Gurwin Jewish’s Fifth Annual “L’dor v’dor” Calendar Reveal to be Held at Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington on November 9

2017 Edition Features Professional Portraits and Sage Advice from 14 Seniors, including Three Holocaust Survivors, a Decorated WWII Vet and an Original Advertising “Mad Man”

[Commack, New York] – Adorable puppies, beautiful scenery, vintage cars – these are some of the common themes you’ll find with wall calendars, but the Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences offers a unique calendar all its own. Celebrating the beauty and sage advice to the next generation from the senior residents of the assisted living facility, Gurwin’s  L’dor v’dor (From Generation to Generation) calendar blends professional portraits capturing the residents’ timeless beauty with their words of wisdom. The 2017 calendar features 14 assisted living residents, aged 73 to 94. 

The models this year include an impressive roster: three Holocaust survivors; one decorated World War II veteran; an original “Mad Man” of 1960s advertising fame and fortune; a great-grandmother boasting 14 great-grandchildren; and two couples, happily married 68 and 72 years.  

The 2017 “L’dor v’dor” calendar is set to be revealed during a red carpet-style event being held at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington on Wednesday, November 9, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. During this event, the calendar models and their families will be treated to a short film on the making of the calendar, which included professional hair and makeup sessions; professional portraits; and a filmed interview about their lives and their words of wisdom for a fulfilling life. The reveal will give the models, their families, Gurwin staff members and other attendees the opportunity to see the final product for the first time.

Each year, the selection process for the calendar is a challenging one for the Gurwin staff, who work tirelessly to put together a lasting tradition that residents, families and supporters will cherish. “The calendar is really such a wonderful project,” says Staci Rosenberg, Director of Marketing, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences. “The residents are thrilled to be selected as ‘calendar guys’ or ‘calendar girls’ and they can’t wait to have their families see their beautiful portraits. But, more than the pictures, it is the advice they impart as a by-product of their life experiences that makes the calendar a treasure.”

With a title that translates to “From Generation to Generation,” the premise of the Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences calendar is that its residents have led lives rich with experiences that will enable them to impart valuable advice for future generations. Among these are the wise words from Stewart Greene, a former partner at the Wells Rich Greene advertising agency, known for many iconic ads, including Alka Seltzer’s “I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing!” Mr. Greene, who retired young and sailed around the world, says it’s important to “Pursue your passions.” Mary Falcone, a quintessential Italian grandma with four daughters, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren (and one on the way), advises future generations to always “Cherish family.” 

Family is, of course, at the heart of every “L’dor v’dor” calendar, which this year features two couples who have cornered the market on long, happy marriages – Helen and Mel Morgenstein, currently married 72 years, and Les and Lorraine Parver, who got hitched 68 years ago. Each couple offers sage advice on a successful partnership, such as the Morgenstein’s reminder to always “Respect each other,” and the Parver’s suggestion to “Cultivate your own interests.”

One of the most lasting benefits to come from Gurwin’s calendars is the recounting of world history, which this year comes in the form of three Holocaust survivors and a decorated World War II veteran. Gerald Burberry, who escaped Nazi Germany along with thousands of other Jewish children via the Kindertransport, is his family’s sole survivor. After marrying his wife Helen, Mr. Burberry discovered his love for nature photography, which lent well to his determination to find the beauty in life despite his experiences as a young man.  He leaves future generations with this piece of advice: “Appreciate nature.” 

Edwin Zola, who was drafted to fight in the Army around the same time that his family was taken to Auschwitz, had the fortune of reuniting with his brother and sister, his only remaining family, who had moved to the United States before the war. Having seen first-hand the horrors of war, Mr. Zola says that people should “Use common sense” as a means of ending war. Another Holocaust survivor, Ruth deBeer, witnessed her parents selling the family’s possessions in order to safely move everyone from Germany to Palestine. She later found a new life in the United States with her husband Gad. Though she was able to rebuild her life and find happiness in America, Mrs. deBeer wants to ensure that future generations “Never forget.” 

For Sidney Klein, a decorated World War II Veteran who earned a Purple Heart after being injured in the Battle of the Bulge as a member of the United States Army, it’s his pride in our nation that he credits as a driving force in his life. His advice: “Serve your country.” 

“The residents featured in our calendar are truly an inspiration,” says Herbert H. Friedman, Executive Vice President, Gurwin Jewish. “They have lived lives filled with a wide range of rich experiences, and they offer us not only a window into the past, but a path to the future.”

Part of Gurwin’s continuum of care, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences is a 201-apartment assisted living community in Commack. Full apartments, elegant restaurant-style dining, wellness programs, a fitness trail, exciting social activities, membership in the Suffolk Y JCC and many other amenities, such as the beautifully landscaped, park-like grounds, make life at Gurwin extraordinary. The community also offers Enriched Pathways, a 14-bed unit dedicated to the care of those with memory impairments. For more information, visit www.gurwin.org/assisted-living.

###

About Gurwin

Founded in 1988 in Commack, NY as a skilled nursing care facility, Gurwin has expanded to include a full range of available care options, such as long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, ventilator-dependent care, hospice and palliative care, memory care, on-site dialysis, an adult day health program, two home care programs, an assisted living community and a proposed independent living community. For more information, visit, www.gurwin.org.