Fall 2008 to Fall 2016

The thumbnail biographies from The Observer of IRP members are listed here so that members can look for people with similar interests or expertise in particular fields as they develop proposals for study groups. The bios date back to 2008, however; Spring 2010 is missing.

JOHN COONEY. Villanova, BA; Rotary International Fellow to South India; Russell Sage Fellow, Washington U. Was a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a reporter and editor for the Wall Street Journal. Has written eight books. Was a foreign correspondent and has traveled extensively. Is a mentor in a basketball program in the Bronx and has worked with a homeless shelter.

MARY ELWOOD. Mount St. Vincent, BA; U. of Chicago, MA; Bank Street College of Education, MS. Studied at NYU. Taught at nursery schools and NYC public schools. Was involved in community activities and has spent time recently caring for family members. Is interested in literature and history. Has belonged to two book clubs.

ROBERT GERACE. CCNY, BA; NYU, MA; St. John’s University, PhD in English. Taught English at Queensborough Community College and was a field sales manager and sales trainer for Bowker Publishing. Has a certificate in teaching English as a foreign language. Has worked with foreign students and with Big Apple Greeters. Interests include travel and opera.

MARION KOSSOFF. Hunter College, BA; U. of New Rochelle, MS; courses at University of London and Henry George School of Social Science. Has taught in Rockland County, at Mercy College and at the English School of Bregenz, Austria. Has volunteered at Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Museum. Has lived in London and Austria.

MARSHALL MARCOVITZ. Roosevelt U., University of Chicago. Was founder and is former CEO of the Chef’s Catalog, a consumer catalog and Internet retail store. Has taught marketing at the U. of Chicago and writes a column for Gourmet Retailer magazine. Has been a member of the Olli program at Northwestern U. in Chicago and recently relocated to New York.

DANIEL MARCUS. Washington U., BA; George Washington U., MD. Was a retina specialist in northwest Ohio and a clinical professor of surgery at the U. of Toledo. Was active in the arts in Akron. Recently relocated to New York. Volunteers at New York Presbyterian-Cornell Hospital and Carnegie Hall. Interests include photography, art, music and travel.

MIREYA PEREZ. Hunter College, BA; Boston U, MA; Rutgers, PhD in Spanish literature. Was an associate professor at the College of New Rochelle for many years. Is an ordained interfaith minister and performs marriages. Has been a Pan American Center mentor and has coordinated many cultural events. Has taught Latino values and health to medical personnel. Has traveled widely.

MARK SCHER. NYU, Cleveland State U. and U. of Warsaw, law degrees. Was a lawyer specializing in international and immigration law. Was an administrative law judge for the state Department of Social Services. Did pro bono legal work on immigration. Speaks eight foreign languages. Interests include literature, history, philosophy and psychology.

JERRI SHERMAN. NYU, BA, MA. Had her own company in the garment industry; earned her degrees after retiring. Is active with AIPAC, the lobby group supporting Israel. Has done extensive world-wide adventure travel. Interests include sports, politics and knitting.

CARY SPERLING. Russell Sage College, MA; New School, MA. Taught y at St. Vincent’s Hospital Nursing School, Baruch College and Haifa University in Israel. Was a farm wife for 20 years. Worked with Ethiopian Jewish students in Israel and helped organize a performance in New York by Ethiopian actors of a play by Wole Soyinka .

MICHAEL SWITZER. Harper College, BA; Georgetown, JD. Practiced real estate law and was an associate general counsel for AXA Equitable Life. Was a mentor for younger lawyers and volunteered in a reading program for young children. Started a book discussion group in the 1970s that still continues. Interests include literature, films, poetry and current issues.

CARTER SWOOPE. Millsaps College, BA; Yale, MPhil in theater history. Was a Danforth and Woodrow Wilson Fellow. Worked for Chemical Bank, Merrill Lynch, Arthur Andersen and JP Morgan. Has volunteered in drama programs.

EVA VOGEL. Slovak Technical U., BS, MS, PhD in chemistry. Was a technical researcher for many years with Bell Labs. Holds many patents, has served on technical review panels and published more than 80 papers. Volunteers at the St. Barnabas Hospice, the Jewish Family Service in Elizabeth, N.J., and the Drew University Center for Holocaust/Genocide Study.

Fall 2009

JOAN EHRLICH. Co-owner of a physical therapy practice for 20 years. Has taken courses at NYU and attended lectures at the 92nd Street Y, and the Foreign Policy Association. Volunteers at the Metropolitan Museum, the Philharmonic and the Chamber Music Society. Does photography, makes jewelry and has a pilot’s license. Belongs to the James Beard Foundation.

SUSAN FELDMAN. NYU, BS.; Hunter College, MA. Former NYC school teacher, Co-owned the Rug Warehouse and the Loom & Weave Gallery; still works part-time. Collects and studies textile art, particularly from Central Asia. Active volunteer and board director of the Citizens Committee for Children. Member of synagogue board and parent volunteer at Trinity School. Served on a task force on issues affecting children in the juvenile justice system.

EDWARD FLEISHMAN. U. OF North Carolina,BA, MA; CUNY, AAD in sociology. Taught in high school for 21 years and in college for 10 years. Has taken many continuing education courses in literature and philosophy. Belongs to a reading group in philosophy in Brooklyn. Interests include travel, opera, spectator sports and reading. ALAN FLORIN. NYU, BA, MBA. Was a managing director at Bear, Stearns for 32 years. Was a trustee- director of Daytop Foundation for 10 years and was on the finance committee at Temple Sinai in Roslyn. Is a member of the Civil War Round Table. Has taken courses at NYU and the New School. Has studied many subjects including acting, but a major interest is history.

