My mother, Adelaide Bry, is my most important role model. After she got divorced in the 1960s, she went to work at a job where she was paid less than the men doing comparable work, and there was nothing she could do about it. Although she was busy raising my brother and me, she found the time to volunteer for the American Jewish Committee and other non-profit organizations. She encouraged me to get confirmed at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia. Because of my mom, I’ve devoted a large part of my life to empowering other women and paying tribute to my Jewish roots, and I am honored to have served as Chair of the San Diego Jewish Women’s Foundation.

I feel that my life has exceeded my expectations. This is why my estate includes a gift to the Jewish Community Foundation and other Jewish organizations, as well as the establishment of a donor advised fund for my two daughters, Sarah and Rachel. It is my hope that the experience of helping our community will enrich their lives as much as it has mine.