JCDSRI honors Eileen Ellis at annual meeting

Although the main purpose of the Jewish Community Day School of RI (JCDSRI) annual meeting on June 6 was to appoint the board of trustees and provide updates, the community-wide acknowledgement of Eileen Ellis’s dedication was the highlight of the evening. Ellis, who has worked for JCDSRI for 25 years in several capacities, currently holds the position of the executive assistant to the head of school.

To honor her service, the school has created the Eileen Ellis Children’s Scholarship Fund for JCDSRI families in need. Ellis said that she hopes that the Children’s Fund will allow Jewish families “to choose this wonderful school for their children” and thanked everyone who has contributed to it and, in advance, all who will give to the fund in the future.

To thank Ellis for her years of service, Allison Walter, development director, presented her with some gifts, including a bronze mezuzah made by JCDSRI fourth graders with the help of Josh Hyman, a parent volunteer. The warm words that Ellis’s friends and current and former colleagues bestowed upon her served as additional gifts. Solid. Supportive. Positive. Clear-thinking. Indispensable. Welcoming. Nurturing. Trustworthy. These were just some of the accolades Ellis heard that evening.

Giveret [teacher] Marcia Kaunfer gave a D’var Torah that discussed the can-do attitude of the women in the week’s portion and linked them to Ellis, praising her contributions. “I could not possibly count the number of things you have done for our school,” she raved. Kaunfer added that she also couldn’t measure the effect of Ellis’s positive attitude on the school, complimenting her ability to anticipate what needed to get done and willingness to take on the task. Kaunfer said she has always felt a spiritual kinship with Ellis. “As the Book of Proverbs says, ‘A woman who is God-fearing is worthy of praise.’ That’s you, Eileen. As I’ve told you before, you’re a class act.”

Dr. Penney Stein, former head of school, honored Ellis’s service with heartfelt words of appreciation and thanks. She said, “Your kindness, wisdom and dedication have helped make sure that this wonderful school and its dedicated leaders and supporters continue to thrive. You have been a talented, valued, honest, trusted colleague and friend to all of us who have worked with you and have felt your caring and your love.”

Ellis thanked the JCDSRI community for its support during a particularly difficult time when tragedy struck. She recalled how, in 1996, when her husband Leonard died of a heart attack at the age of 42, Ellis became a single mother of two sons in high school. She said she is grateful to the community for pitching in and helping her through the crisis. “You, my extended family, came to the aid of my immediate family… parents, board members, rabbis, teachers, friends, so many from this Jewish community.”

In a separate part of the evening, JCDSRI teachers Ilana Kapach (Pre-K and Kindergarten Jewish Studies) and Rhonda Mills (Judaic Studies Coordinator and second- and third-grade Jewish Studies) received the Charles Samdperil Award for Dedication to Jewish Education. Andrea Katzman, head of school, acknowledged more than 20 community volunteers for their support. She praised several longstanding staff members, including Harshita Lahkiani (20 years’ service, business manager), Peter Smith (15 years’ service, security and physical plant), Sue Sugarman (15 years’ service, physical education and scheduling coordinator), Jill Davis (10 years’ service, director of General Studies and second-grade General Studies) and Alison Walter (5 years’ service, development director).

Thomas J. Doyle M.D. and his wife Amy Goldberg M.D. are parents of JCDSRI graduates Annabelle (2014) and Grace (2017). Doyle is secretary of the JCDSRI Board of Trustees.