HMH Bearing Witness - December 2017

LEGACY SOC I ETY

VOLUNTEERS

Rhona and Bruce Caress came from a poor family and had a

Volunteer Appreciation Party The annual Volunteer Appreciation celebration took place April 27, 2017 at The Southmore Luxury High Rise’s 7th Floor Skyline Room. More than 80 attendees mixed and mingled while Holocaust survivor Bill Orlin acted as DJ for the night. Sandy Lessig received the Volunteer Appreciation Award for her dedication in honoring and remembering survivors with the “Through Their Eyes” speaker series and the creation of “Connections,” a program where a museum volunteer is paired with a Holocaust survivor.

R hona and Bruce Caress met at a Bar Mitzvah when they were both with other people, but that didn’t prevent them from connecting and becoming partners in life and marriage over 30 years ago. Each grew up with challenges and struggles, yet through hard work, perseverance and determination, they quickly became a couple the Houston community and numerous organizations have counted on, in many meaningful ways. Rhona, a Montreal native, was born to a Russian mother and a Canadian father. She grew up in an orthodox Jewish home, kept kosher and had a family who propagated her great interest in Israel. She moved to Houston in 1976, and went through a tumultuous divorce. She turned to Congregation Beth Yeshurun and Rabbi Jack Segal, “who made it possible on every level for me and my young son to survive.” She began working in construction industry sales, and quickly became a success. When she was able, she bought Jewish bonds and took her first trip to Israel in 1998. “I was transformed,” she recalls. “I immediately saw there must be a State of Israel, and it is our responsibility to keep it alive,” she proclaims.

hatred and document survivor’s stories. We must educate future generations to perpetuate the truth, no matter what. It is a vital and important organization.” The Caresses have also supported many other organizations, including AIPAC (where they are members of the top-level Minion Club), Aishel House, Seven Acres, Make- A-Wish Foundation, The Jewish Federation, Wounded Warriors, World Vision and Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces. They underwrote The Rhona and Bruce Caress Family Campus at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and the Caress Stadium at the Emery/Weiner School (built on the same land where Bruce had lived in his youth). They were honored at the Joe Dinner at Emery/Weiner, and were proud to watch their kids plan the event and secure donations – a value they hope they’ve passed on through their years of gifting and supporting. “Seeing our children begin to do what we have been doing philanthropically inspires us to continue doing more,” claims Rhona. “It’s a time in our lives when we can step up and witness what a difference it can make.” “We both feel incredibly blessed,” adds Bruce. “Giving back makes us feel good about ourselves and our legacy, and we like that. And I think it insures five minutes of immortality.” Five minutes, indeed.

difficult childhood, but early on, had the innate fortitude and desire to succeed,” he states. He entered the Big Brother program when he was 13, and was greatly influenced by Leon Samet, and his partner, Leon Mucasey, who he went to work for at Rental Management and L&L Management Company when he was 21. “Both men gave me my keen business acumen and Leon’s travels to Israel helped shape my feelings about the country. I am a conservative Jew who is not religious, but I’m very Jewish in my heart,” he explains. “I have long felt we need to actively perpetuate Judaism, or it will disappear.” He entered the carpet business in his late 20s and opened Redi Carpet, now in 23 cities, in 1981. “I was very diligent, persistent and determined to excel,” he states. “One of my three sons just became CEO of the company on January 1, and I am proud we are keeping the business in the family,” he proclaims. Since Bruce’s retirement from the company, the couple stays active traveling, taking numerous trips to Israel and have recently stepped up their philanthropic work, in general. “We have been involved in Holocaust Museum Houston since 1996, and I’ve been a member of the Board over the years,” adds Bruce. “As members of the Museum’s Legacy Society, we strongly believe in the Museum’s mission to eradicate

Gary Markowitz, Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, Sandy Lessig, Catherine Caverly

Yvonne Upchurch, Sherry Sinor

Bruce, originally from New York, moved to Houston in 1956 as a young boy. “I

Blanca N. Eckhart Suzi Feickart

Drs. David Howard and Sally Eisen Miller Judy A. Myers Nicki and Jeff Nachenberg Margaret E. Palco Dr. Nadine Michele Payn Dr. Hyman Penn and Mrs. Lynn Gordon Jeri Rochman Jeri and Marc Shapiro Joel Spira Michael D. Splawn Anna Steinberger, Ph.D. Lawrence and Renee Stern Ellen and Dan Trachtenberg Haya and Dr. Jacobo Varon Joy and Benjamin Warren Mary Lee Webeck Sandra Weiner Eileen D. Weisman J. Lan Williams

Claire Marshall, Nada Chandler, Mike Cahn

Iris and Alan Fisherman Nancy and Richie Freed Andrew T. Gardener, CFP ® Rhoda Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Graf Anne and Donald M. Graubart Joann Greenbaum Arline Guefen Sandra Vivian Hedrick Roger Dale Henderson, Sr. Molly Ann Kaplan Chris and Walter Kase Dr. Milton and Gail Klein Doreen and Marshall Lerner

Amy Frake, Margie Palco

Janice Adamson Betty E. Babendure Hazel and Eli Bensky Sandra and Sam Block Dr. and Mrs. Milton Boniuk Connie S. Boyd Michael and Eva Breston Mike and Susan Cahn Rhona and Bruce Caress John and Janet Carrigan Craig A. Cavanagh Shirley and Alan Cohn Debbye Crofoot-Morley Marci and Stewart Dallas Bailey Dalton-Binion and Greg Binion

Sandy Lessig Jo Ann Levine

Velva G. and H. Fred Levine Mike and Mickey Marvins

Courtney Tutt, Sally Miller, Lan Williams

Warren Krams, Mary Lee Webeck, Anna Steinberger, Madeline Pordorze

Bill “The DJ” Orlin

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