16 | JULY 25 • 2024 

Compassionate Caregiver
Jennifer Kellman, longtime recreation 
coordinator/site supervisor at The Dorothy 
and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult 
Day Program in West Bloomfield, has received 
the Sandra and Alfred I. Sherman award that 
honors individuals who provide excellent, 
professional and compassionate care to 
seniors served. 
The Brown Program is a joint initiative 
of Gesher Human Services and Jewish 
Senior Life and provides innovative and 
engaging activities and care for those 
living with dementia along with support 
for their families at its two centers in West 
Bloomfield and Southfield. Kellman, who 
has been with the program since it started 
in April 2000, received her award at the 
Jewish Senor Life 14th Annual Meeting. 
“The Brown Center participants are what 
I love the most about my job. The rela-
tionships and interpersonal connections 
we develop make it extremely rewarding 
and a privilege to spend time with them,” 
Kellman said.
 She explained that many participants 
were very interesting, with varied life expe-
riences.
“Whether they are smiling, laughing or 
thanking me for a fun day it helps reaffirm 
that I am making a difference in their lives,” 
Kellman said. “Their hugs at the end of the 
day convey so much to me without words.” 
Brown Program Director Debi Banooni 
said Jennifer not only carries with her the 
whole history of the center but also pro-
vides compassion, dedication and creativ-
ity to the program, participants and their 
families as well as the staff.
 “The Brown Program is truly lucky to 
have her on the team,” she added. 

Jennifer Kellman with her family, from left to right, 
son Cameron, husband Marc and son Jaden

The Matthews Family Foundation, 
which features vibrant university 
level courses that have already begun 
inspiring and engaging residents at a 
high level.
Several Jewish Senior Life 
awards were presented by Tracey 
Proghovnick, Jewish Senior Life’s 
director of residential marketing 
and community relations. Jennifer 
Kellman, the site supervisor at the 
Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish 
Community Day Program, received 
the Sandra and Alfred I. Sherman 
Award, which honors individuals 
who provide excellent, professional 
and compassionate care to JSL cli-
ents. The Michael Cloonan Award, 
created in memory of a long-time 
beloved JSL employee, was given 
to Zynobia Adams, live-in building 
attendant at Prentis Apartments, 
as well as to Ciera Gordon, a med 

passer and personal care attendant at 
Coville Assisted Living and Memory 
Care Community, both in Oak Park.
Heinrich presented JSL’s 2024 
Award of Excellence to Neil Satovsky, 
who accepted via video from out of 
the country. This award celebrates 
remarkable individuals from within 
the JSL family or from outside in the 
community who have made a lasting 
impact on the lives of older adults, 
improved the agency or the lives of 
our residents through board work or 
philanthropic gifts. Satovsky served 
as past president of the JSL board of 
directors and is an outgoing board 
member, having served to honor the 
memory of his father who enjoyed 
living at Meer Apartments.
Jewish Senior Life installed its 
2024-25 officers and board mem-
bers. New president, Jason Fisher, 
expressed his gratitude and enthusi-
asm for upholding the JSL mission. 

Nancy Siegel Heinrich, Deborah Rosenthal and Mark Kowalsky

JSL’s Tracey Proghovnick and award recipient Zynobia Adams

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