VINCENT FUCCILLO. Brooklyn College, MA, MA; NYU, PhD in political science. Was a professor at Brooklyn College for more than 35 years and was chair of the Political Science Department. Interests include classical music, Italian literature and travel in western Europe. He works part-time at the Italian Cultural Institute.

DICK KOSSOFF. Cornell U., BS, MBA. Headed his own company of international management consultants. Worked overseas and lived in Japan. Was president of the James Madison H.S. Alumni Association and served on the Cornell U. Council. Founded the Cornell Entrepreneur Association. Has taken courses at NYU and the New School and continues to travel to world conferences.

DANIEL MARCUS. Washington U., BA; George Washington U., MD. Was president of Retina Consultants of Northwest Ohio and a clinical professor of surgery at the U. of Toledo. Relocated from Ohio after retirement to pursue cultural interests. Volunteers at NYP-Cornell Hospital and Carnegie Hall. Interests include photography, art, music and travel.

FRANK MONTATURO. Iona College, BA; Institut de Touraine, Tours, France, certificate d’etudes; Fordham U., MA. Taught Spanish at Friends Seminary. Has taken continuing education courses in Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, history and Korean arts. Was a friendly visitor at a nursing home. Interests include art history.

BARBARA KOBRIN. Immaculate Heart College, BA, MA; Southern California U., doctor of psychology. Psychotherapist in private practice. Was director of a therapy center. Has gone on human rights trips to Cuba and Nicaragua. Gives free nutrition and cooking classes to low-income people. Was a volunteer therapist at an AIDS project and a board member of One Bright World, building schools and clinics in Liberia, and is currently a member of the mayor’s committee on AIDS programs in New York.

VINCENT NAVARRO. Brooklyn College, BA, MA. Was a teacher and principal in NYC schools. Has been a docent at the Metropolitan for 10 years. Volunteer activities also include the NY Academy of Public Education, Carnegie Hall and the Ethical Culture Society. Interests include bridge, bike riding and swimming. Has gone to many Elderhostels.

MARIANNE NELSON. Wayne State U., BA; Rutgers Law School, JD. Was a trial lawyer who worked as a public defender and then for the NYC Corporation Counsel an d as associate legal counsel to the NYC Health and Hospital Corp. Teaches trial techniques to new lawyers. Adopted an 8-year-old child from Russia. Writes plays and short stories. Has been a member of the ACLU, Tenants and Neighbors and the Democratic Reform Club. Has traveled extensively.

JANE OSMERS. BA, Fordham; MA, NYU. Was a workshop coordinator at the Young Adult Institute, then aide to the dean and director of administration at the NYU Gallatin School. Volunteered for 20 years to help a developmentally disabled woman. Belonged to a poetry writing group. Was a member of the Community Service Organization.

STEPHEN REICHSTEIN. Hunter College, BA; U. of Pennsylvania, MCP. Was a city planner in Pittsburgh, then director of community development for NYC government agencies and then assistant to the Brooklyn borough president. Has taught at St. John’s U. Headed a homeowners’ association in Forest Hills for five years. Is on the board of the Bleuler Psychotherapy Center and is a certified citizen tree pruner. Has written several books. Spent a year traveling around the world.

SYLVIA STAUB. Brandeis U., BA; Harvard, EdM, Doctor of Education. Was a clinical psychologist in private practice. Has taught in elementary and middle schools and at Harvard Medical School, UMass- Amherst and Mount Holyoke. Was a clinical consultant at Hampshire College. Has organized forums on issues such as gender violence. Was a board member of a rape crisis center in Boston. Volunteered as an adult literacy teacher in Harlem. Is interested in the arts.

CAROL WINER. Mass. College of Art, BS; Rutgers U., MA. Worked for the N.J. Department of Corrections for over 30 years, teaching art and becoming the department’s director of education. Has taken courses in painting, ceramics and jewelry-making. Has traveled extensively. Was a board member of a taxpayers’ group in Wellfleet, Mass., and a trip coordinator for the garden club there.

STEPHEN WINER. Worcester Polytech, BS; Mass. Institute of Technology, MS. Husband of Carol. Was an executive in the chemical industry, working with electronics ceramics. Is a board member of a taxpayers’ group in Wellfleet, Mass. Enjoys photography and has traveled extensively. Interests include early American history.

January 2010

NICHOLAS ALEXIOU. Columbia, MA; MPhil. Stern School of Business, MBA. Was a senior appraiser at Arthur Young, vice president at J.P. Morgan Chase, and assistant divisional vice president at UBS. Was born in Greece. Teaches English as a foreign language and volunteers at a hospital and an animal shelter on Long Island. Interests include history, political science and languages.

JAMES AVITABILE. NYU, BA; Cornell, MA. An architectural planner and preservationist. Worked for the NYV Landmarks Preservation Commission, the NYS Urban Development Corp. and the NYS Unified Court System. Restored an 1832 whaler*s cottage in Sag Harbor. Interests include conversational Italian, bridge, the theater and memoir writing.

MALVA FILER. U. of Buenos Aires, BA; Columbia, PhD in philosophy. Teaches Latin American literature and advanced Spanish at Brooklyn College. Was born in Argentina. Interests include travel, reading and listening to classical music.

