical, rehabilitation and technology program. To ensure Elkies vision would live on, her family made a major gift to Baycrest in her honour, and in 2007 the Elkie Adler MS Clinic moved to Baycrest. The clinic continues to grow and develop groundbreaking, evidence-based practices and is the only one of its kind in Canada. Elkie always wanted others with MS to have a better quality of life, says her brother, Warren Kimel, Chair of the Baycrest Foundation Board of Directors. She was a giving person who was dearly loved by her family and admired by all those who knew her. The Elkie Adler MS Clinic at Baycrest is a fitting tribute and ensures that her legacy lives on.
Marshall & Barbara Alexander
eople say its not easy to keep up with us and we like to prove them right! Between the two of us, theres energy to spare and we share our love of life with Baycrest clients every chance we get. Whenever, wherever theres a need, were there. We ask, What date? not, Whats the job?
Our Baycrest volunteer story began over a decade ago. Barbara worked at the Apotex Centres reception desk and Marshall did filing for the Baycrest Foundation. Then, when Marshalls friend suffered a stroke, we were introduced to Baycrests pool therapy program. We had stopped wintering in Florida at that time and were looking for a meaningful replacement. Our motto is: you cant just live a life, you need to become involved. So we did. Twice a week, we get into the hospital therapy pool with patients, helping them with their exercises. We love working with people, laughing with them and making a connection with them. That goes for patients as well as the people who attend Foundation events. We help out wherever were needed, but our main love is the Strokes Fore Stroke Golf Classic. For us, its never a job; its a joy. Weve been married 60 years and feel lucky to be sharing our passion for volunteerism together, especially at Baycrest. We know that everyone is getting older, but no one has to be old. Volunteering at Baycrest and seeing what others face gives perspective to our aches and pains. We often joke that wed pay Baycrest to do this! The main rewards in our life are our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandson, and Baycrest is the icing on the cake!
2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST
Ronald R. Appleby, Q.C.
Karen Baruch
always knew Baycrest would play a role in my community life when the time was right. I had strong family connections to Baycrest, with relatives either volunteering there or being cared for, and it was my ultimate desire to give something back. In 2004, at the urging of my good friends, Wilfred Posluns and Mark Gryfe, I joined the Baycrest Foundation Board of Directors and soon after, served as Chair from 2006 to 2009. Through my involvement, I spent a lot of time with residents and saw what the golden years could be. In my role as Board Chair, I wanted to ensure Baycrest had the funding required to implement programs and services that would help transform the journey of aging. Most people see the negative aspects of aging, as family and friends confront stroke, dementia and disability. I wanted to understand the whole journey and explore what could make growing older meaningful, hopeful and fulfilling. I think it should be worry free, focused on family, community and good deeds with time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Baycrest benefits all humanity and its potential for improving delivery of care to seniors is unlimited. Guided by the clear vision of Dr. Bill Reichman, President and CEO of Baycrest, I see Baycrest furthering its global leadership in brain science and geriatric care, as well as educating people about the critical issues affecting the elderly. In any community involvement, a person wants to do their best but, for me, I want each volunteer experience to be satisfying and meaningful. My years with Baycrest lived up to that and the future looks very exciting.
y involvement with Baycrest began in 1993 with an invitation for coffee from my friend, Mimi Greenspoon. She asked if I would be willing to help her with the Baycrest Spring Sale, a new fundraising event being launched by the Womens Auxiliary (WA), and I accepted.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and as a result, joined the WA. This gave me the opportunity to meet many outstanding women who taught me so much about community service and leadership. Before long, Mimi called with another invitation for coffee, and soon I was sitting on the WA Board. In 2009, I was truly humbled to be elected as WA President and also to serve on the Baycrest Foundations Board of Directors. In 2010, I worked with our executive and with the Women of Baycrest to join our two strong and vital groups into one larger organization that would change the face of womens philanthropy and volunteerism. I am proud to say that the new Women of Baycrest has already raised $2 million for womens brain health research at Baycrest. Anyone who has ever been touched by Alzheimers disease understands the importance of supporting this research. I think back to 1992 when my own mother was diagnosed with the condition, and our lives were turned upside down. As a family, we learned firsthand that Baycrest brings comfort to those who can no longer remember, offers support to those who feel lost, educates families so they can continue living, and provides a home where dignity can be maintained and souls can be nourished. I think my mother once an ardent volunteer herself would have been elated that Im part of this great cooperative spirit which is making such a difference to others.
Suzanne Benchimol
y profession, I am a designer and I think my volunteer association with Baycrest has been distinguished by taking on projects that feed my artistic expression. Coupled with my passion for Baycrest, it opened the door to a lot of creativity. In 2008, I worked with the Museum Committee to develop and install a wonderful exhibit celebrating Sephardi culture. As a member of the Womens Auxiliary from 1987 to 2010, I was actively involved in many exciting projects, including events such as Tables of Distinction, annual Spring Sales and Baycrest Galas; the fundraising Mezuzah project, where residents and students painted ceramic mezuzot for the new Apotex Centre; and, the delivery of roses to residents and patients on Mothers Day. I believe I brought a personal energy and zest to all of these, but what meant the most to me was chairing the Welcome Reception for new residents. It was rewarding to reach out to people whose families werent able to attend, so no one would feel lonely or left out. Baycrest is one of the best things we have ever done as a community. It has made such a significant change in the lives of our elderly and we need to share that story. Everyone should be involved in helping someone, and we are obliged to instill that in our children. Personally, Baycrest has given me something extraordinary; each experience has enriched and enhanced my life. I hope that my involvement has enriched and enhanced life at Baycrest as well.
Matilda Bigio
Lois Buckstein
may be 92, but I still have the same philosophy of life stay active, keep learning and always give to others. I speak six languages and have been studying Hebrew since having my Bat Mitzvah when I was 75. I was the oldest one in my group, but it was something I always wanted to do.
I was born in Egypt. My parents were French. My husband, two children and I left everything and came to Canada 53 years ago to start a new life. We left a lovely house and most of our possessions when things got bad for us in Egypt. When I arrived in Canada, I got a job at a bank and worked there for 32 years. My husband died, then my daughter at age 26, then my son at 42, so it is just me and my two grandchildren left in the family. But I couldnt sit around and feel sorry for myself when I still had so much to do. I volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital for many years, and then began to volunteer at Baycrest 20 years ago. I visit with people on the Palliative Care Unit, help them eat and take them for walks. I also act as a translator. I have been through a lot of tragedy in my life and I want to show compassion to people who need my help. I say a prayer for them and it makes them so happy. I also knit baby sweaters for new mothers at Holy Blossom Temple. I attach a note to each one that reads: With love from Matilda Bigio. I get thank you cards back from the mothers saying how much they love my sweaters. The volunteer work I do is reward enough, but its nice to be appreciated.
have always had a deep love for Judaica and a passion for Jewish history and art. So, when Honey and Norman Schipper approached me to put together a Museum Committee at Baycrest more than 20 years ago, it felt like a good fit. I am honoured to still serve as Committee Chair and I am grateful to all the members and Baycrest staff I have worked with over the years, and to my loving husband and family for all their support. What has grown into the Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum began as a few special pieces of Jewish art donated by Dora Till, who also founded the Baycrest Womens Auxiliary. Today, the collection showcases more than 1,000 items and is a source of great pride for Baycrest and the entire community. The mission of the museum is to stimulate memories and add to the quality of life of Baycrest clients, by helping them maintain a meaningful connection to their Jewish heritage. One exciting way we do that is through our Museum on Wheels, a travelling collection that we regularly bring to residents who are unable to come to us. For them, its a very hands-on experience, where they are encouraged to touch the pieces we exhibit and talk about them. The museum has introduced people who live, work, visit and volunteer at Baycrest to a whole new world. I believe the importance Baycrest places on art and heritage is another expression of the love and respect it extends to its aging clients. I am proud to be part of the Museum Committee because the work we do helps make Baycrest a unique and incredible part of our community.
Evelyn BurnsWeinrib
y grandmother, Brendel Frimer, was part of a group of visionary women who had a clear understanding of what Toronto needed to build in order to care for its elderly. Back in the 1950s, she served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Home for the Aged. Even with her foresight, I dont think she could have imagined what her legacy would help create, and I wonder what she would say if she saw Baycrest today. I know she would be proud that, like others, our family has carried on what she began. Baycrest is a leader in so many ways, recognizing that medicine is more than pills and that good mental health plays a huge role in ones quality of life. I believe that when people reach old age, life should be as full and pleasant as possible. We can all be proud of Baycrests international reputation in brain science, but its also important to find creative ways, like therapeutic recreation, to put what weve learned into practice. Officially, I volunteer six days a week at Baycrest, but youll find me there on the seventh day too, with my dog, Angel, helping out in Palliative Care. I split my time between that floor and the Womens Auxiliary Caf and I can honestly say that being at Baycrest makes me feel elated, every day. I cant think of anything else that can give as much pleasure to a person as knowing theyve had a part in making the day better for someone else. What I do as a Baycrest volunteer is what keeps me going.
Mike Colle
Richard Cooper
was introduced to Baycrest at a very young age and Im not sure if I chose my association with Baycrest or if Baycrest chose me. My parents, Florence and Sydney Cooper, have a long history as Baycrest volunteers and supporters, as do my sister, Tobie Bekhor, and my wife, Clara Cooper. Im honoured to join other family members as a Baycrest Treasure. Over many years, Baycrest has afforded me the privilege of meeting and working with some great community leaders including the late Abe Posluns and Sam Ruth. Together with my family, they taught me about community, caring and compassion. I have always felt great satisfaction knowing that the services Baycrest provides are genuinely needed and delivered at the highest level. Our family has taken part in many wonderful fundraising events for Baycrest. I am a proud recipient of the Barrie to Baycrest Sam Ruth Award, which was presented to me by Nancy Ruth. My favourite event, after Dancing With Our Stars, is the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimers. Along with Mark Gryfe and Stan Feldman, I am one of the founding fathers of this great event which started in 2006 and now has tournaments in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton, with plans to expand. The Pro-Am is a great financial success, but it has also introduced hundreds of new supporters to Baycrest and provided national exposure to the great work done there. I currently serve on the Executive Committee, Pro-Am Expansion Committee and Investment Committee for the Baycrest Foundation Board and have worked with many great Baycrest staff and volunteers. My wife, Clara, and I, and our whole family, feel privileged to be part of the Baycrest Team.
have had the pleasure to serve as the MPP for Baycrest since 1999. For me, Baycrest shines as the crown jewel of our community and represents whats best about our city, province and Canada.
I love sharing my pride in Baycrest with my colleagues, visiting dignitaries, ministers, and the Premier, showing them our haven for my senior constituents. Im continually impressed by the number of dedicated Baycrest volunteers, and the growing team of researchers whose excellence is recognized worldwide. To me, Baycrest is to seniors what Sick Childrens Hospital is for children. That is why I was so proud and brought the Premier to Baycrest in order to help secure a $10 million investment in the Centre for Brain Fitness. I truly love visiting Baycrest and spending time with residents, volunteers, staff and administrators who are all incredible. I am particularly proud of Caf Europa, Baycrests drop-in social program for Holocaust survivors, which I helped start with a funding investment. Caf Europa has really grown over the years and attracts survivors from all parts of Toronto. But, I must admit that one of my favourite places on the Baycrest campus is the Reuben Cipin Healthy Living Community. It is an amazing place which I consider my home away from home. Yearly, I participate in the Registered Nurses Association of Ontarios Take Your MPP to Work Day, visiting Baycrest nurses and personal support workers. I praise them for their exceptional care of the seniors who call Baycrest home and for their devotion and dedication. I have a strong emotional attachment to Baycrest and I see this in the staff, volunteers and residents. We are all connected to Baycrest. Its where our neighbours volunteer, work, visit and reside when they age. Everybody has somebody there or knows someone who has been there; Baycrest is the ultimate community connection.
