Love was in the air as approximately 100 staff members of Jewish Community Services and community leaders gathered April 9 at the Park Heights Jewish Community Center to honor Janet B. Kurland.
Kurland — who last November retired from her position as JCS senior care specialist after 42 years with the agency – was there to receive the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award, presented by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.
Named after the late governor and mayor of Baltimore, the award was established by Franchot in 2012 to recognize Maryland residents and organizations “best exemplifying William Donald Schaefer’s lifelong commitment to helping people.” Flanked by Franchot and her daughter, Julie K. Simhi, the 88-year-old Kurland entered the JCC auditorium and was greeted with a standing ovation.
“I’ve given this award all acrossthe state, and on very rare occasions, someone gets a standing ovation after I present the award,” said Franchot.“But never before have I seen anyone receive a standing ovation before I present the award!”
JCS Executive Director JoanGrayson Cohen praised Kurland for being a “trailblazer” in advocating for theneeds of senior citizens in the Jewish community.
“She has helped countless seniorsage in place with dignity,” Cohen said. “Janet, you yourself exemplify how toage in place with dignity and grace. You leave a tremendous legacy for JCS andthe Jewish community.”
Before presenting the award, Franchotthanked Kurland for “the abilities she has displayed for so long for a groupwho were long neglected. Janet exemplifies the values of William Donald Schaefer.… Her admirable commitment cannot help but have a positive impact on all ofus.”
Kurland, a Pikesville resident, thankedthe comptroller and her former colleagues for the honor.
“First of all, thank you forhaving an award named after William Donald Schaefer. I love that guy,” said Kurland, recalling how Schaefer helped her tosecure funding to rent a Northwest Baltimore meeting place for seniors in the1970s.
“That’s how the [Edward A.]Myerberg Center began,” said Kurland, who served as the center’s first director.
In addition to her work as asocial worker and supervisor at JCS, Kurland taught at the OdysseyCertificate Aging Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Continuing Educationfor 20 years.
She was also a professor at TowsonUniversity and taught graduate students at the University of Maryland School ofSocial Work.
In 2001, Kurland was the first recipientof the Daniel Thurz Distinguished Service Award from the Kehilla: JewishCommunal Professional Association of Greater Baltimore. She is also presidentemeritus of the Maryland Gerontological Association.
“I feel blessed,” Kurland said. “But youcannot do it alone. Every person in this room does exactly what I do. It takesa village. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those who celebrateEaster, have a great holiday. To those who celebrate Pesach, have great seders.L’hitraot, until we meet again.”
Following Kurland’s remarks, Coheninvited attendees to visit the lobby of the JCS building adjacent to the JCCfor the unveiling of an artwork commemorating Kurland’s legacy. A framedpapercut now hangs outside of Kurland’s former office, depicting the Tree of Life.
“How fitting that this [papercut] ishere in the place where you have helped so many,” Cohen said. “All you havetaught us by watching you, by telling us, by teaching us will continue on andon. We wish you the best for many, many years to come.”
Simhi, who is also a social worker, admittedthat her mother is “a hard act to follow. I’ve always been very proud of her. She’salways been a leader and a go-getter. She did everything on her own terms. Sheworked until she didn’t want to work anymore. Before she left, she wanted to besure everyone was trained and everything was in place.”
Kurland described herself as“breathless” after seeing the papercut. “I loved what I did and I did the bestI could,” she said. “All of this, I thoroughly, thoroughly appreciate it.”
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.