SHERMAN – After a seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Beth Shafran, former president and champion of the Jewish Community Center in Sherman (JCCS) passed away in her daughter’s home on Tuesday, April 3rd. She was surrounded by her family and beautifully remembered at a memorial service held at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester on Thursday, April 5th. All those who knew Beth understood that she was fiercely committed to her family which included her husband, three daughters, their spouses and nine grandchildren. In the community, she always sought to bring people together.
Beth was a strong advocate for the JCCS, working tirelessly to ensure that the organization was able to fulfill its mission of bringing social, cultural and education programs to Sherman and the surrounding communities. Her knack for writing and command of the English language often showed up in materials promoting programs and encouraging volunteers. You would often find her in the kitchen at events, utilizing her many years of experience in camp kitchens to make sure everything came out well. Her exemplary leadership, kind heart and willingness to say “thank you” served as an inspiration to all she encountered. Her efforts helped the JCCS through some of its toughest times.
The Jewish Community Center in Sherman began in 1994 as a local gathering place and performance venue, seeking to connect people through meaningful social and cultural experiences.
The organization, founded on the Jewish values of kindness and inclusiveness, serves the entire community irrespective of age, race, orientation or religion. Its diverse programs are reflective of the interests of the community and seek to inspire, serve, challenge, and entertain.
It was Beth’s vision that the JCCS continue to connect people for many years to come. In this spirit, volunteers of the JCCS have worked with her family and friends to establish a memorial fund in her name that will continue not only her good work, but the work of all those who came before her and those who will come after. It is the desire that the fund be built into an endowment for the center.
To donate to the Beth A. Shafran Memorial Fund, send checks payable to the JCC in Sherman (Beth A. Shafran Memorial Fund in the memo line) to PO Box 282 Sherman, CT 06784 or donate online at www.jccinsherman.org. The JCC in Sherman is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
By The JCC in Sherman