NIKKI FROST. Colby College, BA; London School of Economics. Was a graphic news editor at the Wall Street Journal and an editorial administrator at Smart Money Magazine and TheStreet.com. Has been president of her coop, a volunteer at Memorial-Sloan Kettering, a volunteer reading teacher and a deacon at Riverside Church. Has taken study trips to China and Russia.

MILDRED GREENE. CUNY, BA. Was a sales representative for American Airlines, a travel agent, and a coordinator at a spa. Has done archeological research in Israel and has been a Sunday school teacher. Interests include biblical art and history.

LARRY KOPEL. Brooklyn College, BA. Studied textile engineering at Lowell Technical Institute. Was president of ITM Ltd. Has headed his condo associations and a health care society. Has had shows of his photographic works and has sailed around the world.

ARLYNE LE SCHAK. Queens College, MSE; Bank Street, MEd. Was a business writer and a teacher in the NYC schools. Has participated in book clubs, study groups and film courses. Is president of her condo board and has been president of her Hadassah chapter.

JOSEPH SHERMAN. Penn State, BA. Was a financial planner and wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch and in private practice. Has written two books on his field. Was active on nonprofit boards in Los Angeles. Relocated to New York after retirement. Motorcycled across the country for charity. Interests include travel, history, art, flower arranging and cooking.

COLETTE SIEGEL. Brooklyn College, BS; CW Post, MS. A CPA and senior manager at Margolin, Winer & Evens. Was chairwoman of the Nassau CPA Association and was active in her temple sisterhood and the American Jewish Committee. Was born in France. Interests include travel, the theater, history, politics and literature.

CHARLES TROOB. Harvard, BA; London School of Economics, MSc.; Yale, MPhil. Was assistant commissioner of the NYC Department of Health/DOHMH. Has led a tenants* association and was on a school-community council. Has traveled in Europe and has subscriptions to the opera and theater. Interests include history, art, languages and gardening.

Sept. 2010

SID AMIRA. U. of Pennsylvania, BS, JD. Was senior vice president for affiliate affairs and business development at Bloomberg TV; founded and headed Total Pay-Per-View. Was co-captain of his college basketball team and a member of a basketball team representing the United States in Israel. Has taken a course in film-making. Has traveled to Iran.

HAROLD BERKOWITZ. CCNY, BA; NYU, MA; Rutgers U., post-grad course work in Latin American history, focusing on slavery. Was chief of information technology for the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services. Has taken courses in acting, art appreciation, literature and photography. Interests include cycling.

MARY CONNELLY. Catholic University, BA; NYU, MBA. Was director of brand and online risk management for Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Chairs the board of the Carter Burden Center for the Aging and has managed the financial affairs of a small art gallery. Interests include travel, theater and music events.

LOWELL DIAMOND. Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, BA; NYU, MBA. Was president of East Village Catalog Sales. Is the husband of IRP member Hedy Diamond. Has tutored special ed students. Has traveled extensively. Interests include yoga and reading history, biography and novels. MARK FISCHWEICHER. Hobart College, BA; CCNY, MA. Taught English at Seward Park HS and Brooklyn Tech HS. Is a member of New York Cares, has taught on a volunteer basis and has directed writing workshops. Is particularly interested in music and poetry. Swims regularly and enjoys hiking and Tai Chi. Has traveled extensively.

SUSAN GOLDMAN. Barnard, BA; Columbia U. Teachers College, MA, MEd. Research scientist and director of the Japanese Information Sciences Project at NYU, where she translated Japanese technical information and developed NYU’s Japanese language curriculum. Taught in Japan for many years and continues to study Mandarin Chinese. Has volunteered in NYC public schools.

CAROL GRONEMAN. U. of Cincinnati, BA; U. of Rochester, MA, PhD in history. Was a professor of history at John Jay College for many years; was executive director of the NY Council for the Humanities for six years. Has taught in Italy and traveled in Europe and the United States. Raises oysters on Long Island. Interests include reading, biking, yoga, movies, gardening and kayaking.

RAOUL ORESKOVIC. MBA, Ecole Superieure de Commerce in France; MA, PhD in economics, NYU. President of RSO Consulting. Was born in France. Has been a board member of an oil coop and of a block association. Interests include the humanities and current issues, as well as sports and travel. Speaks several languages.

JOHN RILEY. St. Francis College, Latin American studies. Was director of corporate risk management at Dun & Bradstreet. Was active in local politics in Brewster, where he ran for the town council and helped to create a day worker site. Is a mentor to kids involved in the criminal justice system or whose parents are. Has taught courses on immigration issues and started a book club and a men’s lunch group.

MARY ANN RYAN. U. of Wisconsin, MS; Cleveland State Law School, JD; Temple U., MS. Was a trial attorney for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for many years and now has an internet book business. Was a legal board member of an AIDS hospice in Philadelphia. Has traveled in Asia and the Mideast and is interested in Buddhism and kabuki theater.

JAMES SMITH. Amherst, BA; Boston U., MBA. Was executive director of the Cambridge (Mass.) Center for Adult Education. Board memberships include a senior volunteer organization, a family and children’s services group, a public library and the Harvard Square Business Association. Was a Vista volunteer. Has taught courses on classical music and other cultural topics.