Jack Culiner
ack Culiner believes there is a powerful correlation between the environment and peoples emotional well-being. That conviction led the internationally renowned sculptor to establish and encourage art collections at both Baycrest and Mount Sinai Hospital. Since 1999, Jack has donated 20 of his modern, polished bronze sculptures to Baycrest, which can be seen throughout the centre. In the words of the late Vivienne Marcus, Baycrests former Art and Interior Design Coordinator: Art is synonymous with life for everyone who lives, works or visits at Baycrest and Jack is a vital part of our generous community of donors. His wife, Elaine, and her family, were generous donors to both Mount Sinai and Baycrest and Jack explains that, Their interest and dedication motivated me to make a contribution of my own and a gift of sculpture was the logical way. In Jacks writings, he describes the power of art in a hospital setting: The real objective in supplying art to medical institutions is to make them less intimidating and more attractive, user-friendly places for patients, family and staff. There is a feeling that it would have a positive and therapeutic effect on patients counterbalancing some of the stresses intrinsic to a period of hospitalization. The hundreds of people who pass through the halls of Baycrest every day, and are inspired by Jacks sculptures, would agree. Now in his late 90s, Jack is glad that Baycrest is there. Its a wonderful facility. I mean, how many cities have a Baycrest?
David & Stacey Cynamon
es often called the man with the Midas touch and certainly, for everyone at Baycrest whos benefited from his business acumen and generosity, David Cynamons reputation is golden. As Baycrest volunteers, David and his wife, Stacey, have been strong advocates of Baycrests role as a world-class innovator in brain health.
Theres far more to Baycrest than what you see driving down Bathurst Street, and its important to raise public awareness of Baycrests revolutionary scientific research, says Stacey. We cant underestimate what it means to Toronto and our community, adds David. Baycrest is a valuable asset we can be proud to call our own, so we have to step up and support it, with time or donations or both. In addition to their philanthropy, David has been on the Baycrest Foundation Board of Directors since 2010 and involved in the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimers as a player, committee member, and co-chair of the Edmonton tournament. Together, he and Stacey co-chaired Baycrests successful 2010 fundraising gala, Dancing With Our Stars. Staceys grandmother spent her last five years at Baycrest and she appreciates how the staff made her grandmother feel safe and comfortable at the most fragile stage of her life. The staff exhibit compassion at every level and Baycrests culture consistently reflects respect and collaboration. David and Stacey are leaders in Torontos philanthropic community supporting many other causes including Torontos Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, UJA Federation, camps for underprivileged children, and programs for Israeli youth.
Alan Dessau
he respect I feel for Baycrest led me to join the Mens Service Group in the 1970s. Inspired by former Director, Phyl Goldner, I became its President from 1978 to 1979 and then remained an active member. Beyond fundraising to support Baycrest programs, the Mens Service Group sponsored special outings, bi-monthly Sunday brunches, and the Thursday Club programs where male patients and residents could enjoy recreational activities in the company of other men. We also ran a fundraising lottery, and an annual fun run, walk and family carnival that eventually evolved into the Baycrest Challenge, a popular walk and run. I was also pleased to have been able to serve as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Baycrest Terrace, coordinating with the Wagman Centre, and was proud to have worked in the initial years with Jackie Edelson, Moshe Greengarten and Sonny Langer. One of the most meaningful gifts that my years as a lay leader with Baycrest gave me was the ability to help seniors live productively in an environment of respect. As Jews, were commanded to honour our parents and to practise tzedakah. Baycrest provides our community with many opportunities to fulfill those mitzvot and I am confident that its thirst for innovation and research, coupled with the commitment of its staff and volunteers, will perpetuate that for years to come. My wifes mother and my parents spent their last years at Baycrest and the care they received was wonderful. Their quality of life was superior to anything they could have had elsewhere and thats the amazing thing about Baycrest. Thirty years ago, it was the best seniors facility and today, it just keeps improving. Its a shining example to the world, raising the bar for all centres that specialize in aging.
Carey Diamond
John Doig
aycrest has always been close to my heart. My aunt had ALS and received excellent care on the hospitals Palliative Care Unit. My grandmother also spent the end of her life at Baycrest so I saw for myself how patients and residents are always treated with dignity and respect. It made me feel there was something special there, and remembering the quality of care and level of compassion they were shown was what got me excited and inspired to play a larger role behind the scenes. Joining the Baycrest Board of Directors in 2001 was definitely a natural and logical fit for me. My father, Eph Diamond, was Co-Chair of Baycrests major capital campaign in the 1980s and he was deeply supportive of the organization for many years as a Foundation Board member and a donor. His love for Baycrest opened the door to my involvement. In my professional life I work with young companies and help them grow, so I was asked to be on the Strategic Planning Committee and eventually became the Chair. I also served as Vice-Chair of the Board from 2002 to 2009. It was my role to help Baycrest formulate, act on and execute a strategic plan to help coalesce the three pillars education, care and research that make it such a reputable institution and an academic health sciences centre. A large part of enhancing and bringing together these three aspects involves the strong relationship that we formed with University of Toronto. Strengthening Baycrests reputation in these areas was a team effort, but Im proud that I was even a small part of helping to propel Baycrest to where it is today.
hen I was on Scotiabanks senior marketing team in 2007, we recognized the vast opportunities of a partnership between the bank and Baycrest. We shared our vision with Mark Gryfe, who was President of the Foundation at the time, and discussed sponsorship ideas for Baycrests Pro-Am hockey tournament. The power of Scotiabank is our reach and we explained how we could offer broader engagement, beyond Baycrests typical impact, and what that could mean to Baycrest globally. We have seven million plus customers in Canada, 14 million in 50 countries worldwide, and can take the Baycrest message to them, raising awareness and ensuring funds continue to flow to support research and care in Alzheimers and related dementias. Scotiabank is known as Canadas Hockey Bank, so becoming the title sponsor of the Pro-Am was a natural fit. With the bank and Baycrest working together, the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimers has expanded to three Canadian cities and raised more than $16 million in its six-year history. One of the underpinnings of Scotiabanks uniquely Canadian marketing strategy is community support in health and fitness, sports, arts and culture. Our employees are personally vested in their communities and the causes that the bank supports. For the GTAs more than 200 Scotiabank branches, Baycrest resonates. Our employees and customers have aging parents and they rally behind Baycrest, ready to do whatever they can to help. They recognize Baycrest as the scientific engine in global brain research. Canada is looking for sustainable ways to implement quality health care in a burgeoning, aging society, and Baycrest is the model to replicate.
Michael Feldman
Bryna Fellen
y Baycrest story began when my late mother was admitted to Baycrest Hospital in 1987. Initially, she participated in many of the activities Baycrest offered and I joined in alongside her. She especially loved the Shalom Program, the hospitals pre-Shabbat program, and it was the centre of some wonderful visits. Whether it was the Shalom Program, a concert, a tea, an outing or another one of the many wonderful recreational events, these times together made a huge difference to my mothers quality of life, giving her the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat, to sing and to socialize. Knowing what these social programs meant to her, inspired me. For the past 20 years, I have been an advocate for programs that enhance quality of life for patients and residents at Baycrest. Through the Womens Auxiliary and the Therapeutic Recreation and Culture and Heritage departments at Baycrest, I have worked to ensure that patients and residents could enjoy experiences similar to those of my mother. Whether it is the Shalom program, Celebration 70+, the Computer Lounge or any Jewish programming, my focus has always been on activities centred on patients and their families. Another way I was able to do that was chairing the Baycrest Hospital Family Advisory Council for many years. The Council gives families of patients a voice and a direct line to staff to ask questions and offer feedback. It fosters families talking with families, creating opportunities to share experiences with others in similar circumstances. This is another way Baycrest supports people and brings them together. I stand in awe of our elderly and Baycrest has provided me with a rare privilege to help make life better for them.
hirty years ago, I served on a City of Toronto committee on homes for the aged and was sent as a delegate to Philadelphia to learn how they care for their elderly. There I was told that Philadelphia considered Baycrest as the model to follow.
I have a long family history with Baycrest dating back to the original home on Cecil Street, and years of experience in housing for seniors as a businessman and city councillor, so my volunteer role evolved naturally. I was on the Baycrest Board of Directors from 1992 to 2002 and my wife, Sue, and I established a family endowment fund to help keep the organizations programming vibrant. Baycrest offers a wide range of programs to help keep seniors in their own homes for as long as possible. Its a growing need that will continue to increase as our society ages. Providing the elderly with day programs, recreational activities and interesting lectures is so important to preserve their independence. For many years, Baycrest has maintained a high quality of service and is continually improving itself. Rather than sitting back on the laurels of past accomplishments, the organization is growing to meet the needs of our aging population. Of course, that requires financial commitment from Baycrests stakeholders. As a Baycrest donor, I know the Foundation is always looking for innovative fundraising models to garner support for Baycrest and, time and again, the Jewish community rallies when there is a need. So many people reach out to Baycrest and it is up to us to help Baycrest answer their call.
Al Gilbert
hen I was 13, my father took me to the original Baycrest site on Cecil Street in downtown Toronto to have my Bar Mitzvah. That was more than 75 years ago. Then, when my son, Michael, turned 13, we had his Bar Mitzvah at Baycrests current location on Bathurst Street. The luncheon cost $1 a person! Its quite unique to have had two generations of a family bar mitzvahed at Baycrest like we have. Now Im 89 years old and have enjoyed a wonderful and successful career as a professional photographer. I have photographed every Israeli president dating back to Ben Gurion and Golda Meir. Im very proud to have been recognized for my work with an Order of Canada and many other awards.
Joe Goldenberg Morris Goldenberg
oe Goldenberg arrived at Baycrest in 1977 and became an integral part of the former Central Intake Department. Under the direction of Walter Lyons, Joe and his social work colleagues supported new applicants and helped them and their families adjust to life at Baycrest.
1914 - 2004
Joe was known for his detailed and comprehensive intake reports that focused on each persons medical history and care needs. More importantly, Joe was famous for portraying the character and narratives behind each of his clients stories. He did so with humour, compassion and insight, ensuring staff were fully aware of the personal history, accomplishments, trials and tribulations of each of his clients. These unique interviews took place in Yiddish and English and resulted in many lasting friendships with residents and their families. As a social worker at the Baycrest Terrace, Joe initiated his famous Politics Group a short lecture followed by questions and answers on current events. Monday afternoons at the Terrace became sacred time and a core group of almost 70 residents cleared their calendar for Joes Politics. It became such an institution at Baycrest, that after Joe retired in 1998, he still maintained the group for many years. In all that he did at Baycrest, from individual and family counselling, to his unique approach to group work, Joe combined the social work roles of advocacy, casework and social justice, and was a crucial contributor to making Baycrest not just a facility, but a Home.
orris Goldenberg was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1914. When he was six years old, he immigrated to Toronto with his parents and two siblings. A bright student, he was forced by the Depression to leave school and get a job to help support his family. With his intelligence and drive, Morris went on to become a successful businessman and insurance executive. In 1970, his company honoured him as Canadian Man of the Year. He was also a dynamic community leader, serving as President of the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue for two terms over several years.
