More than 100 people gathered in the Marty Einhorn Pavilion for the dedication.
The dedication of the Marty Einhorn Pavilion took place on a practically perfect Sunday morning earlier this month. The bright blue sky hosted puffy white clouds, the jazz sounds of the Jimmy Master’s Trio welcomed guests, lunch was tasty, and the program, paying tribute to Marty Einhorn, a beloved community member, was heartfelt…and brief.
Einhorn, who passed away February 18, 2021, served on the boards of directors of 14 separate non-profit organizations in various leadership positions, including as president of the Simon Family JCC. He was chair-elect of Tidewater Jewish Foundation and chaired United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s finance committee, among his many other roles.
Alvin Wall and Jeff Chernitzer, Einhorn’s long-time business partners and friends, served as co-chairs of the event. Both told stories about Einhorn and didn’t shy away from interjecting bits of humor.
Chernitzer noted that as he looked around he saw people from about “20 different aspects of Marty’s life.” In addition to his widow, Susan Einhorn, son, Will Einhorn, parents, Lois and Barry Einhorn, and sister and brother-in-law Wendy Jo and Ron Brodsky, more than 100 attended the dedication. And, as Chernitzer observed, it was a diverse group.
Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg, Rabbi Michael Panitz, Laura Gross, president of UJFT, and Betty Ann Levin, executive vice president/CEO of UJFT and the Simon Family JCC, also participated in the program.
A lover of music, Einhorn was Ohef Sholom Temple’s shofar blower for decades where he also mentored and taught youngsters to blow shofar. One of his protégées, Sam Sachs, surprised the audience by concluding the program with a beautiful Tekiah Gadolah. Many tears flowed.
The 2,400-square-foot outdoor structure, which is adjacent to the basketball court on the rear lawn of the Sandler Family Campus, has a front and back patio, benches, and picnic tables, and fans to help “beat the heat.” The pavilion has a comfortable seating capacity of 160 people. Lighting for evening events with power and Wi-Fi make it flexible for a variety of uses, including dining, parties, and as it was used all summer, for camp activities.
The general consensus was that Marty Einhorn would have been extremely pleased with the event. The only thing missing was him.
Photographs by Steve Budman.
–Terri Denison