JGS Lifecare Elects Officers, Directors; Susan Kline Wins Service Award

LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare held its annual meeting on May 24, providing membership the opportunity to thank all who provided service, to honor talented and caring leaders, and to elect officers and directors of JGS Lifecare and all subsidiaries.

Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS Lifecare, presented highlights of the past year, including a new program of daily activities in the Leavitt Family Jewish Home that focuses on residents’ strengths; the introduction of Reiki and reflexology at Ruth’s House, JGS Lifecare’s assisted-living residence; and a national best-practice home-health agency award for Spectrum Home Health & Hospice. Baicker then introduced three nursing-home resident family members who shared heartfelt examples of how JGS Lifecare has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Members then voted on the appointments of corporators, board members, and officers, as required by corporate bylaws. Michele Feinstein, Maxine Goldsmith, and Michael Swirsky were elected to new three-year terms on the JGS Lifecare board of directors. New appointments included the election of Stuart Anfang as clerk and the addition of Michael Hirshberg and Gary Rappaport as directors for Genesis House. Seven board members were thanked and recognized for fulfilling their service, including David Katz, Mark Katz, David Shrair, Gary Rappaport, Michael Hirshberg, Alan Bullock, and Carol Kantany Casartello, who had served as clerk.

Dr. Robert Baevsky, chair of the JGS Lifecare board of directors, awarded Susan Kline the annual Chairman’s Service Award for her tireless advocacy and high-energy support of JGS Lifecare.

Her father’s admission to the Jewish Nursing Home as a resident in 1978 launched Kline’s volunteerism at what is now JGS Lifecare. Along with her role in initiating the Chesed Committee, the Ruth’s House newsletter, and the family council, Kline was elected to the board and executive committee. She also chaired the JGS future vision task force. As chair of the board from 2012 to 2014, she led JGS Lifecare to embrace transformational change through the adoption of the person-centered, small-house model of care. Along with attorney Stephen Krevalin, she currently chairs the campaign to fund JGS Lifecare’s Project Transformation and its signature project, the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.

Deeply involved in the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Kline is a past president (2006-09) and currently serves on the executive committee. She recently completed a six-year term on the board of National Women’s Philanthropy, a branch of the Jewish Federations of North America. In the 1990s, she was the first female president of Kodimoh synagogue, now B’nai Torah. Long associated with Harold Grinspoon Foundation, first as a trustee (1993-2004) and then as an employee (2005-15), she directed significant programs related to legacy giving, camping, and initiatives in western Massachusetts.

Also at the meeting, Krevalin provided an update on the $9 million Project Transformation Campaign in support of five campus initiatives that will enhance person-centered care across all life-care services. For more information about the campaign, contact Susan Kimball Halpern, vice president of Philanthropy, at (413) 567-6211 or shalpern@jgslifecare.org.