Through the years, Baycrest has always remained close to my heart. I have had the privilege to take the official portraits of every Baycrest president for the past 50 years. I have also donated several photo installations to Baycrest including an exhibit of one hundred 16-by-20-inch portraits showcasing Jewish athletes, politicians and Jewish community life in Toronto, which hang in the Posluns Auditorium. An installation in the Wagman Centre consists of 30 photos featuring a young woman, Lauren Sherman, as she grows up. In 2004, my wife, Gail, and I, along with my brother, Jack, and the Sherman Family, established an endowment fund at Baycrest in honour of our family. Adding quality to the life of seniors is very important to us so the fund is used to bring the Smile Theatre Company to the Terraces of Baycrest a few times a year to entertain the residents. Ive always believed in Baycrest and I hope that my contributions will have a lasting effect on this wonderful organization for generations to come.
A devoted brother to his sister, Jenny Frankel, Morris witnessed her long, courageous battle with Alzheimers disease. My Aunt Jenny was a terrific woman, very outgoing, recalls Morriss eldest son, Sydney. With the help of her husband, Harold, and her children, she stayed sociable, but it was often a great effort. This had an impact on my dad. He wanted to do what he could to help seniors at risk of the disease. Before he passed away in 2004, Morris made a significant bequest to Baycrest in his will. He was particularly interested in programs and research related to Alzheimers and chose to support Baycrests work in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that is often a precursor to Alzheimers. The Morris Goldenberg Medical Research Endowment Fund supports a Baycrest neuropsychologist position in MCI, which has led to clinical advancements and applied research that is helping delay memory decline in people with MCI.
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Laurence Goldstein
Molline Green
have a long family history of involvement with Baycrest. My father, David, was a Foundation Board Chair and my uncle, Edwin, was a President of Baycrest Centre, so early on in my life, I was instilled with an awareness and recognition of the importance of Baycrest in the Jewish community.
see myself as a late bloomer whose personal goals just took a bit longer to achieve. I ran my first marathon when I turned 40, earned my MBA at 50, and went on an adventure trip with my son to climb Machu Picchu in Peru when I turned 60. My eclectic career spans teaching, publishing, investor relations and marketing. My newest status as Bubbie Mo to my adored granddaughter, Samantha, is my best career move to date.
Initially, I got involved with Baycrest through the golf tournament and after a couple of years, I chaired the committee. I was then asked to join the Foundation Board, on which I continue to serve. The Board has been a great learning experience for me and Ive had the opportunity to participate in the evolution of Baycrest. Its very gratifying and Im proud to play a role in Baycrests growth. In the last few years, I have co-chaired the Aces for Alzheimers tennis tournament. Its always exciting when you start something new from scratch. Weve been lucky to have good people at Baycrest to work with, as well as great sponsors and an excellent host and partner, Mayfair Clubs. Were very excited about the events future and we think it will have long-term appeal. The beauty of event planning is that it is an opportunity to turn a lot of people into fundraisers. Baycrest events also give participants a venue to learn and understand what the Baycrest organization is all about. I have come to clearly understand why Baycrest is a special place. The centre has all aspects of health care for seniors, from outpatient care and research, to the hospital and home for the aged; its a true continuum of care. This is really quite unique. Baycrest is a place and an organization of which the whole Jewish community can be proud.
My late mother, Blanche Wolbrom, was a most loving person who gave unselfishly to her family, friends and community. When she passed away in 1998, my father endowed a wing in the new Apotex Centre in her memory. Continuing that tradition, my sisters and I established the Blanche Wolbrom Endowment Fund and support the Meals on Wheels program at Baycrest because of our mothers years of volunteering there. I was honoured to sit on the Baycrest Foundation Boards Executive Committee until 2003 and co-chaired the Annual Campaign with Michael Levy for two consecutive years. I support many Baycrest initiatives including membership in the Women of Baycrest and the annual Barrie to Baycrest 100-kilometre bike ride. I was recently honoured with the 2011 Sam Ruth Award for my overall commitment to Baycrest. Its been extremely gratifying to watch Baycrests profile grow to international prominence. I believe the Foundation is an important driver of this success. Each time I attend a Board meeting, Im motivated by the vision and creativity of the Foundation leadership and am so proud knowing that Ive made some contribution to this wonderful organization.
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Mimi Greenspoon
y association with Baycrest began 22 years ago when I was looking for a direction to channel my time and interests. Being a place where volunteers are truly valued and contribute so much, it was a perfect fit.
Mark Gryfe
hen Sam Ruth invited me for breakfast to discuss a possible future at Baycrest in 1990, I never imagined how that would play out! Ten years later, I accepted the position of President of the Foundation and I can now honestly say that Sam was right there is only one Baycrest! Together with my dynamic Chair, Fran Sonshine, we were charged with growing the profile and the fundraising of the Old Folks Home on Bathurst Street. And for the next 10 years, together with subsequent Chairs Wilfred Posluns, Ronnie Appleby and Warren Kimel, it proved to be a decade filled with excitement, creativity and success, the likes of which few professionals get to experience. Facing tremendous financial difficulties, the Foundations collective accomplishments in weathering that storm now seem almost impossible. Giving birth to an Annual Campaign, tremendous growth in the Endowment Program, securing multi-million dollar gifts, creating Treasures of Baycrest, Breakthroughs magazine, Baycrest Boardwalk, and Women of Baycrest, all helped secure Baycrests financial stability. Of course, my greatest joy was in creating the Baycrest Pro-Am hockey tournament and Dancing With Our Stars, two wildly successful programs that introduced Baycrest to literally tens of thousands of people and opened the door to previously unknown possibilities. I can honestly say that Ive never had more fun in my life! In January 2011, I moved on to other professional pursuits but will never really leave Baycrest. I continue to support it every way I can. I owe that to Baycrest for the loving care my father, Ben, and so many others have received there over the years.
Anne Harris
I was attracted to the Womens Auxiliary because its members were actively involved in hands-on volunteerism through fundraising events and client programming. I began by assisting with, and then chairing, the annual Baycrest Gala, which was a wonderful experience. I put my leadership skills and my passion for Baycrest to work and found my niche as a member of the WA Board. I served on the Executive, Nominating and Constitution committees for 21 years, held two consecutive terms as Vice-President from 1993 to 1997, and was President from 1997 to 1999. One particular highlight during my term as Vice-President was helping create our unique Bat Mitzvah program. I was one of 12 WA members twinned with 12 residents of the Terraces to study Torah together, culminating in a heart-warming Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Some of the contributions Im most proud of were my role in helping raise $3 million for the Womens Auxiliary Wintergarden in the new Apotex Centre; co-chairing the Baycrest Spring Sale for three years; and, co-chairing the Exhibitors Committee for the Tables of Distinction fundraiser for three years. I believe one of Baycrests strengths is the involvement of its volunteers. The women of the Auxiliary were pivotal to Baycrest making tremendous strides in care, education and research and becoming a foremost authority on aging. I am now proud to be a Woman of Baycrest and a mentor who unites volunteers in pursuits worthy of their best efforts.
have both a personal and a professional association with Baycrest that began many years ago when my father-inlaw spent nine years in Baycrest Hospital, and my mother was a resident of the Jewish Home for the Aged for several years. I was a frequent visitor and feel as though I have a warm relationship with Baycrest as a result. I am a self-taught artist who has been very fortunate to have a successful career as a sculptor, so in appreciation of the wonderful care my loved ones received, my children encouraged me to create and donate a sculpture to Baycrest to say thank you. This piece is on display outside the Apotex Centre. Actually, my first major, outdoor sculpture, Passages of Life, was installed in front of the new Baycrest Hospital several years earlier in 1987, commissioned by Baycrest supporters Sydney and Florence Cooper. Over the years, the Posluns family donated several of my sculptures to Baycrest and I augmented the collection with my own gifts. My fascination with sculpture began as a child when I would accompany my father to his salvage yard. I loved the objects and shapes I saw there. They became the inspiration for my later creations. I have been featured in nearly 40 major exhibitions across North America, Europe and Asia. Many of my works can be seen in Ottawa at the Prime Ministers residence, Rideau Gate, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Stornoway. Im 83 now and still working. Im proud to have my sculptures on display around the world and at Baycrest. I want people who see them to feel good about art and life.
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Lesley Hornik
started volunteering at Baycrest in 1998. At that time, I was recently retired, widowed and an empty nester, and looking to spend my days doing something fulfilling and rewarding. My Jewish heritage and giving back to the community were important to me, so Baycrest was the perfect fit. Over the years, I have been involved in various volunteer positions. Interacting with the clients has been an incredible learning experience. While helping others, I have enriched my soul and mind. My main volunteer position is on the Palliative Care Unit in the hospital. Being there for families at the end of life is an experience like no other. One of the many memories I hold dear to my heart is of a palliative client who enjoyed the game of chess. I could play - not well I might add - and I purchased a set so that on my visits with him, we could spend an afternoon enjoying his favourite pastime. It brought not only a smile to his face, but a smile to my heart. Baycrest is a wonderful facility. Not only does it provide superb care, but it allows clients to maintain their Jewish identity. It also recognizes and respects all other faiths. During my years of volunteering, I have met wonderful people. Staff, fellow volunteers, patients and residents have all made my experience at Baycrest immensely rewarding. I have learned that in giving back to the community one becomes a better person. Volunteering at Baycrest has given me a new life while allowing me to help others. Baycrest is my second home and I hope to continue volunteering for many years to come.
Gordie Howe
Ellis Jacob
s an immigrant to Canada from India, I believe that giving back to the community is very important. Having a particularly high regard for Baycrest, I was delighted to become involved with such a world-class organization. I have been on the Baycrest Board of Directors for many years and active on several committees, including the Finance and Audit, Strategic Planning and Compensation committees. I am also quite involved with the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimers hockey tournament, which raised over $5 million in 2011. Scotiabank has been a great partner and has done an incredible job of embracing the event. I would love to see this become a crossCanada event and believe that it has the potential to raise $10 million a year. On a personal note, my mother was at Baycrest for a number of years and was well taken care of by great doctors and excellent nurses. She was a big movie lover and in her memory, we would like to build a theatre for Baycrest residents. The theatre is something that would really enrich the lives of residents at Baycrest. Overall, my involvement has been a rewarding experience. When you are busy, as I am, it is difficult to find time for causes, but given the aging population, I believe it is very important to support the work Baycrest is doing to improve brain health and aging. They have leading scientists and clinicians working on brain fitness and we have to do all that we can to ensure Baycrest accomplishes its goals.
ordie Howe is a treasure for hockey fans everywhere; a player who was among the top five goal scorers in the National Hockey League for 20 successive seasons. His ability to shoot right, left, and play any position made him one of the toughest players in hockey history.
After overcoming many early challenges poverty, childhood health problems and paralyzing shyness Gordie entered the NHL as a Detroit Red Wing player in 1946 at age 18. He scored his first NHL goal in that game, and went on to score 1,070 more during his 34-year career. Gordie was always devoted to his wife, Colleen, whom he credited with much of his success. Sadly, she was diagnosed with Picks disease a form of dementia that strikes people in mid-life and she passed away in 2009. His personal experience with dementia inspired Gordie and his family to attach their name to Baycrest by establishing the Gordie and Colleen Howe Fund for care and research in Alzheimers and related dementias. When we learned Baycrest was an international leader in aging and brain health, we knew we had found an important ally, says his son, Marty Howe. The fund is supported by Baycrests annual hockey fundraiser, the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimers, which has become the largest hockey charity tournament in Canada. Today, Gordie Howes legendary name and achievements are enshrined in 11 different Hockey Halls of Fame. He has also been honoured with the Order of Canada and received honourary degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. He has rightly earned his place among the Treasures of Baycrest.
