18 | MAY 9 • 2024 a positive impact in the community. A committed citizen and community advocate, she chaired the Tikkun Olam committee at Beth Ahm for many years. Kalef, who resides with her husband at JSL’s Meer Apartments, also served as president of its Resident Council for three terms, encouraging and implementing numerous social action initiatives to benefit West Bloomfield firefighters and police officers, Yad Ezra and the homeless population. Kalef has always enjoyed writing. She penned a popular column for many years in the PhenomeNews magazine called “Let’s Get Organized” and worked with businesses and homeowners to help them do the same. She also writes content for the Meer Apartments newsletter. Since moving to Meer Apartments, Nancy has served as the ambassador who welcomes visiting prospects and new residents. BARRY KAUFMAN Barry Kaufman’s career was spent at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as an administrative assistant in the automotive department. Active throughout his life in Jewish causes and community activities, he was president of Tucker Grant B’nai B’rith, served on the B’nai Moshe board of directors and as past president of the synagogue’s men’s club, and chaired the Yom HaShoah Candle Program. Kaufman volunteered for several three-week assignments in Israel with the IDF, using his ham radio skills to refit antennas on jeeps. He also served on the Youth Connection, helping at-risk teens in underserved communities in Detroit, Pontiac and Mount Clemens. For the past 14 years, Kaufman, who lives in West Bloomfield, has been living with Lewy Body Dementia. He has made up his mind not to let the disease define him or bring him down. Always smiling, he advocates for others struggling with the disease. Kaufman is an active participant in research, support groups, multiple studies at the University of Michigan, and has written many articles about Lewy Body Dementia focused on creating caring communities for those dealing with it daily, including a few in the Detroit Jewish News. His outlook and involvement even led to stories in AARP Magazine. ALAN S. SCHWARTZ Alan S. Schwartz is highly regarded for his distinguished career as a corporate attorney at Honigman LLP and for his leadership and service supporting many of Detroit’s most important Jewish and civic organizations. At Honigman, where he was chair and CEO and now serves as Chair Emeritus, Schwartz counseled clients for more than a half century on their most important business and personal matters. In the community, he was president of Congregation Shaarey Zedek and chaired its endowment campaign, chair of Clover Hill Park Cemetery and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and served as a director of JARC, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Legacy Detroit. Schwartz has also served as general counsel to the Detroit Institute of Arts for more than 40 years. He has mentored numerous community leaders and professionals, including CEOs and philanthropists, by sharing his wisdom and experience. He and his wife, Sandy, of blessed memory, have been major supporters of many Detroit Jewish institutions, including the Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women, which Sandy co-founded. SUZANNE SIMON Suzanne Simon is a former early childhood and parent educator and past presi- dent of the Metro Detroit Association for Education of Young Children (MDAEYC), who has volunteered for many decades supporting children’s and Jewish causes close to her heart. Over the last several decades, she has volunteered at Yad Ezra kosher food pantry, Friendship Circle’s Ferber Kaufman LifeTown and Oakland County Family Court serving as a Children’s Advocate. As an early child- hood educator, she was a volunteer evaluator, trav- eling to preschools across Michigan to assess sites for national accreditation. She volunteered regularly at Sunday brunch events for FJA student Grace Kleinfeldt interviews Eight Over Eighty Honoree Sharon Alterman. OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 16 BRETT MOUNTAIN