36 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2019 

Jews in the D

B

arbara Cantor is a true legend in the 
eyes of the children and parents she 
taught and nurtured during her ten-
ure as a respected educator. In December 
2018, after 48 years teaching and inspiring 
at the Jewish Community Center, Barbara, 
at age 86, retired. It would be difficult, if 
not impossible, to find anyone in the Jewish 
community who has had a greater impact on 
young families. 
 To honor Cantor for her service and com-
mitment, there will be an open house in her 
honor on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m.-
noon at the West Bloomfield JCC. 
Cantor, a graduate of Wayne State 
University, began her career as a kindergar-
ten teacher in Detroit. In her second year of 
teaching, she and her beloved husband, Larry, 
welcomed their first child, Susie, who was 
soon joined by three more siblings: Wendy, 
Robert and Nancy. 
Sensing a need for a quality neighborhood 
preschool program, Barbara opened and 
operated a nursery school in her basement 
for eight years while raising her own children. 
She took a brief sabbatical when she and 
Larry moved to a bigger home in Farmington 
Hills. During the hiatus, they welcomed two 
more children, Jody and Marcy. 
In 1971, Cantor was approached by Mort 
Plotnick, assistant director of the Jewish 

Community Center, which had received a 
grant from the University of Michigan to 
pilot a preschool program for parents and 
toddlers together, the first of its kind in the 
country. Plotnick wanted her to develop 
and lead this program. The curriculum was 
intended to guide, teach and mentor parents 
in how to relate to, teach and parent their 
child as well as to provide a socially and emo-
tionally engaging, play-filled environment 
for their toddlers. Cantor created a class that 
fulfilled that intention while incorporating 
Jewish values. This pilot became the impetus 
for many successful parent-toddler curricula 
nationally.
Cantor, with her infectious smile, charm-
ing wit and unbridled warmth, was a natural 
leader. The first of these classes opened to 
mothers and toddlers. They were so popular 
they were soon offered five days a week. Two 
teachers were added to meet the demand. 
Cantor’
s classroom was exceptional: hamish, 
warm, lively and thoroughly entertaining. 
She taught song, art and Jewish traditions to 
both parents and children.
In 1976, with the opening of the JCC in 
West Bloomfield, Cantor toted her menag-
erie of toys, puppets, books and music to 
new quarters in the Sarah and Irving Pitt 
Child Development Center. She expanded 
class offerings to include father-toddler classes 

on Sundays, again filling to capacity. As fam-
ily dynamics changed, she welcomed many 
grandparents and nannies who accompanied 
their toddlers as well. 
Cantor never missed a class. She was 
organized, devoted and creative. Each week, 
she’
d present a huge bag filled with props and 
puppets that helped “tell the story” she shared 
with her class. The children paid rapt atten-
tion to her storytelling while their parents 
sat in awe. She created a magical experience. 
Her big blue carpet was a place where life-
long friendships and a love for learning were 
made. 
Over the years, Cantor touched the lives of 
three generations of families and thousands 
of children who attended her classes. 
In addition to her love of teaching, she 
always made time to volunteer. She was a reg-
ular at the Jewish Film Festival and still assists 
at every Jewish Book Fair and Bookstock 
, in 
the children’
s section, of course. 
Cantor has made 34 trips to Israel — most 
of them as a volunteer with SAR-EL, spend-
ing three weeks each summer at an army base 
in a logistics support role. To commemorate 
each of these trips, she adds a silver bangle 
bracelet to her wrist as a proud reminder of 
another year of service. 
Cantor is passionate about teaching and 
volunteerism, but her greatest sense of pride 
and accomplishment comes from her six tal-
ented and creative children, 11 grandchildren 
and two great-grandchildren, the luckiest 
beneficiaries of her many wonderful gifts. 
Please join her family, friends, former stu-
dents and parents to reminisce and wish her 
a hearty Todah Rabah on Sept. 15. She’
d love 
to see you there. Details at jccdet.org. 

COURTESY OF SUSIE CANTOR

 Barbara surrounded by her daughters: Nancy, Marcy, 
 
 
 Wendy and Susie.

JCC to Honor the Retired 
Barbara Cantor

NANCY SOLWAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Barbara and six of her 
11 grandchildren

a tribute