Newsmakers – October, 2022
Top row: Dr. Vicky Fraser, Dr. Steve Miller, Marilyn and Dr. Gary Ratkin, Daniel Kaufer and Earl Kessler. Second row: David Levi, Helene (Wagman) Sherman, Richard Stack, Silas Goldman and Susie Rubin. Third row: Harvey Brandvein, Marylen Mann, Sheila Greenbaum, Fran Levine and Dr. Sherman J. Silber. Fourth row: Bill Dauben, Dr. Ryan Fields, Beth Kodner and Ariel Ferman.
Published October 26, 2022
At the upcoming Heart & Soul Gala, Congregation Shaare Emeth will honor Drs. Vicky Fraser and Steve Miller with the Harris Frank Community Service Award and Marilyn and Dr. Gary Ratkin with the Tzedek Award. The Harris Frank Community Service Award recognizes congregants who have demonstrated exemplary service to the congregation, St. Louis Jewish and greater St. Louis communities. The Tzedek Award acknowledges members of the congregation whose lives exemplify the Jewish value of Tzedek (righteous action) both within the congregation and in the community at large. The gala will take place on Nov. 12.
On Oct. 14, the University City High School Alumni Hall of Fame inducted 11 people, including:
• Daniel Kaufer, ’77, (deceased), a neurologist specializing in the targeted and humane treatment of patients and families dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.
• Earl Kessler, ’59, an internationally renowned architect specializing in housing and sustaining communities in some of the most vulnerable places in the world
• David Levi, ’77, an internationally recognized glassmaker.
• Helene (Wagman) Sherman, ’62, a professor of mathematics education who has authored dozens of textbooks and articles.
• Richard Stack, ’70, Founder of a food bank and communications specialist who has used his skills to write books and produce a documentary advocating for the end of the death penalty.
The next induction of Parkway alumni into the Parkway Alumni Hall of Fame will take place on Nov. 12 at the Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel. Silas Goldman, Parkway North High School class of ’99, is one of the 11 who will be honored. He is assistant vice president of operations at Vee Technologies, where he leads a team of 5,000 on population health research, healthcare innovation, and clinical delivery reform. Silas’ predictive diagnosis AI models are in use at several academic medical universities
Susie Rubin joined the mindyKNOWS team as a concierge associate. mindyKNOWS is an independent concierge service for college families at Washington University. Rubin will assist parents with recommendations, referrals and custom deliveries for their students. She is a member of Temple Emanuel.
St. Louis Small Business Monthly named Harvey Brandvein, vice president of Wealth Management at Together Credit Union, a Best Wealth Manager-Top Finalist in the publication’s 2022-23 Best in Business, Business Owners’ Guide. Brandvein attends Shaare Emeth.
Marylen Mann will receive the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ National Philanthropy Day Awards Celebration. The Nov. 15 event pays tribute to the region’s philanthropic and nonprofit community. It takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Foundation – ZACK Urban Ballroom. She and her husband, Frank Jacobs, are members of Congregation Temple Israel and Central Reform Congregation.
Sheila Greenbaum and Fran Levine will be honored on Oct. 24 at the 77th annual awards ceremony for the National Conference for Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis (NCCJ). The awards honor people who have embraced the tenets of NCCJ’s work to make St. Louis a community where all people are valued and respected. Greenbaum is senior counsel at Capes Sokol and attends CRC. Levine is the former president of the Missouri Historical Society and is a member of Temple Emanuel.
Dr. Sherman J. Silber was recognized as one of the “Giants in Reproductive Medicine” at the 6th IVF Worldwide Online Congress. The honor recognized his contributions to the field of infertility and transformation of patient care through his career, research pursuits, and mentorship of others. Silber is the medical director of Infertility Services at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Former St. Louisan Bill Dauben is the new fixed operations manager at Legendary Marine, one of the largest service and parts boat dealers in the in Destin area.
Dr. Ryan Fields was recently installed as the Kim and Tim Eberlein Distinguished Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. A member of Temple Israel, Fields is a surgical oncologist.
Beth Kodner accepted the new position of director of development and membership at Shaare Emeth. Her responsibilities include creating and executing all fundraising events, serving as the point of contact for donors and prospective donors and managing the membership process. A member of Shaare Emeth, Kodner previously served as the director of Camp Emeth.
Ariel Ferman opened Artistry by Ariel Photography LLC. She specializes in session and event photography including engagements, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, family and graduation photos. Ferman attends Congregation B’nai Amoona.
