Southern New England Jewish Ledger
WEST HARTFORD – Peter Fishman, president of PKT Development, was elected president of the Mandell JCC Board of Directors at the agency’s Annual Meeting held June 12 in West Hartford. Fishman, who also serves as president of the Board of Directors for the organization Voices of Hope, succeeds Gayle W. Temkin, who served as board president since 2017, and who will assume the role of chairman of the Board.
“The JCC’s dedication to the community is extraordinary, and I look forward to working with our board members, executives and staff to continue building on the strengths of the agency to help ensure a vibrant future,” Fishman said.
“We are thrilled to embark on this next chapter in our history,” says David Jacobs, executive director of the Mandell JCC. “Peter brings a combination of leadership, energy and community engagement to this role.”
Temkin, a longtime member of the JCC, was honored for her contributions as president over the last two years.
“[Gayle] is a shining example of someone who teaches us the joys of being active in our community and giving back with meaning. We are especially thankful for her ongoing commitment to create a stronger and more vibrant Jewish community,” said Jacobs.
Calling the JCC a “home” for her family, Temkin said, “…our JCC is an exceptional home to so many. We should all be very proud of how caring and compassionate our staff and members are. The commitment to the JCC and our community, has at times, brought me to tears.”
Temkin also shared some of the highpoints initiated during her time in as Board president, including through the JCCs partnerships – e.g., the JCC’s work with Solomon Schechter Day School on the Prizmah national engagement program and the Jewish preschool programs at Auerfarm funded by the Jewish Community Foundation
Temkin is also the founder of Alyssa’s Angel Fund, established in 2006 in honor of her daughter Alyssa who was diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease, a rare genetic disease. Each year, the JCC holds the Big Wheel Derby to raise funds in support of Alyssa’s Angel Fund. This year’s event, renamed ‘The Wheels Hit the Water,’ will be held Sunday, August 25 at the JCC’s Swim & Tennis Club.
In addition to Fishman’s appointment, Joshua Feldman, Amy Filotto, Steven Greenspan and Rachel Schilberg were elected to the JCC’s Board of Directors. Abby Azia is the new teen representative.
The JCC also paid tribute to JCC Preschool Director Pam Powell who will retire after 35 years at the end of 2019. Powell will be succeeded by Assistant Director Gen Delay Pasternak. In addition, Cigna and Wendy Sherry, president of Cigna Healthcare of Connecticut, Inc. were honored for Cigna’s support of the JCC’s Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program.
Main Photo: Steve and Gayle Temkin at the Mandell JCC Annual Meeting, June 12, 2019. Photo courtesy of Mandell JCC
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