Yvonne and her brother Bob grew up in Glen Cove, on the North Shore of Long Island. Their parents were Holocaust survivors, German refugees who experienced unimaginable loss because many members of their extended family were killed during the Holocaust. Out of this profound tragedy came a deep commitment to Jewish life and community, a value Yvonne’s parents instilled firmly in their children.
The family joined the North Country Reform Synagogue, Ner Tamid, where Yvonne’s mother became president of Sisterhood, and then went on to make history as the first woman to serve as president of a synagogue on Long Island. Known fondly as “the mitzvah lady,” her warmth and kindness left an enduring legacy; even more than 20 years after her passing, people still approach Yvonne to share how much her mother meant to them.
Yvonne and Bob spent their summers at Pine Valley Camp, a Jewish sleepaway camp outside Montreal, Canada. During her high school years, Yvonne was active in LIFTY, the Long Island Federation of Temple Youth, which nurtured her strong Jewish identity and leadership skills from an early age.
Following high school, Yvonne attended the University of Rochester, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in linguistics. Her lifelong passion for language led her to study French, German, Japanese, Old French, and Hebrew.
She then went on to earn her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. She is admitted to the bar in both New York and Pennsylvania, as well as the U.S. Tax Court. Today, she is a Partner at Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP, where she leads the Tax Controversy Department. Her excellence in the field has been recognized by The Long Island Press, Long Island Business News, and The Herald, and she has been named a New York Metro “Super Lawyer” for ten consecutive years.
Yvonne and her husband, Dennis, met in the 80’s when he was relocated from a British software company, CAP in England, to New York City. They formed a very strong bond and eventually began dating. That ended when Dennis left CAP and returned to England to work for his father. During their time apart, they realized how much they loved each other. They were married at Ner Tamid, Yvonne’s family synagogue, before settling in England for eight years. Both of their children, Bronwen and Philip, were born there.
Dennis’s career brought the family back to Long Island and Yvonne began teaching religious school at Temple Beth El in Huntington before returning to legal practice. When the time came to find a synagogue home, she and Dennis attended an open house at the South Huntington Jewish Center, which has changed its name in recent years to Melville Jewish Center, and decided this was the right place for them.
Now, their children are successful young adults. Bronwen, holds degrees in physics and Chinese, works as a data scientist, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, Jason. Philip, a computer science graduate, lives in Melville and works as an Android engineer for Nuuly. Both Bronwen and Philip attended South Huntington’s religious school and SHMA program, and celebrated their Bat and Bar Mitzvahs there.
Dennis has also shared his musical talents with the synagogue community, singing in the choir and serving as the music arranger.
Yvonne’s impact at SHJC has been extraordinary. For over 20 years, she has served on the Sisterhood Board, taking on countless roles including Religious School Liaison, Education VP, Corresponding Secretary, Torah Fund VP, Social Action Chair, and now, Historian.
Beyond Sisterhood, Yvonne has served on the Synagogue Board since 2011. She has been the Israel Liaison, organizing Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations and coordinating the temple’s participation in the Celebrate Israel Parade. She has also served as Executive Vice President, co-chaired the Summer of Ahava program, helped organize the High Holiday ushers, and participated in the Rabbi Search Committee.
Among her many accomplishments, one in particular stands out: Yvonne’s creation of the Israeli Jazz and Film Festival at SHJC, in honor of Warren Tuckman, (may his memory be for a blessing). The festival was recognized by the USCJ as one of the most innovative and successful synagogue programs in the nation that year.
During the challenges of COVID, Yvonne once again rose to the occasion. She founded and chaired the original “Engagement Committee,” which kept the congregation connected and vibrant through virtual events and outdoor gatherings. Thanks to her leadership, the community stayed close during a time of great isolation. Programs such as the Challah Toss, Zoom Challah Bake, art lectures, Bingo and Havdalah services on the blacktop brought joy and continuity to congregants when they needed it most.
In addition to her synagogue leadership, Yvonne still finds time to enjoy the arts. She loves theater and has recently discovered a new passion: dance! She’s even taking Korean pop dance classes in New York City.