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Helen Kuttner
Chava Kwinta
Anita Lapidus
hroughout my life Ive had the good fortune of having many wonderful people touch, guide and befriend me in a myriad of ways, never asking for anything in return. The example they set inspired me to reach out to be of service to others and support important causes and institutions, like Baycrest. I first came to Baycrest at the invitation of a new neighbour. My mother had died a few years earlier and I thought that becoming involved with an organization that cared for people who would have been my parents contemporaries would be a gratifying way to honour their memories. I joined the Baycrest Board of Directors in 1996 and served until 2004, and in 1997, I was invited to join the Foundation Board for the first of several terms. Over the years, I have served on and chaired numerous Board committees and task forces for both Baycrest and the Foundation. One of the most memorable experiences was being part of a staff and volunteer group that worked on the building of the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged. Seeing firsthand this inspired and inspiring addition to the Baycrest campus go from blue prints, to construction, to splendid completion, was unique and rewarding. Baycrest is well on its way to being a world leader in aging, geriatric care and brain health and disease; a mantle built on the efforts of nearly a century of dedicated and insightful leadership, visionary community philanthropy and strong guiding governance. It has been my privilege to be a contributor to this extraordinary organization.
n 1996, when my mother was dying on the Palliative Care Unit, 6 West, in Baycrest Hospital, the volunteers were my lifeline. Sitting with my mom, I realized that I could help others as volunteers had helped me.
I love hospitals. The environment energizes me, perhaps because of my experiences as a hospital pharmacist years ago in South Africa. After the required training sessions, I began volunteering on 6 West - my University of Life, where every day presents at least one wow moment and educational opportunity. Led by a dedicated, compassionate and experienced interdisciplinary team, this unit provides comfort and care to clients at the end of life and support for their families and friends. The 6 West team is cohesive and inclusive, with volunteers being as much a part of this extraordinary group of professionals as our housekeeper, medical and allied staff, and program and medical directors. My experiences have been profound with many inspiring moments derived from our clients sharing a wealth of wisdom, an abundance of stories and rich personal histories. With my role being primarily that of a friendly visitor, I have witnessed new friendships form in these last days of life, reconciliations take place between estranged families, the transition from fear of death to peace and acceptance, and the alleviation of physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering. With assistance from a persistent group of professional staff, I am now able to incorporate another passion of mine by introducing Therapeutic Touch to 6 West clients as a form of relaxation. Baycrest has become my home away from home, the team members are my friends and the clients and families leave wonderful, long-lasting footprints on my heart.
y early life was filled with challenges. As a girl, I grew up in the Sosnowiec Ghetto in occupied Poland. Though my father survived the Holocaust, my mother died. My sister and I were sent to a concentration camp and, after liberation, to Sweden. Eventually, I went to Israel, hoping to join the army. They didnt need any more young women, so I began helping out in a Hadassah hospital. I entered nursing school there and graduated as a registered nurse.
In Israel, I met my future husband, Mike, who had been injured in the war. We married, and in 1963, immigrated to Canada. Although I was caring for our three young daughters, I wanted to work, so I applied to Baycrest and was hired. My fluency in Yiddish, Polish, German and Hebrew was helpful. Over the years, I cared for many elderly women who had lost their children in the war and thus had no visitors on Mothers Day. So I organized an annual party for them with little gifts and a cake. I would say to each one: Today, I am your daughter. I was a Baycrest nurse for 20 years until my retirement in 1992. What touched me was the care and attention given to the patients, which is so in keeping with our Jewish culture. My experiences as a Holocaust survivor never left me. I wrote about them in a memoir entitled, Im Still Living, published in 1974. Im now in my 80s and still live in the home I shared with my late husband. Today when I go to Baycrest, I hardly recognize the place its grown so much! But I remember my years there fondly and feel proud of helping to care for and honour that special generation of elders.
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Maxwell Leroy
1914 - 2010
n accountant by training and the founder of a nursing home in Whitby, Ontario, Maxwell Leroy worked hard to achieve his success. Along with his wife, Ruth, who was an avid volunteer in the Toronto Jewish community, Maxwell wanted to share the fruits of his labour with those in need. In 2002, the couple established the Maxwell and Ruth Leroy Foundation to support organizations with a focus on health care issues and children in need, including Mount Sinai Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Parkinsons Society, The Hospital for Sick Children and Naamat Canada. A supporter of the Baycrest Annual Campaign, which funds areas of greatest need, Maxwell was anxious to help when he learned about Baycrests urgent need for new kitchen equipment in 2008. His generous gift enabled Baycrest to purchase blast chillers which flash freeze patient meals that are later heated on the hospital units. Although he passed away from prostate cancer in 2010 at age 93, Maxwell is still giving to Baycrest through his foundation. His daughter, Candace Lewis, who is a director of the Maxwell and Ruth Leroy Foundation, made another significant gift to Baycrest to fund a new food delivery system for Baycrest Hospital in 2011. The original equipment was old and beyond repair, says Candace. This new system keeps hot food hot and cold food cold for the patients. Thats something that would be very important to my father. He liked to know that his gifts were going to a specific purpose that would benefit others. Baycrest was important to my parents, and Im happy to keep supporting this wonderful organization, she adds. Thats what they would have wanted.
Polly Levi
Saul & Fela Lichtblau
t has been an honour and a privilege to be part of the Baycrest volunteer family. I owe my volunteer life at Baycrest to my daughter, Gilda Goodman-Helman. She is a former Baycrest Womens Auxiliary President and was honoured as a Baycrest Treasure in 2008 for her years of service. Gilda encouraged me to join the Womens Auxiliary in 1995 and run a Friday afternoon bingo fundraiser they sponsored in Scarborough. I had always been an active person, but had never volunteered before. This seemed like a worthwhile program so I took it on. I quickly learned what to do and made good friends with the other people who organized the bingo and volunteered as runners. It became part of my weekly routine and something I looked forward to and enjoyed for 14 years. During that time, we raised $50,000 a year for Baycrest. As a member of the Womens Auxiliary Board, it was a pleasure to be part of the many fundraising events such as the Spring Sale, which I looked forward to helping at each year, and informative programs on womens health issues, where we socialized and met new people. I was very touched when my family honoured me by establishing the Polly Levi Volunteer Recognition Award at Baycrest. Baycrest is a special and wonderful place and has become an important part of the Toronto Jewish community. I hope it continues its good works for many years. I am happy to have been a part of such a world-class institution.
met my husband, Saul, after we both immigrated to Canada following the war. Each of us endured many hardships in Europe. As a boy, Saul was forced to labour in a Soviet work camp. I was saved from a terrible fate thanks to a Polish family who raised me until the war was over.
Although our early years in Canada were challenging, Saul eventually found his niche in exporting and manufacturing, and we had three wonderful children. In 1984, Saul suffered a heart attack and was treated at the Toronto General Hospital. He attributed his speedy recovery to the nurses who looked after him. We both felt that while doctors are important, nurses make the patient recover their care brings the person back to the world. What they do is so important and yet so often overlooked. For that reason, we made it our mission to support nursing education. We always felt that if you find success, its important to share it with the community. So when we celebrated our silver wedding anniversary, we decided to set up an annual nursing scholarship at Baycrest, asking family and friends to make donations instead of giving us gifts. The Fela and Saul Lichtblau Excellence in Caring and Leadership Award was established in 1987 the first award for nursing education at Baycrest. Ten years later, Saul passed away. I am happy that he lived long enough to see the award given to so many deserving Baycrest nurses. As of 2011, 87 nurses have received the award and used it to further their nursing education. Its been very rewarding for our family to see them realize their potential for greater professional achievement and to know that we have helped.
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Margaret MacAdam Vivienne Marcus
came to Baycrest in 1992 from the Health Policy Center at Brandeis University where I was leading research projects aimed at supporting older people at home. Little did I know that my time at Baycrest as Senior Vice-President and Vice-President of Social Services would be an incredible learning experience and opportunity to develop new ideas.
1932 - 2011
Monty Mazin
One of the areas I was responsible for was developing communitybased services. For example, we managed the Elm Ridge Group Living Residence, where a small community of 14 people shared a home in a quiet neighbourhood, while benefitting from Baycrest support. The most fascinating part of Elm Ridge was how effective it was at helping people stay in the community for the rest of their lives, at far less cost than being cared for in a long-term care home. Participating in the planning and management of the life lease residence on Neptune Drive was another opportunity to test the ways various combinations of housing with services met the needs of elderly people. In addition to housing, we submitted a funding proposal to respond to the needs of the hundreds of Holocaust survivors living on the Baycrest campus. That project led to Baycrest becoming an international leader in understanding the needs of Holocaust survivors in their old age. I left Baycrest in 2001 but go back from time to time to give talks about services for the elderly, as well as to acknowledge the contributions of my Baycrest colleagues. Today, amongst other activities, I teach a course on health and aging at the University of Toronto. My experiences at Baycrest provide real life examples of issues for students. You could say that the Baycrest beat still goes on for me!
ivienne Marcus intimately understood the healing powers of art and used this knowledge to help and guide countless people throughout Baycrest. In her role as Art and Interior Design Coordinator from 1986 to 2009, Vivienne was responsible for cultivating Baycrests vast art collection. During that time, some 7,000 works of art were amassed, adorning virtually every corner of the facility.
hen Baycrest built the Reuben Cipin Healthy Living Community 10 years ago, I was told it would be ideal for me and my wife. We moved in three weeks after it opened and it has been a blessing to live there ever since. The residents have become friends and mishpocheh and I am very proud to be a part of this exciting place. Soon after moving in, we started a Residents Council and I was happy to become involved by serving as Vice-President. I have always been a person who emphasizes the importance of a team effort and that has been our strength building on the talents of each person to create a fantastic team. Countless hours have been put in and it has really paid off. As a community service volunteer a role and conviction first instilled in me by my dear, late Bubba Bessie among my greatest satisfactions was raising needed funds through my participation in the annual Baycrest Boardwalk. I went door-to-door for six years and received a 95 per cent response rate from the appreciative residents. I am also most proud of being a Baycrest Ambassador, proudly promoting at every opportunity the extraordinary work of Baycrest's dedicated leadership, talented professional staff and the thousands of untiring volunteers, who have helped to make Baycrest a global leader in health care and aging. Being close to Baycrest has been a blessing in so many ways. I will be forever thankful for the wonderful care my wife, Blema, has received from the remarkable staff at Baycrest Hospital 4 East and at the Mountainview Club.
As Vivienne once said: We are creating little neighbourhoods throughout Baycrest, all clustered around art. The paintings, photographs, textile works and sculptures not only make Baycrest beautiful, but serve as way-finding landmarks for clients, their families and staff. Collectively, Viviennes art and design contributions created a homey, vibrant and interesting environment at Baycrest which has immense therapeutic value. Although her taste was impeccable, Vivienne was open to input from everyone when it came to selecting art. Thats why she invited clients, as well as staff, to choose the artwork they preferred for their rooms and offices. While art was her passion, friends and colleagues note that the Baycrest community was Viviennes primary focus. She was drawn to the organization and it was the clients and people she worked with who were very important to her, says former Baycrest President & CEO Stephen Herbert. She wanted good things for Baycrest and played her part in seeing that realized. Vivienne's belief in the positive impact of art on peoples well-being continues to resonate at Baycrest. She has left a lasting legacy, both in the visual appeal of offices, rooms, hallways and atriums, and in the memories of her colleagues, who learned so much from her skills and wisdom.
