By Amy Wolff Sorter
A week ago, when I got in touch with Alex Nason about the Isadore Garsek Lodge B’nai B’rith’s banquet for its Person of the Year award, his comment to me was that he didn’t know who it was.
He allowed he was a little surprised that he didn’t know, considering that, as one of the event’s long-time organizers, he’d been informed in previous years. I thought it was a little odd, too, but I didn’t dwell on it. Well, the reason for all the secrecy became clear at the event itself, which took place Oct. 28 — Nason was the recipient.
“It was a total surprise,” said Nason, a member of Congregation Ahavath Sholom. “I had no idea I was going to be Person of the Year. Here I am, involved with the organization and people kept asking me ‘who is it?’” I didn’t know and they kept telling me not to worry about it. Every year, it worked out, so why should I worry about it?”
There’s good reason why Nason was honored; he’s been a mainstay at B’nai B’rith’s local chapter for close to 20 years, and with the B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Corporation. He has also been heavily involved with Congregation Ahavath Sholom, the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and Jewish Family Services.
“Our honoree is an outstanding exemplar of a committed Jew and has been willing to step up and take positions of leadership in Jewish organizations in our community,” said Barry Schneider, the 2011 Man of the Year, in introducing Nason. “Our honoree is the living embodiment of a true mensch. Not only is he willing to take leadership positions…he is also not afraid to become involved in the day-to-day work in the trenches.”
Alex and his family (wife Sophia and sons Robert and Michael) came to Fort Worth from Houston in 1987.
“It was supposed to be a six-month temporary assignment for my work,” Alex explained. But he and his wife (both of whom immigrated from the Soviet Union during the early 1980s) liked Fort Worth and decided to stay. These days, he’s CEO at Zip Eyewear and was a former franchisee of Pearle Vision. He’s also worked with Bechtel Power Corp., Ebasco and DMI International.
Alex shared his achievement with his wife and brother-in-law, as well as the 250 folks who were in attendance. He also has family in California (including a granddaughter) and said he and his wife will look forward to spending Thanksgiving on the West Coast with them.
Honoring our veterans
The next Daytimers event will take place at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven in Fort Worth.
But this won’t be just any Daytimers event — it will be a special “thank you” luncheon to honor our brave men and women in uniform. On tap will be Fort Worth pediatrician and author Julian Haber, whose presentation is titled “Jewish Military Heroes You Never Heard Of.”
Cost is $9 per person with lunch (catered by Ming Wok) or $4 if you’re interested only in the program.
For information and reservations, call Barbara Rubin at 81-927-2736, Hugh Lamensdorf at 817-738-1428 or Larry Steckler, 520-990-3155. You can also reserve your space by visiting www.bethelfw.org/donations.
A message from Rosalie
Arlene Levy contacted us recently with a message from her mom, Rosalie Schwartz, who suffered a stroke in July. Here’s the note, in its entirety, and it’s good to see that Rosalie is on the mend.
“To all my friends in the Fort Worth and surrounding area, I want to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and good wishes for my recovery from my stroke 4½ months ago on July 19. I am still recuperating in Houston at my daughter’s, Arlene Levy’s, home, doing physical, occupational and speech therapies. My thoughts are with all of you and I want to thank you for the many cards and prayers, for my health. I hope I can be with you soon. Rosalie Schwartz.”
Our thoughts are with you, too, Rosalie, for a continued refuah shlema.
Keep that news coming
To those of you who were nice enough to send me news, it’ll run next week. Please keep the emails coming. I like having as much news as possible, and not only scheduled events. I’ll take a look at just about anything and everything — so long as it concerns folks in the Tarrant County area. You can reach me at awsorter@yahoo.com.