DOLORES WALKER. Wayne State U., BA, MA; Brooklyn Law School, JD; NYU, MSW. Was a psychotherapist, attorney and family and divorce mediator. Has taught at the college level and has been an actress, playwright and theater administrative director. Was a board member of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council and of the Encompass Theatre.

Jan. 2011.

BARRY COOPER. City College, BEE; George Washington U., JD. Is a lawyer specializing in intellectual property issues. Was a managing partner at his firm and plans to retire at the end of the year. Has traveled to Turkey, Eastern Europe and South and Central America. Enjoys reading biographies, history and fiction .

STEPHEN KALINSKY. City College, BA; Brooklyn Law School, JD. Is an administrative law judge for the New York City Environmental Control Board and a former attorney for the New York State Liquor Authority. Was a board member of a housing coop. Is an avid theater-goer. Interests include science, economics and politics.

LILIANE LAZAR. Hofstra, BA; Columbia U., MA, PhD in 20th century French literature. Is an adjunct associate professor at Hofstra and has taught at NYU and Pace. Was born in France. Has focused her research on Simone de Beauvoir and has written two books in French, many book reviews and interviews with famous French writers and personalities. Enjoys tennis and swimming.

IVAN POKORNY. Columbia College, BA. Was president/owner of Pacific Footwear, Inc. Has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia for business. Has studied history, world politics and literature and is interested in poetry, painting and science.

CAROLYN PREISS. Boston U., BS; U. of Pennsylvania, MS. Was executive director of corporate benefits for Estee Lauder. Has served on her coop board. Has traveled in the United States and abroad. Interests include gardening, crafts, design and architecture as well as bike riding and other physical activities.

DIANE REYNOLDS. U. of Maryland, BA; Hofstra, MS. Is a career coach consultant for the Nassau Library System and the 1199 Job Security Fund. Has taught at Queensborough Community College. Has studied in continuing education programs on a variety of subjects. Interests include literature, history and film, and particularly leisure in American life.

WINTHROP THIES. Princeton, BA; Harvard Law School; NYU Graduate School of Law. Was a financial and tax consultant and a tax attorney. Was founder and president for 10 years of the Hemlock Society of New Jersey and was active in the Ethical Culture Society in New Jersey. Interests include 20th century history, economics and end of life issues.

Fall, 2011

NADINE COWEN. NYU, BSN, MSN (nursing); Greenwich Psychoanalytic Institute, certificate. Was a nurse psychotherapist in private practice and a health care consultant for the homeless and for the Day Care Council of New York. Was a church choir member and worked with senior citizens. Interests include drawing, writing poetry, dancing, drama, music and train travel.

ROBERT FISHER. Columbia, BA; Harvard, JD; NYU, LLM. Was a lawyer in private practice. Won a Fulbright fellowship in Israel. Is counsel to the Holocaust and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and works with patients at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. Interests include sailing, skiing, gardening and playing the piano.

MICHELLE HARRIS. Hunter College, BA; Queens College, MA. Was director of instructional staff relations at the NYC College of Technology. Has coordinated workshops on preventing workplace violence, contract compliance, customer service, performance review and affirmative action. Belongs to a book group. Interests include fiber arts, painting, hiking, gardening, cooking and theater. PETER HOUTS. Antioch College, BA; U. of Michigan, PhD in social psychology. Was a professor at Penn State’s medical school. Has provided free graphic design services for nonprofit groups. Was active in his church and served on the board of a chamber music society. In addition to graphic design, interests include photography, oil painting and astronomy.

CARLOS JOHNSON. California Institute of Technology, BS; U.Mass, PhD in mathematics. Was director of equity derivatives at Citigroup and taught math at Baruch College. Has tutored formerly incarcerated persons for college entry. Is a member of the New Horizons Band. Plays the tuba and guitar. Is a certified dog trainer. Has studied wildlife in the Galapagos, Costa Rica, Greenland, Belize and Kenya.

ALIX KANE. Marymount/Manhattan College; Baruch College. Was senior human resources consultant for Corporate Express/Staples and human resources director and an assistant vice president at the Guardian Life Insurance Co. Has volunteered at the AIDS Service Center of New York. Has traveled extensively. Hobbies include reading, crossword puzzles and golf.

DAVID MEYER. Yeshiva U., BA; NYU Law School, JD. Was senior counsel to the IDT Corp., vice president of Business Affairs in Demand and practiced in the field of legal and business affairs. Has volunteered as a Better Business Bureau mediator and as a counselor in college guidance for the NYC schools. Is an avid reader and has recently taken classes at Hunter College.

SARA PETITT. Bennington, BA. Is a coordinator in fabric styling at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Taught at Parsons and at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and was an executive in the textile industry. Is a practicing artist and has taken courses at the Center for Book Arts and the Art Students League.

ANTHONY PICCOLO. Dartmouth, BA; NYU, MA, PhD in English and American literature. Was a professor of English and American literature and rotating department chair at Manhattanville College. Has been a volunteer teacher of English speaking and writing. Interests include travel, fitness, music and musicianship (brass).

DONALD RAY. Stanford, BA; Rutgers, MLS, PhD in English. Was librarian and head of collections at Mercy College; earlier had held posts at Manhattanville and Allegany Community College. Has been a volunteer in elections. Has lived in Italy and Turkey. Interests include language study, classic films and music.

