Baycrest

continued from page 1 Holocaust survivor names Baycrest in her will She has been recognized with a Memorial Medal by the World Federation of Jewish Fighters, Partisans and Camp Inmates, and has shared her personal testimony with the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. Among Baycrest's many resources for Holocaust survivors is a publication called "Caring for Aging Survivors of the Holocaust: A Practice Manual," designed to sensitize and educate caregivers to the special needs of this group. The manual provides invaluable advice and strategies that can be adapted to help victims of any war or genocide. Now age 87, Gordon toured Baycrest a number of years ago – long before her sister arrived in 2018 – and decided at that time that she would name the organization in her will. "I know what it can be like to be alone, and I want to show my appreciation to Baycrest because it exists to help old sick people who might have nobody to take care of them," she says. Memories of volunteering at Baycrest Even before Jean Goldstein retired from her women's retail business, she started volunteering at Baycrest where her mother resided in the 1960s. Now age 96, she still has vivid memories of her time at the volunteer office, organizing files, interviewing potential volunteers and matching new recruits to positions across campus. "I met some lovely people there," says Jean, who is quick- witted and has an easy laugh. She recalls that one woman who wanted to volunteer was concerned her English wasn't good enough. Jean reassured her that it was fine and was delighted when the woman was later offered a paying job at Baycrest. "I thought that was wonderful, to go from volunteering to a paying job; and she needed the job, too. She had a teenage son. So that was really rewarding," Jean says with a smile of satisfaction. Jean brought her expertise as a business woman to Baycrest and made suggestions about ways to cut costs. She also got her husband Milton involved. He volunteered in the Foundation with two other men who became good friends, working on direct mail campaigns. At the age of 80, Milton suffered a stroke and his right side was paralyzed. He set a couple of goals – to drive and play golf again. He was able to achieve them both. When Jean was in her mid-80s, the couple moved to the Terraces at Baycrest, where she volunteered in new ways. She launched a book club and – with the help of an art student – mounted an art show to display residents' work. Her son Gilbert was impressed by his parents' commitment to Baycrest and decided to honour them about 15 years ago by setting up the Jean and Milton Goldstein Endowment Fund to ensure their legacy of giving to Baycrest continues. The fund helps support stroke programs at Baycrest. After Milton passed away, Jean moved downtown to live closer to her son. But her fondness for Baycrest is apparent as she reminisces about how volunteering made her realizes she could take on new challenges. "It was just as good for me to be a volunteer as it was for the people that I was helping; very, very good. I don't know that I would have had such an interesting retirement if I hadn't been volunteering." 3 Renee Gordon, left, and her sister Anna

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