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Anthony Melman
Lesley Miller
hile I was aware of Baycrest after I moved to Toronto from South Africa in 1977, I did not fully understand the significance of the organization or the frailty of human life until my father was a patient in Baycrest Hospital in 1995. The staff was like an army of angels. I had never seen such sensitivity, kindness, caring and respect for dignity at any other hospital or medical institution.
aycrest has always been an important place for my family, and since my professional background is in the non-profit sector and I have worked with volunteers for years, I was happy to become involved when Syrelle Bernstein, Director of Volunteer Services, asked me to help with a project. What we created was Aging Well Starts Now, a volunteerdriven series of education days about how you can age successfully. Working with an outstanding team of volunteers and staff was a great learning experience for me.
In 2007, Syrelle told me that Baycrest was developing an innovative research project to look at how volunteering may help people age better and, potentially, help protect volunteers against dementia. After receiving a grant to train leadership volunteers, the Baycrest Research About Volunteering Among Older Adults (BRAVO) project was launched. It has been an interesting and challenging undertaking for me. Its very exciting to see volunteers making this kind of contribution we really have some fantastic people giving of their time to Baycrest. Were hopeful the results of the study will be very positive and BRAVO has already been a terrific volunteer recruitment vehicle for Baycrest. Im quite enamoured with this organization. Its a fascinating place that allows creativity to bubble up and really walks the talk when it comes to volunteers. Its amazing how staff have taken to volunteers and include them in such an integral way. Now as a donor, I am even more in awe and totally amazed by how so many people are engaged with Baycrest.
I first became involved at Baycrest in 1998 as a member of the Audit and Finance Committee and joined the Board of Directors two years later. My career as a Managing Director of Onex Corp. was my primary focus, but after I retired, the timing was right to take on a leadership role as Chair of the Baycrest Board in 2007. Looking back at my fathers situation, I knew something transformative had to be done to really contribute to quality of life and care of our aging population. I became possessed with a vision to transform Baycrest into a global leader in its field. To do that, we have to conduct more scientific and clinical research, get more government funding to support innovations in care, and commercialize our know-how to create the revenue needed to keep investing in Baycrests core competencies. Alzheimers, dementia and age-related illnesses destroy lives. Baycrest has the capacity to improve lives. I know the importance of keeping your body fit and stimulating your mind to stay brain healthy as we age. It is something I put into practice every day. With the love and support of my wonderful family, I plan to continue pushing my own limits and helping Baycrest work to its potential to make a lasting contribution to people around the world.
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Harley Mintz
Karen Morton
hen my cousin Ronnie Appleby, who was becoming Chair of the Baycrest Foundation Board, asked me to get involved with Baycrest in 2004, I thought it would be a wonderful thing to do. I knew Baycrest was a world-renowned organization and very important to my late mother, Faye, who was honoured as a Treasure of Baycrest for 40 years of volunteer service.
ne of the secrets of successful aging, beyond a positive outlook, is the opportunity to flourish in a community where people take an interest in the well-being of one another. I feel strongly that we must care for our community, and that the quality of that care must be superb. The excellence of Baycrest in these areas attracted me and inspired my volunteer history there. A wise sage once said: Humans are like letters in an alphabet; to produce a word, they must combine with others. For the lives of the elderly to have meaning, there must be encounter and involvement. That is the reason that I served on the Baycrest Board of Directors from 1992 to 2003 and focused my time and energy on improving client care. I was a member of the Program and Quality Committee for 10 years and also chaired the Advisory Committee for Baycrest Day Care Services for Seniors. The Day Care program had an outstanding professional team, assisted by volunteers who truly cared about, and respected, each and every participant. Through my volunteer work, I saw what good hands-on care looks like, and the impact it has on a persons quality of life. I know how important research is to the future of Baycrest and to seniors in general, but we must also ensure that we continue to run a Jewish Home for the Aged that is most concerned with the welfare of its residents, their quality of care, and the preservation of their Jewish heritage. I hope that during my years of involvement at Baycrest, I was able to instill my philosophy of aging that older people are really just young people with grandmother and grandfather faces; we can all be young at heart.
Irv Nyman
One of my most interesting experiences as a Baycrest volunteer was co-chairing the inaugural Dancing With Our Stars gala in 2009. Susan Fenwick and I, together with a great team of volunteers and Baycrest professionals, put it together from scratch without knowing if it would succeed. But succeed it did. It was a spectacular night and it was immensely satisfying to help raise so much money for Baycrest. Its been exciting watching Baycrest evolve into an institution that is recognized worldwide for its excellence. People seek out Baycrest as a partner because they recognize it is the eminent organization in brain research and caring for the elderly. I saw this firsthand when, as part of Deloittes Impact Day - when 8,000 employees take off a day to volunteer I spent time at Villa Colombos home for the aged. While there, I had the pleasure of meeting the Executive Director who told me that Villa Colombo models itself after Baycrest. He said when Villa Colombo first opened, Baycrests former CEO and Foundation President Sam Ruth freely provided advice and guidance, and Villa Colombo is forever grateful. Hearing this made me proud to be associated with Baycrest and part of Torontos amazing Jewish community.
t was my pleasure to have been the VicePresident of Finance for Baycrest from 1990 to 1996. For me, it was a very rewarding time because I was able to put my energy and expertise to good use, managing the institutions financial affairs. Plus, it was an opportunity to work closely with a great team of dedicated professionals. There were many financial challenges in those years, as there are today. With management, staff and Board support, we were able to address many pressing concerns and make the best use of available financial resources. It was a culture of dedication and teamwork, always focused on the optimal ways to carry out the mission of Baycrest and do the best at all times for our clients. Baycrest is well-known for the empathy shown in its delivery of care to the elderly. It enjoys an international reputation for quality of care of the elderly, and for related research. My experience was that compassion and commitment ran right through the organization. I was happy to have been able to play a meaningful part in this exemplary institution.
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Angelo Pesce
Anne Pritzker
1916 - 2010
ong before Anne Pritzker began her stellar, 22-year career at Baycrest in 1960, she had already proven herself to be a maverick. Some two-plus decades earlier, she was one of the first Jewish women to graduate from the University of Torontos physiotherapy program in 1936. She pushed the envelope again in the 1940s by working at her specialty as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. So when former Baycrest CEO Sam Ruth recruited her to join the burgeoning facility, he knew he was hiring a dynamo. Anne soon became a fixture at Baycrest. She coveted the most challenging cases and pushed the patients she worked with to get better. Similarly, she formed tight bonds with her colleagues and performed her role as Assistant Supervisor of Physiotherapy with distinction and results. For Anne, Baycrest was truly a second home. Several years after she retired, Annes relationship with Baycrest was rekindled when her sister, Lillian, suffered a stroke and went to Baycrest for rehabilitation. Prompted by Lillians wonderful experience and her own deep connection to Baycrest, Anne felt compelled to give back. She decided to set up an endowment fund to support the Wellness Library, which was renamed the Anne E. and Louis Pritzker Wellness Library in her honour and that of her late husband. A tremendous source of pride for Anne, the library is full of valuable multi-media health and wellness information for clients, families and staff. The Wellness Library embodies Annes meaningful contributions to her field and to Baycrest, and continues to shine as a tribute to her hard work, devotion and spirit of helping others.
eing the Vice-President of Human Resources at Baycrest for almost eight years was by far the best job I have ever had. On a professional level, the position allowed me to grow and achieve the things I always wanted to do, and on a personal level, the Baycrest values were so aligned with my own that it made every day exciting and fulfilling.
When I started in 1996, the goal in Human Resources was to make people the number one priority. To do that, we looked at the principles of Judaism to create a family-oriented culture at Baycrest. Im proud to say that client and family-centred focus has been sustained over the years. The focus on people is 100 per cent. If I ever wanted to encourage our President and CEO Stephen Herbert to do something, I would say, If we dont do this, things will be mediocre. When Steve heard mediocre, that was it. The pursuit of excellence for him and everyone at Baycrest was absolute. The standards set for the organization were so high and part of that was the fact that Baycrest had such a complete program, from research to care. I have never seen anything else quite so comprehensive. One of the greatest honours I remember was being asked to light a candle at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony. As a gentile who was born in Italy just before the Second World War, and is extremely interested in history, it was a real highlight for me and a touching and meaningful experience.
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Lynn Posluns
was raised to believe in giving back wherever you can, not only with financial support, but with time and energy. Since my family has a long-standing history with Baycrest, I feel its important to continue the Posluns legacy of helping Baycrest raise money and develop the resources it needs to be world-class. In 2003, I was approached by the Womens Auxiliary to become involved with the Baycrest gala and the following year, I co-chaired the event. I loved this experience because it allowed me to marry my strategic planning skills with creativity and fundraising. I joined the Baycrest Foundation Board in 2006 and continued to work with the Womens Auxiliary. Through these endeavours, we recognized that the women involved had the capacity to do more financially to support Baycrest, so we launched the Women of Baycrest. I stepped up to head this exciting initiative, which is focused on research into womens brain health and aging, as well as education and awareness. In the first year, we were hoping to raise $250,000 for the Womens Brain Health Research Fund. Were two years into it and have already raised $2 million! Now, we are launching Canadas first womens brain health conference entitled, Sex, Aging and Memory, and working on a fabulous cookbook, Mindfull, with recipes focused on enhancing brain health. For me personally, to be able to take this project and run with it is amazing. Baycrest is an important institution and it is gratifying to me to carry on a family tradition of supporting the organization and promoting its reputation as an international leader in brain health and aging.
Guy Proulx
uring my late teens, I had a summer job at a geriatric hospital in Ottawa and from that experience, I decided I wanted to study neuropsychology and aging at university. My colleagues told me that if aging was my interest, I should set my eyes on a place called Baycrest. A few years after I graduated, a job opened at Baycrest in 1986, I applied, and it was meant to be. I continued to work at Baycrest until 2009 23 glorious years. At the beginning, the new hospital had just opened and the Psychology department had a focus on neurobehavioural disorders which was unbelievable; there was no other place around with such a specialty in geriatrics. Plus, Baycrest was far ahead of its time in having a true continuum of care and strong university connections. It really changed how health care for the aging was practised. Many outstanding researchers collaborated with our department and we were able to bridge the gap between theory and application and share some of these applications with other geriatric centres. Im very proud that we were one of the first centres to conduct assessments and interventions specific to memory disorders, and to develop assessments for dementia early on in the disease process. I had the wind blowing in my sails at Baycrest. I couldnt have achieved what I did there, anywhere else. I am now teaching Psychology at York University and it is wonderful to be able to share the knowledge I gained at Baycrest with my students. The Baycrest community truly puts into practice the concept of thinking globally and acting locally, and that is what has contributed to Baycrests success all along.
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Marcia Rafelman