CLAUDE SAMTON. Columbia U., BArch; U. of Pennsylvania, MArch. Is a practicing architect. Has volunteered at the SoHo Alliance, the Shul of New York and God’s Love We Deliver. Has taught at NYU, A direcrtor at the SoHo Loco improv company and has led improv workshops in schools, senior centers and other places. Other interests include photography and travel in Europe and the Middle East.

IRENE SAX. Bryn Mawr, BA; Columbia, MA. Was a restaurant reviewer for the Daily News, food editor for Disney.com and a food editor and writer at Newsday. Teaches food writing on the graduate level at NYU. Interests are focused on writing and literature.

NINA TORNABENE. Fordham, BA; Brooklyn Law School, JD. Was deputy director of legal services for the state Department of Education’s office of professional discipline; previously served in other state departments. Is a docent at the Bronx Zoo and was a PTA president. Interests include ice skating, rollerblading, cooking, history, Italian, politics, photography, baseball and film.

NANCY YATES. U. of Manitoba, BA. Worked for the UN Development Program both in New York and in three-year assignments to field offices in Brazil, Ethiopia and Barbados, starting in 1968. Has served as union president and has volunteered in the field of landmark education. Has taken courses in photography, poetry, Irish history and Irish dance, and Native American flute.

Spring 2012

CAROL BORELLI. Cornell, BS; Manhattanville College and Wesleyan U., MA. Was an art teacher in the New Canaan Country School and has exhibited in many venues. Has been a backstage tour guide at the Metropolitan Opera and volunteered for community service projects for high school students in Mexico. Has studied in Italy and Mexico.

ARLYNN BRODY. U. of Florida, BA; Hunter and Brooklyn Colleges. Was a math teacher, principal and administrator in the NYC schools. Has been active in the Prospect Park Alliance and the Park Slope Civic Council and continues to mentor new administrators and teachers. Interests include reading, mah jongg, bridge and tennis. Has traveled in Asia and South America.

FRANK CARDEN. Seton Hall U., BA; Fordham, MA, PhD in clinical psychology. Was a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist specializing in treatment of the deaf. Was a volunteer teacher of English to immigrant Spanish-speakers. At age 50 began to study classical piano. Lived in Spain to learn Spanish. Has audited courses at Columbia U.

MARY HOUTS, Radcliffe, BA; U. of Michigan, MS. Was an educator and an administrator at the Hershey Museum in Hershey, Pa. A master gardener, she has volunteered at the Hershey Gardens and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Has sung is several choirs. Other interests include reading and knitting. Is the wife of IRP member Peter Houts.

HELEN LOWENSTEIN. Vassar, BA; Manhattanville, MAT; Columbia, MSW. A psychotherapist and clinical social worker. Was a board member of I Care in Westchester and of Double Discovery at Columbia and volunteers in literary discussions with formerly homeless women. Has taken long bicycle trips in the United States and abroad. Has traveled to East Africa, China and Turkey.

INA MEIBACH. U. of Michigan, BA; NYU Law School. Was senior partner at an entertainment law firm and executive vice president of Warner Music Group (U.S.) and is a theater producer. Was on the Board of New York Stage and Film. Has traveled extensively, including working in England and Ireland and visiting in Asia, Australia, Europe and Israel. Is the sister of IRP member Doris Wallace.

JOAN ROSENBAUM. Boston U., BA. Was director of the Jewish Museum for 30 years. Has served on the boards of several arts groups and worked on the last two Democratic presidential campaigns. Has studied the piano, is in a five-woman singing group and attends many musical performances. Has traveled for work in Israel and Europe.

HOWARD SEEMAN. SUNY-Albany, BA.; New School, MA, PhD in philosophy and social psychology. Was a professor of educational psychology at Lehman College and a consultant to schools and teachers. Was on the board of his Jersey City neighborhood association. Interests include astronomy and other sciences.

Fall, 2012

SOPHIE BALCOFF. BA, U. of Pennsylvania; MA, Cambridge in England, Columbia U. and CUNY. Taught English as a second language and other subjects in high schools. Volunteered as a teacher for Literacy Volunteers. Studied many foreign languages, sang in a classical choir and has belonged to a book group for 20 years. Is also interested in dance.

CARL BINDER. BS, LIU; JD, Brooklyn Law School. Practiced law, specializing in litigation. Taught business ethics at Baruch College. Managed political campaigns and served in advocacy organizations on Long Island. Has taken courses at Columbia, NYU and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Interests include photography, sports and bridge.

ANNE-MARIE BOURBON. BA, MA, Queens College; PhD in French, CUNY. Was born in France. Taught French at the UN International School and Queensborough Community College. Volunteered as a visitor to prospective heart patients. Has been a book club member for many years. Has been in choral groups and has traveled to Egypt, the Baltic Sea, the Danube, Greece and Turkey.

LAURIE LEINER. BA, Goucher College. Was an administrator for two major law firms. Owned and ran a jewelry company. Volunteers for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and has assisted at a senior citizen residence and a museum in Florida. Has traveled to Israel, the Galapagos, the Amazon and Southeast Asia. Enjoys yoga and mahjongg.

LYNNE SCHMELTER-DAVIS. RN, Queens Hospital Center; BS, Upsala College; MA, Fairleigh Dickinson U.; psychology studies at Rutgers. Was a psychology professor at Brookdale Community College, a college administrator and a corporate trainer. Was a state ombudsman for the institutionalized elderly. Worked in a political campaign. Has traveled widely in Asia.

