Bob Weinfeld (left), the “Mayor of Legacy Willow Bend,” found himself on the other side of the microphone when interviewed by Marilyn Israel, executive director of The Legacy Willow Bend, at a June installment of the series.
By Deb Silverthorn
Special to the TJP
The Legacy’s speaker series and Legacy’s Book Club, which are held at The Legacy Willow Bend and hosted by Legacy “Mayor” Bob Weinfeld, are underway and will continue their fall seasons next week.
The speaker series schedule is full with residents, community members, staffers of The Legacy and more. At 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, Weinfeld will interview Marc Stanley; at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 he will help share the stories of Dr. Mark Unterberg; and at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, Alex Jonas, a resident of The Legacy Willow Bend, will respond to Weinfeld’s dialogue.
“These programs are so much a part of my life that I will tell you in putting them together I am busier at 90 than I was at 40 and I’m going to keep doing them as long as I can,” said Weinfeld, who has interviewed nearly 30 people in the last year, and led the Legacy Book Club for a number of years.
Weinfeld started out interviewing residents but the title of the event has grown as he believes it’s important the residents learn, not only about each other, but also about those who work so hard for them — the people behind the scenes — as well as people in the community who affect their lives hands-on, and perhaps from afar.
On Monday, Sept. 12, the Legacy Book Club will host Dr. Joe McIlhaney, founder of The Medical Institute for Sexual Health and a resident of the Legacy Willow Bend. He will review The Zookeeper’s Wife, a nonfiction book written by the poet and naturalist Diane Ackerman. Other presentations slated are:
- Oct. 10, author Steve Bruneman will discuss his book Winning the Marriage Gamble
- Nov. 7, Dr. Michael Weisberg will review his book The Hospitalist
- Nov. 14, Susan Ronald will share her book Hitler’s Art Thief
- Dec. 5, Suzy Harmon will share her first book published, Hungry For Health, Starved For Time
The above book club events begin at 3:30 p.m., except Nov. 14, when Ronald will begin at 2:30.
“I couldn’t be more excited to participate,” Stanley said. “I know that Bob’s programs are always a great hit. He’s an incredible guy and I’m always astounded by his level of energy and commitment.” The Sept. 14 interviewee’s fingerprints are on The Legacy as current chairman of The Legacy Senior Communities. Long involved in many areas of Dallas’ Jewish community, he is an attorney whose practice is concentrated on complex commercial litigation.
“I’ve visited The Legacy before to discuss my role in the political circle but I think this will be more personal and a chance to talk about the future of The Legacy and the development of Legacy Midtown Park in North Dallas (slated to open in 2019).”
Dr. Mark Unterberg has been a consulting psychiatrist for the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers. Also in private practice for psychiatry and psychoanalysis, Unterberg is the referring psychiatrist and consultant for World Wrestling Entertainment.
“My work is about helping people live lives that are as full as possible with the highest of quality. As we age, for many the mind can remain as vibrant as ever for a much longer time frame as our physical bodies,” Unterberg said.
Bringing the names and faces that people are not as familiar with is as important to Weinfeld as those whom community members see and hear much of. This week’s guest was photographer Winn Fuqua, whom most might not recognize, but many in the community have had their photograph taken — or enjoyed — as his client roster includes the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Temple Emanu-El, Sprint, Raytheon, Texas Monthly, Volkswagen and many more.
The speaker series and Legacy Book Club are open to the community, and there is no fee to attend, but it is requested that non-residents RSVP to participate by calling 972-468-6200.