aycrest has always been close to my familys heart. My mother, father, aunt and uncle were all involved for many years and I remember them going to meetings from the time I was a child. When I was asked to volunteer my time and expertise as an art dealer to do appraisals for the art work donated to Baycrest, I was happy to do so. Very quietly, I did this for over 20 years. Eventually, the Chair of the Art Committee, Sheila Loftus, asked me to take over the position. She took me under her wing and I have been chairing the committee since 2006. Its been really wonderful. There is some very good fine art and the collection continues to grow and make Baycrest beautiful. Art at Baycrest makes such a positive statement for everyone, from the staff, to the people who live there, to the families who come to visit their loved ones. Vivienne Marcus, the former Art and Interior Design Coordinator, once told me that a lot of the residents were able to find their way around Baycrest only by recognizing the art. That really struck me as quite amazing. I think Baycrest is a phenomenal place and we are lucky to have it in Toronto. Its an outstanding facility for research and for helping people, and it makes life at the end a lot better for people of all denominations. We should all be proud of Baycrest and particularly the staff, who are incredible and give so much time and effort, which is extraordinary.
Sonia Reichman
1948 - 2009
onia Reichman displayed tremendous compassion, empathy and professional excellence throughout her 15 years with Baycrests Communication Disorders department from 1993 to 2008. As Director of the program, she championed client-centred care, ensuring the voice of each client was heard and their needs fulfilled. Likewise, Sonia was acutely in tune with the needs of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology staff, all of whom greatly respected her and felt empowered by her leadership. Her long list of accomplishments at Baycrest was integral to the organizations ability to offer quality services to seniors. To name just a few, Sonia led the successful accreditation of Adaptive Communication Services, initiated the annual Speech-Language Pathology conference and contributed to the creation of services in the Brain Health Centre Clinics. She was also committed to the advancement of her field. Sonia was a founding Board member of the Ontario arm of the International Dyslexia Association and spearheaded the establishment of a province-wide Aphasia Interest Group. She lectured in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto and collaborated on aphasia research. A firm believer in the integration of care, research and education, Sonia incorporated evidence-based practices into Baycrest programs and services and supported staff in their professional growth and relationships with the Rotman Research Institute, the Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit and the University of Toronto. Baycrest was immensely important to Sonia, as she was to the organization. In her own words: I value the opportunity to contribute to the care of elders, to the advancement and integration of swallowing and communication services with education and research, and to client-centred care. I feel privileged to be able to do this at Baycrest a truly caring organization with colleagues from whom I continue to learn daily.
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Jeffery Ross & Diane Mavrinac-Ross
Larry Saltsman
f you are raised by parents who are involved in community service, its only natural that you learn from their example. My mother, Marian Saltsman, has been volunteering at Baycrest since I was a young boy and even today, as an 84-year-old great-grandmother, she is still an active volunteer. So Im really following in her footsteps through my involvement with Baycrest. It started 16 years ago when my wife, Michelle Lavine, and I were on a bike trip in France. By coincidence, we met Stan Feldman and his wife, Susan, who have a long association with Baycrest. We became friendly and that summer decided to ride 250 kilometres from Muskoka to Toronto, and on a whim, raise money for Baycrest at the same time. The next year, we agreed to make this a bigger event. We called on our friends who enjoyed cycling and had the ability to raise money for a great cause. That was the beginning of what is now known as the Barrie to Baycrest (B2B) ride. To date, we have raised $9.3 million! Its so rewarding for all the riders to see the numbers grow and to know they are impacting peoples lives. Its especially meaningful for me that my mother continues to make sandwiches for the riders each year and is always there rooting for us at the finish line. Baycrest is a wonderful organization and one that my family and I are proud to support.
ur familys support of Baycrest spans four generations, which is really a wonderful source of pride for us. Jeffs mother, Ida, was a long-time Womens Auxiliary member. Jeffs father, Sam, served on the Board for many years, including being invited to oversee the building of the Terrace and Wagman Centre. For his work, he received the Baycrest Mens Service Group Man of the Year Award in 1976. Carrying on from them, we have continued to be involved with Baycrest. Jeff has served as a Foundation Board member for many years and Diane, as well as our daughters, Katherine and Sara Ann, are founding members of the Women of Baycrest. Both Katherine and Sara Ann have also been active Baycrest volunteers.
Like many families, you only really become aware of a disease or health issue when a loved one is diagnosed. In our case, Jeffs father was diagnosed with Alzheimers and the challenges we confronted led us to want to assist other people in a similar situation. Together with his mother, Jeff initiated the significant donation that led to the creation of the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic in 2004. Today, it is an innovative outpatient facility where scientists and clinicians work side-by-side to better understand the care, management and prevention of Alzheimers disease and related memory disorders. Recently, we made a generous donation to the Assistive Technology Clinic for people with neurodegenerative diseases. This donation will fund the further development of the clinics innovative services and strengthen its collaborative efforts at Baycrest. In all that we do to support Baycrest, we always remember its original roots as a special place that cares for the aged and we appreciate what it means to the Jewish community.
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Stuart Schipper
Irma Singer
1921 - 2010
hroughout her life, Irma Singer strived to make others happy. As Chair of the Apotex Centre Residents Council from 2006 to 2009, she knew the importance of ensuring that the voices of all residents are heard. Jenny and Michael Singer describe their late mother with enormous respect and great affection. She was a working lady, Michael says, busy, independent, outgoing, and happiest when she was surrounded by people. At Baycrest, she found a natural outlet for those qualities and ample opportunity to help others. She was so happy there, Jenny recalls. It was a wonderful way for her to fulfil her goal in life making people feel happy and at home. She loved Baycrest. Irma began volunteering with Baycrests Therapeutic Recreation program in the late 1980s, playing cards, running bingo and baking for the residents. During that time, she met the love of her life, Marcus Goldberg. He was also a volunteer and, later, a resident, and they were inseparable, says Jenny. To be near him, Irma applied for a room in the Apotex Centre. The day before she moved in, she called Michael to tell him. Her children were surprised by the sudden news of an available room, but not by Irmas eagerness to pack her bags. She enjoyed a certain celebrity there; she knew everyone and everyone knew her, Jenny explains. Irma was always positive and supportive in every way, from doing media interviews, to meeting with politicians and taking part in fundraising events like the Baycrest Boardwalk, recalls Nancy Webb, Baycrest Vice-President of Strategic Advancement & Stakeholder Relations. As Council Chair, she was an effective bridge between residents and management, always working to make things better for everyone.
Gerald Slan
cant remember a time when I didnt know about Baycrest and its importance to the community. Growing up, I watched my father, Lionel, and my uncle, Norman, devote their time, energy and financial support. Both now serve as Honourary Board Directors.
My own involvement started in my early 30s. At the time, both my grandfather and my wifes grandmother were Baycrest clients, and I was able to understand how important Baycrests care was for their health and happiness. A friend asked if Id like to join a Leadership Development Group event committee. Though this group no longer exists, it was a great way to get involved in projects supporting care, education and research at Baycrest. Since then, my wife, Jayne, and I have been proud Baycrest supporters. I was honoured when, in 2001, my friend, Geoff Matus, asked if Id be interested in sitting on the Board of Directors. I accepted and have remained on the Board for the past decade. But I dont just sit! For the past six years Ive taken part in the 100-kilometre Barrie to Baycrest bike ride which has raised millions of dollars to support fitness, health and recreation programs for seniors. Its a great event. Contributing to Baycrest has been rewarding on many levels. Having the chance to work with the exceptionally talented, committed community leaders and management teams has been extraordinary. And ultimately, helping to sustain the standard that Baycrest has set for tending to the needs of the elderly has meant a lot to me. Its exciting to think about how much more we can still accomplish.
first became involved with Baycrest in 1992 when the Foundation Board Chair, David Goldstein, asked me to take a seat on the Board and chair a committee responsible for encouraging families of residents to donate to Baycrest. It was a wonderful committee and I learned a lot about Baycrest. Later, I got involved in starting the Annual Campaign, helping with strategizing and fundraising. It was a campaign that was desperately needed and I was thrilled to be part of its launch in 2001. To see the Annual Campaign grow into a multi-million dollar effort is amazing and very gratifying. Im a supporter of many fundraising activities at Baycrest and have established two endowment funds, as well as naming Baycrest in my will. I have encouraged my children to become involved with Baycrest and am proud to say that my son is on the Foundation Board, my son-in-law is a very active fundraiser, and both my daughter and daughterin-law participate in fundraising. I have seen firsthand the quality of work at Baycrest and it is extraordinarily impressive. It is extremely well run and the most caring people work and volunteer there. Baycrest is also successful at being multi-generational. For instance, in 1980, my father and his three brothers dedicated a multifaith prayer and meditation room for patients and residents. Last year, my three brothers and I funded a full renovation of the room and attended a re-dedication with our children and grandchildren. It was very meaningful for me to have three generations of our family involved at Baycrest in this way.
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Freda Slotnick
1918 - 2010
reda Slotnick joined the volunteer family at Baycrest when her late husband, Lou, attended its Day Centre for Seniors three days a week, beginning in 1984. She accompanied him and was soon volunteering with the Womens Auxiliary, Mens Service Group, Foundation, Volunteer Office, Beauty Salon and, finally, the Seniors Support Program. In fact, Freda was one of the original volunteers when the program started in 1997. Tuesdays became her Seniors Support days, phoning older adults in the community who needed a friendly and compassionate ear. Fredas facility with Yiddish enabled her to reach out to those who didnt speak English. She always looked forward to talking with her clients, as well as meeting them at the annual Tea. When she took vacations, she made her calls from wherever she was, not wanting to miss connecting with the people whose lives she had touched. Freda enjoyed meeting the people she worked with and her volunteer time at Baycrest was a source of pride. When health problems prevented her from physically being at Baycrest, she made the calls from home. In the summer of 2009, Freda entered hospital. On Tuesdays, she would ask if someone was making her phone calls for her. Fredas clients were saddened when they no longer heard from her as they felt equally connected to her and always looked forward to hearing her friendly voice. Fredas years as a Baycrest volunteer were very dear to her heart as she felt that doing for others was an integral part of her life.
Lewis & Charlotte Steinberg
ur involvement with Baycrest began in the early 1980s, after we moved to Toronto from Montreal. Lewis wanted to get involved in community work and felt that Baycrest was the kind of organization he would like to be part of. His background in the family businesses, Steinbergs and Miracle Food Mart, led him to accept a position on the Food Committee, which he later chaired, and on the Baycrest Foundation Board of Directors. As we became more familiar with Baycrest, we wanted to make a meaningful gift and chose to support the Audiology Community Service, which provided assessments and equipment to hearing-impaired seniors in their homes. When Charlottes mother moved to the Terraces of Baycrest, we had a chance to see for ourselves the wonderful care that Baycrest offers. Even though she couldnt hear well and was almost blind, she went to lectures and took pottery classes. Charlotte visited her six days a week, and when she couldnt be there, our daughters or grandchildren took turns going to see her. She had a very nice life there. A few years ago, rather than making a number of small donations to different organizations, we decided to make major gifts that would have an impact on peoples lives. We started with North York General, our local hospital, where we endowed the emergency department and purchased three digital mammography machines, among other gifts. Then it was Baycrests turn. The government wanted Baycrest to offer a slower paced rehabilitation program for seniors and we were drawn to the urgency of the need. We met with staff and in 2010, decided to endow the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Slow Stream Rehabilitation Unit in Baycrest Hospital. We are very impressed with what is being accomplished and intend to visit at least once a year to see how the unit is progressing and how else we may be of help.
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Ronnie & Perry Steiner