HANNAH SHEAR. BS, Brooklyn College; MS, PhD in medical science, NYU. Was an associate professor at NYU and Albert Einstein medical schools, specializing in immunology. Also taught science in high school. Has volunteered for a youth program and the Coalition for Jewish Life in Connecticut. Recently traveled to Peru. Interests include reading, gardening and cooking.

BRUCE SMITH. BA, George Washington U; MA, Catholic U., UC Santa Barbara; PhD in higher education and adult development, UCLA. Taught and directed theater at the college level and was dean of liberal arts at the City College of San Francisco. Blogs on theater; other interests include classical music and opera. Has traveled in the United States, Europe and Southt America.

GERALD VOGEL. BS, Clarkson U.; MS, Columbia. After a long career as a technical manager at Bell Labs, became chief technology officer for a successful information tech startup. Is the husband of IRP member Eva Vogel. Has volunteered for Jewish Family Services in New Jersey and for the Drew U. Center for Genocide Study. Interests include photography. SPRING 2013

MARILYN EVANS. Colorado State U., BS; U. of Wisconsin, MS. Was a speech pathologist. She also worked in five Muslim countries and in Armenia developing and managing democratic development projects. Was active in politics and state government in Arizona before retiring to New York. Has traveled to about 50 countries, many of them in the Third World. Enjoys skiing and hiking and has been a pilot.

JONATHAN GAINES. Tufts U., BA; Cornell Law School, LLB. Was an assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission, where he conducted anti-trust investigations, and a lawyer in the life insurance industry. Served on a local zoning board and helped establish a new synagogue. Interests include history, photography and travel.

RONDA GELB. Barnard, BA; Fairleigh Dickinson U, MA. Was a teacher and an asset manager in the financial industry. Has been active in alumnae affairs at Barnard, where she conducts seminars on retirement planning. Has been a book club member for more than 20 years. Interests include opera and politics.

CHRISTINE GODEK. Hunter College, BA; Pace U., MBA. Had her own public relations company. Was communications director for the Hospital for Special Surgery and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Was the first female deputy fire commissioner for the NYC Fire Department. Has studied Italian and is interested in current events, ancient history, art and opera.

RITA SILVERMAN. U. of Pittsburgh, BA, EdM. PhD in education. Taught at Rutgers and Pace, where she was a professor, department head, and associate dean. Had federal grants to work with college and university faculty on improving teaching. Is a public school guest reader. Interests include travel, sports and the performing arts.

LORNE TAICHMAN. U. of Toronto, MD; U. of Wisconsin, PhD in molecular biology. Was a professor at SUNY-Stony Brook, where he managed a research laboratory. Has organized international conferences on medical research topics. Is the husband of IRP member Ettie Taichman. Has taken art-related courses and is learning to fly.

FALL 2013

TED AUERBACH. Queens College, BA; Hunter, MEd. Taught English as a second language at the high school level. Has studied philosophy at the New School. Has been active in progressive politics and as a labor organizer, including getting the first union contract for bodega workers. Has visited the Middle East to work on peace between Israel and Palestine.

FRANCES DE LOTT. Simmons College, BS; Ohio State U., MA. Worked in community mental health and then became an administrator in public health, including the NYC Bureau of TB Control. Was president of the tenants association at Lincoln Towers and was on the board of the West Side Coalition Against Hunger. Has volunteered in an adult ESL program.

SANDRA FREEMAN. Syracuse, BS; Teachers College, Columbia, MA; NYU, PhD in speech pathology. Was chairman of the speech department at LIU. Volunteers in the emergency room at New York Hospital and has served on many theater boards. Interests include theater, needlework, reading, history and travel. Is the wife of IRP member Burt Freeman.

MAYER PERELMUTER. U. of Chicago, BA; U. of Illinois (Chicago), MSW; Hebrew Union College, DMin. Was senior rabbi at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills and is an adjunct associate professor of theology at St. John’s U. Volunteers as a chaplain for Disaster Spiritual Care of NY. Interests include swimming, movies and reading.

ERIC ROPER. U. of North Carolina, BA; London School of Economics and Political Science; Northwestern U. Law School. Was a lawyer in several firms. Cofounded an international charity focusing on child abuse. Was active in NYC settlement houses. Interests include bee-keeping, gardening and tinkering with old Ford trucks.

EILEEN SULLIVAN. Marymount, BA; Columbia, PhD in political science. Has taught at Columbia and Rutgers, has been research director for the Vera Institute for Justice and has worked for the federal government. Is writing a book on the experience of Irish Catholic immigrants to the United States in the 19th Century.

FLORENCE TAGER. Brooklyn College, BA; Ohio State U., PhD in history and philosophy of education. NYU, MSW. Was a professor of education and department chair at Medgar Evers College of CUNY, where she developed the African Resource Center and a curriculum on black history. Is working on a children’s book about fire escapes. Volunteered in both Obama campaigns.

IRIS ZEVIN. Wayne State U. Detroit, BA; U. of Michigan, MA; St. John’s U., MLS. Taught social studies at the Dalton School and at the Queens High School for Teaching. Was a union delegate to the UFT. Helped to found a women’s study group at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. Hobbies include photography, reading and travel.

Spring 2014

MYRIAM BUCATINSKY. Westchester Center for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, certified psychoanalyst. Studied at the University of Buenos Aires, City College and Adelphi. Was born in Argentina. Is in practice as a psychotherapist. Is a trustee of her synagogue and has been on her coop board. Interests include music, art and travel.

