The last first pitch
Tucson Padres general manager Mike Feder, “Mr. Baseball” to many in our city, was in the news throughout the summer, yet we heard little of the proverbial “woman behind the man,” his wife, Pattie Feder. It was fitting that Pattie was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the final Tucson Padres home game at Kino Stadium on Aug. 29.
This sports couple has spent most of their 37-year marriage promoting minor league baseball. These clubs (and their Major League Baseball team affiliates) include: the Cocoa Astros (Houston Astros), Jackson Mets (New York Mets), Quad Cities Angels (Los Angeles, now Anaheim, Angels), Daytona Beach Astros (Houston Astros), Tucson Toros (Houston Astros), Tucson Sidewinders (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Tucson Padres (San Diego Padres). Starting with a staff of three in Single-A baseball to one of 14 in Triple-A ball, Pattie has been the “behind-the-scenes” go-to person, a jack-of-all-trades. Her official title might have been business manager, but over the years, she has done everything from put tarp on the field to clean toilets. Pattie’s welcoming smile in the front office has been a fixture for Toros/Sidewinders/Padres baseball for almost 20 years.
Mike was recently named 2013 Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year and invited to throw out the first pitch at the last San Diego Padres’ season home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Field on Sept. 26. Kudos to a terrific twosome.
Welcome to our sukkah
The harvest festival of Sukkot commemorates the ancient Israelites living in temporary dwellings, sukkahs. This joyous weeklong celebration focuses on G-d’s shelter and protection. Many partake in the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah, congregating with family and friends. Some local Sukkot events are highlighted below.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, the day after Yom Kippur, the Handmaker Youth Leadership Team helped to build and decorate Handmaker’s sukkah. HYLT, which kicked off in May 2012 under the direction of Lori Riegel, includes youth ages 11 to 18. Group members participate in a variety of activities with the residents, including teaching them to use email, cooking, putting together biographical timelines and playing board games.
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On Sunday, Sept. 22, Oshrat Barel, new shlicha (Israeli emissary) and Weintraub Israel Center director, hosted a Sukkah Open House at her home, an opportunity for the community to meet her and her family. From 4 to 7 p.m., ushpizin (guests) were treated to a delicious Israeli buffet. Some of the continuing and new Israel Center lay leaders and volunteers in attendance were Jeff Artzi, Rony Ben-Dov, Gail Ben-Jamin, Steve Caine, Rebecca Crow, David Graizbord, Nina Isaac, Billie Kozolchyk, Ken Miller and Steve Weintraub, plus Cantor Avi Alpert, who shook the lulav and etrog, Rabbi Israel and Esther Becker and Rabbi Sam Cohon.
Oshrat has hit the ground running with committees in place for Tucson community programming, projects and initiatives, continuing the connection between our community and our TIPS Partnership 2Gether sister cities in Israel.
According to our new professional, her door is always open.
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On Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Tucson Jewish Community Center held a reception to welcome new President and CEO Todd Rockoff. This meet and greet gathering took place by the sukkah in the sculpture garden. Some of those mingling in the crowd included Jenni Rockoff (Todd’s wife), Janie and Merlin Cohen, Sara Cohen, Rabbi Helen Cohn, Lanny Colton, Dvora Tager and Bob Dietz, Phyllis Fist, Irene and Ellis Friedman, Minette and Bruce Friedman, Carol Hollander and Adrienne and Howard Polster.
Reading Todd’s bio, it’s as if JCCs run through his blood. TJCC board president Tom Warne introduced the new CEO and told of the many connections Todd is making in the Jewish and citywide community. Todd is thrilled to be here and is looking forward to tomorrow’s gala honoring his predecessor, Ken Light, for his 27 years of stewardship of the ‘J.’
Again, this new community professional’s door is always open.
Time to share
It is fall and school, organizations and activities are back in full swing. Keep me posted — 319-1112. L’shalom.
