Jill was born and raised in Cedarhurst and Hewlett. She and her two brothers attended the Lynbrook School System. At Lynbrook High School Jill excelled in sports and participated in numerous clubs. She loved competitive sports and was good enough to play on the honor teams in table tennis, badminton, volleyball, field hockey, and basketball. As a result of her athletic ability, the Nassau-Suffolk Athletic Association awarded her a Certificate of Athletic Achievement. Today that designation equates to a four-letter athlete.

 

Jill has always filled her time with hobbies that she shared with her family and friends. Her father taught her chess as a young girl and she continues to play, even teaching her five grandsons the game. Jill’s mother introduced her to Canasta and Mah Jongg, games she still enjoys playing today. She also joined bowling and tennis leagues. Her other leisure-time activities include reading, walking, and fitness, which is still a constant in her life.

 

Jill met her future husband, Steve, when they attended Lynbrook High School together. After graduation they went off to different colleges – Steve to become a science teacher and Jill to become a dental hygienist, graduating with high honors. After an eight-year career, Jill took time off to raise their two daughters, Jennifer and Alison, who also attended the Lynbrook School System. The girls were good students and participated in many school activities. Today both are quite successful: Jennifer is a veterinarian, living in New York City with her husband and three sons, and Alison is a personal trainer, living in Parkland, Fla., with her husband and two sons.

 

In 1979, Jill returned to the workforce, but at the Greater Five Towns JCC Nursery School, first as an assistant teacher and then as the office manager. Jill worked full-time there for 39 years and was a tremendous force in helping to build the program into a large and prestigious nursery school now based at Temple Israel of Lawrence. It was here that Jill honed her excellent organizational and leadership skills, in addition to putting her natural communication and social capabilities to use.

 

When Jill retired in 2018, she found a place next to her husband, Steve, at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre. She attended services, found new friends, and joined Sisterhood and several committees. Currently, she serves on the temple’s Board of Trustees, helps prepare the temple’s Memorial Book every summer, and organizes the long-neglected Judaica Shop with other volunteers. Jill also transports food donated through her temple to The Rina Shkolnick Food Pantry, a division of the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC.

 

Jill and Steve are committed supporters of Conservative Judaism and have visited Israel several times. Their younger daughter, Alison, became a bat mitzvah in Israel and two of their grandsons had their bar mitzvah there. And this spring, one grandson will embark on Birthright Israel.

 

Jill and Steve enjoy traveling extensively, playing golf, gardening, cooking dinners together, and trying new recipes. They also enjoy their continued involvement in the congregation at B’nai Sholom-Beth David. Jill is a vibrant, active woman who is always ready to help a friend – by driving to medical appointments, helping to clean out a basement, or providing a sympathetic ear, among other deeds. People can always count on Jill to join in and help others –always with a smile!