MARK DICHTER. MIT, BSEE. Columbia U., MFA. Was an independent sound recordist and film producer- director. Has been a pro bono video producer for classical music organizations including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic. Interests include art history, architecture and travel.

JAMES GOULD. Penn State, BS; U. of Pennsylvania, law degree. Was a patent litigator. Was a member of the White Plains Planning Board and is on his coop board. Is planning a two-month motorcycle camping trip across North America to reprise a similar trip at age 18 and hopes to write a book about it. Has self- published 12 e-books.

MICHAEL HILL. Quincy College, BA; U. of Kansas, PhD in modern European social and intellectual history. Was president of News Broadcast Network, which supplies public relations and marketing content for broadcast and digital media. Taught history at the college level. Was active in political campaigns and was on his coop board. Has lived abroad.

DEREK HUGHES. Studied at the College of Insurance—Business Studies. Was CEO of Western World Insurance Group. Volunteered at a soup kitchen in New Jersey. Was on the board of the Shakespeare Society. Published a book titled “Absolute Beginningqws.” Has traveled to World War I sites in Europe. Interests include literature, politics, theater and cabaret.

ROGER MULVIHILL. Georgetown U., BA; Yale Law School, JD. Was a lawyer in private practice. Served on local government boards in Bronxville and has done pro bono legal work for several organizations. Has been active in political campaigns. Has traveled extensively. Interests include military history, philosophy, literature, cosmology and baseball.

RENA SHAGAN. NYU, BA, MA. Has her own company promoting dance tours and other arts productions. Has worked in political campaigns. Founded Dance/USA, a national service organization for professional dance companies. Serves on several boards in the performing arts. Interests include travel , politics and archeology.

Fall 2014

SYDNEY BABUSH. U. of Rochester, BA; CW Post, MA; NYU, MBA. Taught social studies at George W. Hewlett High School on Long Island for over 30 years and led extracurricular activities there. Has studied abroad. Interests include history, particularly the Renaissance and the period between the two world wars, as well as art history and international politics.

LENORE COONEY. Chestnut Hill College, BA; Temple U. graduate study. Was founder and CEO of a public relations company, working in science for 30 years. Has volunteered for many health-related organizations and was director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Has traveled to India, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. LISA CRISTAL. Tulane U., BA; Washington U., JD. Was a lawyer specializing in trademark , licensing and Internet issues. Has published books and articles in that area. Was involved with PTA and other community organizations in Scarsdale. Is currently working at a Medicare rights center. Interests include reading, photography and travel.

LARRY FELDMAN. NYU, BA. Is president of Loom & Weave LLC, a wholesaler of collectible antique textiles and rugs. He was president of the Rug Warehouse for many years. Has volunteered as an English and math tutor at an elementary school and been a board member of the NYU-Langone Medical Center for the Study and Treatment of Pain.

AILEEN GITELSON. Smith College, BA; Columbia, MSW. Was CEO of the Jewish Association Serving the Aging and was director of social work/discharge planning for the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Was a docent at the Museum at Eldridge Street. Has traveled to Israel and to Budapest in connection with programs for seniors. Is interested in photography.

HARVEY SCHMELTER-DAVIS. Montclair State College, BA; Rutgers, MA and doctoral studies. Was director of career services at Brookdale Community College and is currently a mentor/instructor at Thomas Edison State College. Has volunteered at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem. Is interested in starting a cycling group at the IRP. Is the husband of IRP member Lynne Schmelter-Davis.

KENNETH WITTY. Yale, BA. Was executive producer of the Consuelo Mack Wealth Track public television show and for Wall Street Journal Television. Is working on a book about how to survive financially in retirement. Has traveled to Beerlin, Morocco, Argentina, France and South Africa. Interests include painting, tennis and golf.

Spring 2015

ELAINE GERALD. Long Island U., BS; Fordham, MS, doctoral studies. Was dean of admissions for the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham; later worked on programs to help the homeless and was a mentor for female survivors of domestic violence. Belongs to two book clubs and is interested in philosophy, memoir writing, history and politics.

DAVID GROGAN. Williams, BA, junior year at London School of Economics. Was an editor at This Old House Magazine and Discover Magazine, and executive editor at the Weider History Group. Worked for three years in Asia, where he traveled widely. Coached group riding for the NY Cycle Club. Is interested in autobiography writing and jazz. PHYLLIS HOLLOWAY. Lehman College, BS, graduate studies. Was a nutritionist for Health Care in NYC for more than 15 years. Volunteered as a teacher of English as a second language and at the Botanical Garden. Belongs to a book club and has studied conversational Spanish. Interests include classical and new music, early 20th century art and international politics.

SHARON RILEY. NYU, BA; Brooklyn Law School; Hunter School of Social Work. Was a deputy bureau chief in the City Comptroller’s Office, supervising 100 lawyers and claim examiners. Was a volunteer teacher of English as a second language. Served as president of her coop board. Plays the piano and flute and is studying viola. Plays in chamber music groups. Is the wife of IRP member John Riley.

DOLORES SEILER. Syracuse, BA; U. of Miami School of Law, JD. Practiced law in Miami and was president of a property company there. Was a delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention and was chairman of the League of Women Voters. Taught English at Miami Dade Community College. Is planning a trip to the Faroe Islands in March to experience the total eclipse of the sun.

