1. Hakol March April 2013 - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

our dinner dance honorees
PAMELA AND DAN GERSTMAN
Pam and Dan met at LaGuardia Airport in 1983 during
a weather delay before heading back to the Univer sity of
Buffalo where they both graduated. They were married
in 1986, moved into the Five Towns community in
1989 and have been active members of Hewlett-East
Rockaway Jewish Centre (HERJC) for 23 years. All four
of their children are graduates of HERJC’s Nursery and
Religious School. And there is no greater joy for Pam
and Dan than to share their lives with their children;
Lauren, who resides in Manhattan and works in advertising
strategic planning; Charlie, who
lives in Manhattan while attending
graduate school for Accounting in
preparation for the start of his career
with BDO; Brooke, who just completed
her freshman year at the University
of Michigan and Gaby, a junior at
Lynbrook High School.
Dan serves on the Board of
Directors, Executive Committee and is
past President of HERJC. With all of
HERJC’s accomplishments, Dan recognizes
that it is the wonderful combination
of willing volunteers past and
present who allow HERJC to be the
vibrant synagogue we cherish so
deeply. That total team effort from hundreds of meaningful
individuals has always led to wonderful achievements
at HERJC going back to its’ founding in 1949.
During Dan’s Presidency the Building Blocks program
was established to give young families the opportunity
for Membership and Jewish Education and the synagogue
community embarked on Mitzvah 613, a major
Torah writing project under the inspired leadership of
Rabbi Warmflash.
In the past five years Pam completed her graduate
work at Queens College and CW Post to become a
Registered Dietitian. She then launched Nutrition by
Pam in her commitment to educate and assist others to
eat well and lead healthy lifestyles. As a member of the
Long Island Dietetic Association, she volunteers with
local school districts and hospitals as a speaker to
educate and inspire.
Professionally, Dan is President of Quest Service
Group and the Gerstman Group which together provide
national retail merchandising and installation services.
The company also provides a full spectrum of sales,
consulting and marketing services that
help manufacturers in the home channel
industry.
Dedicated to giving back to the community,
Pam and Dan are co-founders
of the Lisa Beth Gerstman Foundation,
named in memory of Dan’s sister Lisa
who died tragically in a summer camp
bus accident. Since 2003 the foundation
has enabled over 1,250 children
with special needs to experience summer
day camp, many attending UJA
Federation supported JCC camps in
Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Nas -
sau and Suffolk. Participating camps
also include the Y, Pal-O-Mine and the
Children’s Aid Society.
Pam and Dan are so grateful to Audrey and Elliott
Polinsky and Roberta and Stuart Sugarman for taking
on the immense task of Co-Chairing our Dinner Dance
on top of their very busy lives. And a special thank
you to Liz and Harold Kislik, individuals who give
their time so generously and believe so deeply in our
Egalitarian Conservative Movement. We reap the benefits
of their energy along with countless volunteers and
dedicated staff who have done so much meaningful
work to create a vision of optimism for HERJC.
Raffle Prizes Needed for our Annual Dinner Dance
Please call 599-2634 or email secy@herjc.org if you and/or your company can donate a prize.
page 8 MARCH/APRIL 2013 www.herjc.org HAKOL