ow could we say no? When Leonard Waldman approached us back in 2004 to join him in co-chairing Baycrests annual charity golf tournament, we were honoured and immediately accepted. Our combined goals were to help this tournament raise significantly more money than prior years and create a truly unique event showcasing Baycrest. This new format had never been attempted before, where every golfer would become a Baycrest fundraiser. The format, which has since been adapted for other successful Baycrest fundraising initiatives, limited the number of golfers to 72, with each golfer playing their own ball, getting away from the standard 144 player shotgun. This event was created for the true golfer with the venues to match. Another key to our success is that we host the tournament at the most exclusive golf courses in Ontario each year. In our first year, the Baycrest Strokes Fore Stroke Golf Classic raised $220,000 more than double the proceeds of the previous year. Seven years later, the tournament has raised over $2.5 million, capped off by the 2011 event, which raised $410,000, hosted at the prestigious St. Georges Golf and Country Club, home of the 2010 Canadian Open. It has been a privilege to work alongside past and current committee members and like-minded golf enthusiasts who have given of their time, contacts and resources to assist and promote the research, education and innovation at Baycrest. Baycrest is a vital and valuable resource for the community and one we are proud to support. We believe it is important to give back to the community and through our charitable efforts we hope to be inspirational role models for our children. It is rewarding to know that we have helped create a unique experience while raising much-needed funding for stroke research and care at Baycrest.
Donald Stuss
he first three times I was asked to join Baycrest, I actually declined. I had a very good position as a professor of Neurology and Psychology at the University of Ottawa. There was little research going on at Baycrest, so I didnt want to leave. What changed my mind was speaking with Joseph Rotman who said, If you come, I can guarantee you will have the opportunity to do what has never been done before. Thats exactly what happened!
I began as the Founding Director of the Rotman Research Institute in 1989. With enormous support from the community, the Board, and CEO Stephen Herbert, and outstanding mentorship from Dr. Lou Siminovitch, we pursued a philosophy of hiring only the best people so we could engage in research that makes the best clinical impact. Eventually, this construct of excellence evolved and we built a brain function research institute of the highest level. I was also Vice-President of Research which allowed me to have an overarching view of our research model. This helped ensure that the most basic science was interactive with clients and that clinicians and applied researchers worked together as much as possible. One highlight that was particularly touching for me was when Baycrest was selected to be part of the University of Toronto Tanenbaum Chair Program. Sam Ruth, the former CEO, had tears in his eyes and told me how proud he was to see Baycrest achieve this remarkable milestone. I dont believe I could have done what I did at Baycrest, anywhere else. It is an organization that always takes chances and proves you can have phenomenal science, while still having a soul and a direction towards meaningfulness for clients and their families. I stopped my administrative roles in 2009, but I am still a Rotman scientist a position I am very proud to hold.
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Lawrence M. Tanenbaum, O.C.
Anna VanDelman
y late parents, Anne and Max, were early supporters of Baycrest when it was the original Jewish Old Folks Home, operating in several small houses on Cecil Street. My mother volunteered there, teaching English to elderly immigrant women. Many years later, I was proud to watch as our company, Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited (KVN), poured concrete for the foundations of what was to become the new Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. My mothers commitment to senior care eventually led to the establishment of the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest and the University of Toronto. Since her death in 2008, our family has continued to support the Chair which has attracted world-class scientists to Baycrests Rotman Research Institute.
or more than 30 years, I have been an advocate of quality programming for seniors living at home, and respite for their families. My motivation is a former Baycrest motto, adding life to years, and thats exactly what I have tried to do for the countless elderly people I have met in my professional social work career.
In 1977, I joined the staff of Baycrests Day Care Services for Seniors. I loved knowing that members were transported to and from their homes, served lunch and dinner, and involved in interesting activities. All the while, their families were given precious respite time. Many participants were on a waiting list for the home for the aged, but the day program eased that need. It was always thrilling for me to witness the personal transitions experienced by Day Care members. I watched new members arrive in various stages of depression, and evolve into active participants, speaking on behalf of philanthropic causes or performing in our travelling, intergenerational drama group. The Day Cares success was best summed up by one of our members who said, One standing ovation is better than 10 years of therapy. I take pride in my insistence that the new Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged feature a showcase at the entrance to each residents room to display personal photographs and keepsakes. This enables everyone who walks by to get a sense of who the person was at earlier stages of his or her life. Since retiring, I have continued my Baycrest connection by volunteering in the Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum. I treasure my years at Baycrest and see this amazing community as a role model in geriatric care and research for the world.
My wife, Judy, and I strive to exemplify the values of "tzedakah" which our parents instilled in us. This Hebrew word refers to acts of "charity." Tzedakah is not supposed to be seen as a magnanimous act, but rather an act that is right. Writing a cheque is easy. Giving ones time and energy is harder. Ive always tried to answer Baycrests call whenever Ive been approached for help. For seven years I sat on the Board of Directors and today act as an Honourary Director of this extraordinary institution. Baycrests growth as a leader in care, education and research related to aging and brain health has been astonishing. And I believe it will continue moving forward, expanding its base and sharing its expertise with the world. I am proud to think that our family has played a role in this achievement.
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Joe Volpe
Joel Walker
uring my internship for medical school in 1970, I did one of my rotations at Baycrest and really loved it. I found the people were wonderful to be with, so I requested a second rotation and enjoyed it once again. Years later, in the early 1980s, I decided to go back to Baycrest as a volunteer. Together with my friend, photographer Michael Gilbert, and Baycrests Pat Cohen, we started up a group teaching photography to the residents. We began with about 15 people, with an average age of 87. Other people heard about the group and it grew. We would give them assignments to do, like taking self-portraits, and we met every Thursday. This continued for three years. Photography built up their confidence and self-esteem. It became a type of therapy for them. For example, there was one woman who was 90, in a wheelchair and feeling miserable. Through photography, she captured the many different sides of aging. She found the humour in it and a whole new way of expressing herself. We put on an exhibit of the groups photographs at Toronto City Hall entitled, Young Photographers, and they won second prize! Later, I told them they had become my friends and now I wanted to take pictures of them. I donated these portraits to Baycrest where they are still on display in the education classrooms and often used by staff in presentations. My experience has taught me that age is only a number. More importantly, it confirmed what I discovered when I was an intern; that the elderly have so much to give and are capable of much more than we might think.
or close to a quarter century, from 1988 to 2011, I had the privilege to serve the constituents of Eglinton-Lawrence as their Member of Parliament. My association with Baycrest throughout that time is a highlight of my career. Principally, my role was to facilitate access to the political process and to support collaboration between Baycrest and those government services that could be of benefit. Working together with staff, Board members, volunteers, and clients, I am proud to have played a part in transforming Baycrest into what it is today.
Thanks to the wisdom of its stakeholders, Baycrest has grown from a home for the aged to a multi-faceted care facility and a centre for research, science, and the dynamic manufacture of ideas. The changes I have seen have been profound and visionary. People today are living longer and experiencing a broad range of illnesses and Baycrest is in a position to respond to their needs. Those who live, work, and volunteer there have benefitted from the experience that is Baycrest. Its physical structure is inspiring. Its staff is dedicated and sensitive to client dignity. Baycrest has gone from being a Jewish centre to a more broadly-based, community-oriented facility, with an ambience that is unlike any traditional hospital. In doing so, Baycrest has changed life for the elderly, giving residents the ability to focus on living rather than waiting for that last day. Its a vibrant environment and every time I have the pleasure to visit, I walk away feeling good and I am most grateful.
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Bea Wortsman
Gwen Yacht
hen I retired from working full-time as a medical secretary, I seemed to have a lot of time on my hands. So when I was asked if I could help out at the Baycrest Foundation to alleviate some of the work overload, I was only too happy to try. That was some l0 to l5 years ago and I have been at Baycrest ever since. The work consisted of stuffing envelopes, filing, and other jobs that the staff needed help with a couple of times a week for a few hours. One day, my friend, Bea Young, asked if I would volunteer with her at the Apotex Centre reception desk on Tuesday mornings. I accepted and for many years, we were known as the two Beas.
y relationship with Baycrest began in 1990 when I was invited to collaborate on a utilization project that endeavoured to look at how to save resources, while still providing excellent care. Later, Baycrest recruited me.
Over the course of the next 18 years I held many diverse roles, including Director of Quality, Risk and Utilization, Director of Health Records, Admissions and Accreditation, and Privacy Officer. Although I had many titles, Im a social worker at heart and what Im most proud of is always putting the care of patients and residents first. There were many highlights over the years. Coordinating the client satisfaction surveys provided an excellent opportunity to listen to what patients were saying and address their issues. Accreditation allowed us to raise the bar for quality and safety and galvanize staff to really put what they were taught into practice. The Research Ethics Committee was a fantastic experience, supporting the work of brilliant scientists in understanding how to help patients and families. I worked with some of the most talented, committed and caring people in my time at Baycrest. I saw how volunteerism is more recognized and exciting than at any other organization, how much research continually contributes to improving services, and how vital the Foundation is for Baycrest. You work harder at Baycrest than at almost any other health care organization because you are constantly growing and striving to achieve more, and because you are committed to your clients and colleagues. It really is an incredible place.
I also worked in the Gift Shop for a few years every Friday morning, but I found that a little slow moving, so when I was approached to help out at the Shalom Program, I was delighted to join the group. I like interacting with the hospital patients and working with the other volunteers. The program provides a very pleasant break for the patients; a change of scene with music, candle lighting, kiddush to welcome in Shabbat, and refreshments. It reminds them of the traditions they followed in their own homes. I find I get so much satisfaction working at this program that I'm sure it does as much for me as it does for our guests. I would really encourage others to become involved with volunteering. It is most rewarding and worthwhile. We are very fortunate to have Baycrest in our community. As long as it is here, the Jewish community will know there is a place to call our own with people we can turn to in times where we might need help.
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Our Past Honourees

