By Glory Weisberg
Award winners Dorothy Gotlieb, Larry Levin and Joyce Foster. Photos by Glory Weisberg.
Three of Denver’s most distinguished representatives of the Jewish community shared the spotlight, Aug. 19, when the Jewish Community Relations Council held its Leadership Luncheon at the Infinity Park Event Center, attracting 300 supporters.
This tribute event is growing steadily every year and this fourth edition attracted an enthusiastic throng, giving each honoree a standing ovation.
JCRC/Israel, National and Overseas board past chair Rick Kornfeld introduced St. Sen. Joyce Foster, accepting the Legislative Appreciation Award. Many people knew Foster first as the wife of Temple Emanuel Chief Rabbi Steven Foster, but she is now known for her own success, serving as vice chair of the Senate Local Government & Energy Committee. She is also a member of the Business, Labor & Technology Committee. Foster has been in the Colorado Senate since 2008 after serving on the Denver City Council four years, leading it for the 2001-2002 session. She is also former Jewish Family Service board chair and has to her credit awards for Healthcare for All Colorado Leadership in Universal Healthcare, won the Southeast Business Partnership Award for vision and leadership on the Southeast Corridor Mobility Coalition, T-REX project.
Joyce Foster introduced or sponsored 10 legislative bills and through it all, raised a family and is now a grandmother.
The Jewish Public Official Distinguished Service Award was accepted by Hon. Dorothy Gotleib, who has an innate sense of humor that threads through her public comments and private conversations. For 16 years she served on the Colorado State Board of Education and is its past chairperson. She’s also recognized as a member and president of the Denver Board of Education and was a member of the Colorado General Assembly, elected House Majority Whip. She’s also been vice chair of the House Education Committee and now out of public service, she’s held several positions in the Jewish community.
Gotleib is a naturalized American citizen, her parents fleeing the Holocaust. A University of California at Berkeley graduate, she became a social worker and then joined the Republican Party and has served on the Denver School Board. In her own words she “worked to get kids off the bus,” and finished her acceptance remarks with “government is us.”
Larry Levin accepted the Leadership Award for his career as an attorney with Holme Roberts & Owen and many community service positions. His public service career began when he served on committees for Govs. Lamm and Romer and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña. As a Greenwood Village resident, he chaired the Greenwood Village Board of Adjustments and Appeals and has served on the boards of several banks as well as nonprofit arts and culture boards, including Colorado Ballet. He is past president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, on its national board and was a founding member of the Colorado Chicano/Jewish Dialogue. He is a past JCRC chairman and also served on the board of Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado.
The JCRC, Jewish Community Relations Council is part of what’s generally known as Allied. JCRC is a coalition of several dozen Jewish agencies, organizations, day-schools and synagogues that have come together to speak with one representative voice on issues of concern to the local and global Jewish community. It is affiliated with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Visit www.jcrc.org, call Janet Sharman at 303-316-6490 or e-mail jsherman@ajfcolorado.org for more information.
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gloryweisberg@comcast.net
