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Sylvia Zukin figures she's hung around the JCC for 45 years pro-
/noting health and fitness to members because it's a heirnish place
to be. "It's my home away from home," she says.
For Sylvia, it's more than just a home away from home. It's a place
of hope and healing. The long-time Hydrotone and body aware-
ness instructor and former Women's Health Club director began
teaching at the Dexter Davison Building and has taught at the
JCC at each successive location. But at age 30, a jolt—polio—and
the young mother of three had to begin her career anew.
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The former dancer was helped in her recovery by swimming and
dancing. When she returned to work, she taught dance rather than
perform, and it was full speed ahead from there. She initiated
many health and fitness programs at the JCC, participated in con-
ferences and panels, appeared on radio and TV in the 1960s and
encouraged volunteerism. She has taught hundreds of JCC mem-
bers throughout her career, and today has some of their grand-
children in her classes.
In February, JCC members and staff, family and friends paid trib-
ute to Sylvia on her 80th birthday and for her long-time service to
the JCC. It gave this mother of three, grandmother of 11 and
great-grandmother of four an opportunity to sum up her career:
"Being at the JCC is the most wonderful experience in my entire
life, other than my family and friends!"
Nursery school children celebrate their graduation at the Aaron DeRoy
Memorial Building on Woodward Avenue and Holbrook Street in 1945.
"I believe in play," says Barbara Cantor, a teacher in the Sarah
and Irving Pitt Child Development Center at the Kahn Building.
That's what keeps her involved in teaching preschool children in
addition to the fact that "I just like kids."
A former kindergarten teacher and nursery school operator,
Barbara began her JCC teaching experience at the Curtis/Meyers
Building. She started two programs: one for children age 21
months-3 years and one for parents and their toddlers.
She says her favorite age to teach is the 21 month-3-year-old
group "because they're so open and innocent and untouched by the
world."
In 31 years with the JCC preschool program, Barbara says the
kids haven't changed and neither have her teaching methods. She
still teaches colors, numbers, art, concepts and the Jewish holi-
days.
Currently, there are five children of her former students in her
classes. "That's an honor,' she says.
Sylvia Zukin, right, who for more than 45 years has taught health and fitness
classes at the JCC, conducts this women's exercise class at the Dexter Davison
building in the 1950s.
Barbara attributes her long-time association with the JCC to the
opportunity to be involved—as a teacher and in JCC programs and
activities. "I love everything that I do" as a teacher at the JCC and
"I love being a part of the Center."