2008 Honourees
Susan Adams Harvey Adelman Clare Adie Anna Aptheker Pamela Austin Annette Bearg Stan Bernstein Irving Boigon Breda Chug Florence Cooper Paula David Bernard Dickens John Dirks Marcia Dodick Jacqueline (Jackie) Singer Edelson Esther Fairbloom Goldie Feldman Leo Fine Pat Friedland Rachamim Friedman Ernie & Lori Gershon Sam Gertner Nathan Gold Judith Goldberger Phyl Goldner Michael Gordon Joseph Gottdenker Philip & Shirley Granovsky Slova Greenberg Moshe Greengarten George Grossman Judy Gwartz Gilda Goodman Helman Stephen W. Herbert Warren & Debbie Kimel Rhoda Kopstein Reuben & Sybil Kunin Joyce Lagunoff David (Sonny) Langer Max Lappin Harold Martin Mark Napier Dorothy Newman Mike Pelyk Terry Picton Harry Pike Abe Posluns Wilfred Posluns Dorothy (Dot) Pringle Marty Richman Sam Ruth Estherelke Sager Bertha Savlov Bennett Solway Ed Sonshine Sol & Tauba Spiro Rose Szereszewski Debby Vigoda Leonard (Lenny) Waldman Bernard & Belle Weinstein Ben & Faye Winbaum Irving & Sylvia Wortsman Denise Zarn Dina Zbar
2006 Honourees
Ida Abrams Joseph Atkinson Jack Baker Jordan & Faith Banks Anne Birt Frances Blugerman David Brown Orah Buck Stephen Cole Margaret Daniels Harvey Dobbs Tom & Karen Ehrlich Leona Finkler Phyllis Flatt Morris Frankfort Anne Gans Max & Gianna Glassman Paul Godfrey Wolfe & Tillie Goldberg Milton & Jean Goldstein Joseph Gottdenker Al J. Green Alex E. Grossman Al Hertz Morris & Sally Justein Morris Kaufman Daniel E. Kert Murray & Lila Kirsh Mel Lastman Sidney Lax Murray & Adrienne Levinter Michael S. Levy Irwin Lightman Fran Mann Helen Marr Geoffrey Matus Miriam Minkowski Faye Mintz Florence R. Minz Nicholas & Hedy Munk Nancy Posluns Winnie Posner Gerald Ray Irving Rife Gerald Ross Steve Rudin Sam Ruth Ben Sadowski Marvin & Ruth Sadowski Saul & Rae Saltzman Graham Scott Sidney Seligman Bernard Shapiro Lorraine Sherkin Hy & Bertha Shore Coleman Solursh Lou Stillman Martin Storm Miklos & Gabriella Szanto Endel Tulving Sydney Wax Jack & Anne Weinbaum Frances Wintrob Irwin Wortsman
2004 Honourees
Tobie Bekhor Murray Biback Walter & Jeanny Bick Reuben Brown Jack Constant Sydney Cooper Sammy Davis William Davis A. Ephraim Diamond Eric & Esther Exton Susan Fenwick Moe Freedman Leslie Frost Abraham Ginsburg Rose Glowinsky David Goldstein Edwin Goldstein Harry & Sara Gorman Joseph Gottdenker Slova Greenberg Abraham Greenspan Wulf Grobin Cyril Gryfe Pinchas Gutter Simon Harris Henry Himel Fred & May Karp Ben & Hilda Katz Carl K. Keyfetz Saul & Mira Koschitzky Harold Lederman Reva James Leeds Ian Leventhal Abe & Ethyle Levine Sidney Liswood Sydney & Sheila Loftus Walter Lyons Jennie Magerman Sophie Mandel Charles Markson Etta Ginsberg McEwan J. Irving Oelbaum Abe Posluns Donald & Elaine Rafelman Sam Ross Millard Roth Joseph & Sandra Rotman Abe Rovner Sam Ruth Samuel J. Sable Norman & Honey Schipper Barry & Honey Sherman Lou Siminovitch Jennie Snider Fran Sonshine Edith Stillman Anne Tanenbaum Dora Till Harry Ungerman Ted & Alma Waldman Cynthia Gasner Warshafsky Herbert J. Weiss Leonard Wolinsky
Baycrest Foundation
3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, ON M6A 2E1
www.baycrest.org/Foundation
Editor: Cindy Weiner / Graphic Design: Shari Nepom / Photography: Caryn Silverstein

Treasures of Baycrest 2011 Brochure

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ToREASURES f Baycrest

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

Marshall & Barbara Alexander

Ronald R. Appleby, Q.C.

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

David & Stacey Cynamon

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

Joe Goldenberg Morris Goldenberg

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

Saul & Fela Lichtblau

Margaret MacAdam Vivienne Marcus

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

Jeffery Ross & Diane Mavrinac-Ross

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

Lewis & Charlotte Steinberg

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

Ronnie & Perry Steiner

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

Lawrence M. Tanenbaum, O.C.

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

2011 TREASURES OF BAYCREST

TREASURES OF BAYCREST 2011

Our Past Honourees

3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, ON M6A 2E1

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