Iris Lesser, M.D.
Woman of AchievementManetto Hill Jewish Center
Iris Lesser, M.D., was born in Brooklyn but moved to East Meadow shortly afterwards. Her family belonged to Temple Emanuel, where she attended religious school and participated in the youth group through high school. The summer after she graduated from Hofstra University she got married, moved to Bayside, and started medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After completing medical school she stayed at Einstein, first as a resident and then on the faculty, where she ran a developmental disabilities clinic until her retirement in 2017.
After nine years in Bayside, Iris and her husband moved their family to Plainview. When her older daughter was three, the family joined Manetto Hill Jewish Center and has remained there ever since. Both of her daughters, Ivy and Jennifer, went to religious school from pre-primary school through their Bat Mitzvah, after which Iris and her family remained active in Jewish life. Over the years, she has been on several committees, including Education, which she eventually ran, and Ways and Means, as well as being a temple trustee and Sisterhood member. She also became a regular attendee at Shabbat services. More recently, Iris became a Sisterhood trustee, and sees herself in a supporting role, pitching in wherever and whenever she is needed. Iris thanks Manetto Hill Jewish Center Sisterhood for recommending her for the Woman of Achievement honor.
Since her retirement, Iris and her husband began to travel, finally making a long-awaited trip to Israel. The following summer, Iris was busy planning a wedding. When COVID hit, the family had the “kids” and their dogs living with them and Iris decided that she needed her own puppy, so she and her husband added Penny to the family. They also took up pickleball and are busy with projects around the house. Iris says she often wonders how she had time to work!
After nine years in Bayside, Iris and her husband moved their family to Plainview. When her older daughter was three, the family joined Manetto Hill Jewish Center and has remained there ever since. Both of her daughters, Ivy and Jennifer, went to religious school from pre-primary school through their Bat Mitzvah, after which Iris and her family remained active in Jewish life. Over the years, she has been on several committees, including Education, which she eventually ran, and Ways and Means, as well as being a temple trustee and Sisterhood member. She also became a regular attendee at Shabbat services. More recently, Iris became a Sisterhood trustee, and sees herself in a supporting role, pitching in wherever and whenever she is needed. Iris thanks Manetto Hill Jewish Center Sisterhood for recommending her for the Woman of Achievement honor.
Since her retirement, Iris and her husband began to travel, finally making a long-awaited trip to Israel. The following summer, Iris was busy planning a wedding. When COVID hit, the family had the “kids” and their dogs living with them and Iris decided that she needed her own puppy, so she and her husband added Penny to the family. They also took up pickleball and are busy with projects around the house. Iris says she often wonders how she had time to work!