Fall 2015

LINDA ANSTENDIG. Connecticut College, BA; Harvard, MAT; Columbia Teachers College, EdD in English and higher education. Was an English professor and associate dean at Pace U. Has volunteered with the Westchester library system, literacy programs and the Metropolitan Museum. Has traveled extensively. Was in a Spanish immersion program.

CHARLES BRONFELD. Kenyon College, BA. Had a 50-year career in the garment industry; was CEO of Paramount Apparel. Is a member of his condo board. Volunteered at the Rockville Centre Education Foundation. Has been a college alumni mentor since 1980. Interests include movies, theater, football and baseball.

BOB FEINSTEIN. CUNY, degrees in sociology and administration. Was a history teacher and principal at public and independent middle schools. Leads student groups at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and is a friendly visitor with Dorot. Interests include American history, current events and documentary films.

CAROLYN GROSSNER. U. of Houston. BA. Had long career with Citibank. Was an IRP member from 1998 until 2009, coordinating study groups on subjects from the concept of time to art to death and serving on the advisory board and curriculum committee. Is a docent at the Metropolitan Museum and also volunteers at MOMA and the NY Botanical Garden.

MIRIAM JOSEPHS. Brandeis, BA; Columbia Teachers College and the New School, MA. Was an analyst and deputy assistant director of the NYC OMB, working with community boards. Volunteered with school parents associations and was on the board of the Reform Temple of Forest Hills. Has traveled widely and has studied Jewish theology.

DAVID LERNER. Apprenticed at WBAI-FM. With two partners, designed and manufactured Acoustiguide cassette players in Manhattan. Co-founder and CEO of Tekserve, a retail sales and service of Apple computers, and solution provider to the creative communities. Is interested in Italy and enjoys art, theater and acoustic music from early to baroque to bluegrass.

CELIA LICHTMAN. Brooklyn College, BA; NYU, PhD. Was a professor of foreign languages and literature at LIU-Brooklyn for 50 years, eight of them as department chair. Taught Spanish at all levels. Volunteers for Families First. Interests include music, art, design, theater, travel and films.

GRAZIA MONTESI. U. of Rome; Oxford U., PhD in biochemistry. Was born in Venice. Worked in regulatory affairs at Merck and at Johnson & Johnson. Founded the nonprofit Italian America Communicator, Inc., to promote cultural exchange. Was president of the Dante Alighieri Society of NY and started an Italian book club. Interests include art and opera.

BRUCE REZNICK. Brooklyn College, BA. Was a broadcast journalist and producer for the major news networks, at NBC for many years. Won a national Emmy for 9/11 coverage for NBC. Has taught journalism at the college level and was a consultant for FEMA. Served as a youth mentor and athletic coach.

ISTAR SCHWAGER. Barnard, BA.; Bank Street Graduate School, MS; CUNY, PhD in educational psychology. Worked with media companies on issues related to children and parents. Was an IRP member in 2005-6 but dropped out for a consulting job. Creates and shows visual art work. Has traveled widely. Is the wife of IRP member Dave Sarlin.

GUSTAV SELIGER. Columbia College, BA.; SUNY-Upstate School of Medicine, MD. Was director of radiology at Mercy Medical Center and a radiologist at Mount Sinai-Beth Israel Medical Center. Was on the board of his synagogue. Is interested in intellectual history, art, philosophy and Yiddish and Israeli literature.

DENISE WAXMAN. St. John’s College, BA; NYU Law School, JD; Pratt, MLIS. Was a supervisor of appeals at the state Department of Public Service and communications director for a synagogue. Also volunteered at her temple for many years. Has been in a book group for over 20 years. Interests include art-making, travel, film and Scrabble.

SPRING 2016

ANDREA ARNOLD. California State U., BS. Was office manager for an orthopedic surgery practice. Played competitive tennis on an amateur basis and has supervised athletic teams. Volunteered as a court- appointed special advocate in Los Angeles. Interests include literature, history, philosophy and the arts. Recently relocated to New York.

ASHTON HAWKINS. Harvard, BA, law degree. Was secretary and counsel to the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for many years and more secretary of the advisory board of Christie’s. Volunteered on many boards in the arts field, including the Municipal Art Society, the Alliance for the Arts and the New York Studio School.

LESLEY HERRMANN. U. of Michigan, BA; Harvard, MA., Columbia, PhD in the Slavic department. Was executive director of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Has taught at Manhattan College, Hunter College and the New School and teaches yoga at the World Yoga Center. Was on the board of the National Museum of American History.

FREDA KERMAN. Reed College, BA; Medical College of Pennsylvania, MD. Was a physician at Kaiser Permanente. Has worked overseas as a medical volunteer and lived and worked in sub-Saharan Africa for many years. Interests include hiking, gardening, knitting, baking and photography.

GREG MCCASLIN. Webster U., BA. Was education director for the Roundabout Theatre Company, program director of the Center for Arts Education and director of education and information at the NY Foundation for the Arts. Is on the boards of the Partnership for After School Education and Dancing Classrooms Long Island.

SUSAN SABATINO. Empire State College of SUNY, BA; Columbia Teachers College, MA. Was a high school teacher in New York schools and developed an ethics curriculum there. Has kayaked and camped in remote Canadian and Alaskan waters. Also enjoys scuba diving, ballroom/salsa dancing, indoor gardening, Tai Chi, Pilates, reading and word games.