Sol and Clara Kramer, accompanied by Bryan Fox, left, and Mark Bloomberg, cut into their 60th anniversary cake at the Union Y’s annual raffle dinner.
Photo by Elaine Durbach
January 15, 2009
Usually a place for casual comfort, on Sunday evening, Jan. 11, the YM-YWHA of Union County took on a more formal look. Sweat suits and athletic gear gave way to glittering evening wear, as members gathered for the dedication of the newly renovated indoor swimming pool, and then for the Union Y’s annual raffle dinner.
Joe Starkey was the guest of honor at both events. He is executive director of public affairs and president of the Schering-Plough Foundation, which provided a $100,000 grant for repairs on the 41-year-old pool.
At the waterside ceremony, Y board member Dr. Samantha Pozner, a prime mover behind the project, joined Y board chair Sol Kramer, president Mark Bloomberg, and executive vice president Bryan Fox in laying out what had been achieved with that money.
Fox said that following Starkey’s advice, the grant was cited as a backup for further funding applications. One has already proved successful, and they are awaiting word on another.
The Schering-Plough grant covered a list of changes, including replacement of the windows, new wall tiles, regrouting of the pool and its surrounds, and a new radiator system. Fox pointed out that much of the work was done in-house, under the leadership of Kramer and maintenance director Hugo Sanchez, enabling them to stretch the dollars further than expected.
Kramer and his wife, Clara, were feted at the raffle dinner that followed — and not just for their generosity in helping fund the event. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary the day before and were presented with a cake topped with a large sugar “60.”
Rabbi Avrohom Herman of the JEC Elmora Synagogue gave a brief d’var Torah. He suggested that for the duration of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, members of the local Jewish community make a special effort both to make clear their identity and solidarity as Jews and to perform the mitzva of refraining from negative talk about other people.
Fox said that, contrary to fears that the economic downturn would undercut the year’s main fund-raiser, they sold only slightly fewer $100 tickets than last year — around 630, down from 670. It was a measure, he said — as he continued to nudge community members to buy more tickets — of their commitment to the organization, even in a time of stress.
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