Past Heritage Awards
2010 Heritage Award Recipient Mr. Jerry Lewkowitz
Harold Jerome “Jerry” Lewkowitz is a lifelong resident of Phoenix. He attended Kenilworth Elementary and North High schools. He was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1954. Jerry practices administrative liquor law with his wife, Andrea at the Lewkowitz Law Office. He is recognized statewide for his expertise in all aspects of liquor licensing and zoning matters before local, county and state agencies and legislative bodies. Jerry also served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force (1954-1956) and was a member of the Phoenix City Council from 1974-1976.
Jerry’s depth and breadth of service shows a true dedication to our community. When he first began his involvement, he was determined to open doors to diverse membership and participation. He accomplished that goal by serving as president, chairman, founding officer or board member of the Crisis Nursery, Phoenix Thunderbirds (since 1962), YMCA, Barry Goldwater Center for the Southwest, Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Campfire Girls, March of Dimes, COMPAS, Phoenix Boys Choir, United Way, the Arizona Historical Society and many others. Awards include Phoenix College Alumni Hall of Fame, the National Asthma Center Man of Year, the ADL Torch of Liberty Award, and the Thunderbirds Life Bird of the Year.
Jerry’s family has been leaders in the Phoenix Jewish community since 1914. His parents, Herman and Carrie, brother Burton and sister Nona Segal, modeled active involvement with the AJC, the ADL, the Elks, the American Legion, Central High School PTA, National Conference of Christians and Jews and ALL activities at Temple Beth Israel. From Sisterhood to Brotherhood to three generations of serving as President and on the Board of Directors, the Lewkowitz family has been intimately involved with the evolution and growth of Congregation Beth Israel. In fact, Jerry celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at this location on 122 East Culver Street.
In 1981, Jerry Lewkowitz and Marshall Lehman drew up the articles of incorporation to establish the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Jerry also served four terms as AZJHS president and is currently serving on the Board of Directors. It was his passion to repurchase the first temple and raise money for its restoration and opening as a Jewish Heritage Center.
2011 Heritage Award Recipient
Mr. Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo arrived in the Valley of the Sun in 1968 to take over the expansion Phoenix Suns NBA franchise. He proceeded to build the Suns into one of the most successful organizations in the NBA. He also brought Major League Baseball to the Valley in 1998 and was chairman of the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Colangelo was the key element in facilitating the move of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets to the Valley of the Sun to become the Phoenix Coyotes. He was also on the founding committee for the WNBA, and the Phoenix Mercury were one of the league’s inaugural teams in 1997. and the Phoenix Mercury were one of the league’s inaugural teams in 1997.
Colangelo’s impact on the sports scene in Phoenix and the game of basketball has been so great, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2004. He has been among The Sporting News most powerful people in sports for over the last decade and was appointed as the first Managing Director of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team program for 2005-2008. Colangelo assembled the coaches and players of the “Redeem Team,” who returned USA Basketball to Olympic glory and claimed the gold medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Colangelo’s commitment to the Valley transcends sports. He is well-known as one of the city’s most active community leaders. In recognition of his efforts in the community, Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon proclaimed March 26, 2004, Jerry Colangelo Day in the city of Phoenix. Colangelo is also deeply committed to improving our city’s civic culture, and supports efforts to preserve the diverse heritage and history of Phoenix’s many ethnic and religious communities.
Born November 20, 1939, Colangelo grew up in the “Hungry Hill” neighborhood of Chicago Heights. He graduated from the University of Illinois, where he met his wife, Joan, on a blind date. They have four children and ten grandchildren.
2013 Heritage Award Recipient
Mrs. Sheila Schwartz
Sheila and Jess have three children, Frank, who married Jennifer and lives in Hawaii; Abby who lives in Phoenix and Lesley who married Dr. Eli Hammer and also lives in the Phoenix area. All three children were educated at Jewish Community Center, Phoenix Hebrew Academy and went to ASU, the UofA and NAU.
Sheila’s past affiliations include board member of Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Federation and Women’s Division, Central High School, Kivel, Kivel Women’s Auxiliary, Endowment Fund, was given the Special Community Award by Federation and received the JNF Tree of Life Award in 2003, was awarded the Medal of Honor from The Jewish
Federation of Greater Phoenix in 2010, organized dances for singles in the Jewish community for 20 years and was the founder/board member of the Jess Schwartz Academy (K-12).
Sheila’s current affiliations include being a member of Beth Joseph Congregation. She is also involved with ASU, CJSN, JCC, Crysalis, Weizmann Institute of Science Technion, Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Lion of Judah, US Holocaust Museum, Bar Ilan, Partner #14 of PEJE (Partnership For Excellence In Jewish Education), The Wellness Community, ICAN (International Cancer Advocacy Network) and the Phoenix Symphony. She is a lifetime member of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.
2014 Heritage Award Recipient
Mr. Mark Curtis
Mark Curtis made his first appearance on valley airwaves back in June of 1980. Back in those days, Curtis and his mustache went all over the country covering sports for 12 News. He remained at 12 through 1987 when he and his pregnant wife Abby packed their bags for Minneapolis where he covered the Twins amazing run to the 1987 World Series! After three years in the Twin Cities it was on to St. Louis where Curtis not only worked as the main sportscaster but was also the play by play voice for St. Louis University basketball. But deep inside, Curtis and his quickly growing family wanted to return to Phoenix. In 1995 he finally did, returning to 12 News. It wasn’t long before Mark made the switch, moving over to join Lin Sue Cooney on the anchor desk.
Mark has been involved in the community, and he is particularly interested in lending support for two causes: pancreatic cancer, from which his mother passed away, and Crohn’s disease. He has volunteered his time to numerous charity fundraising events and hosted this year's community Yom Hashoah commemoration. He is a member of Congregation Beth Israel.
2015 Heritage Award Recipients
Bendheim, Eckstein, Mendelsohn, and Newmark families.
The first of their family members arrived in the Valley in the 1920s and through the decades, the families have been instrumental in the fields of publishing, law, education, health, the arts, Jewish community service and philanthropy. Current family members Flo and Paul Eckstein, Sue and David Rosen, Diane and John Eckstein and Paul and Judith Bendheim have continued supporting all of the philanthropic endeavors of their parents and have added many more as the community has grown.
Institutions that have benefited from their contributions include: Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Arizona State Attorney General’s Office, Audubon Arizona, Camp Colley, Center for Jewish Studies at ASU, Children’s Action Alliance, Fleischer Scholars Program in the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, Hillel at ASU, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at ASU, Hospice of the Valley, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Jewish Free Loan Association, Jewish National Fund, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, Mayo Clinic, The National Center for Science Education, NPR Station KJZZ, Orpheus Choir, Osborn-Maledon Law Firm, Pardes Jewish Day School, PBS Channel 8, Pomona College, Ryan House, Scripps College, VALLEYLIFE, and many others.
The families are long-time members of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, where Pearl Newmark served as the first Executive Director.
2016 Heritage Award Recipient
Mr. Derrick Hall
CEO and President of Arizona Diamonbacks
Considered by many to be among the leaders of the game of baseball, Derrick has turned the organization into a model franchise in the sports industry and throughout the business world. In the D-backs organization, Derrick has put on emphasis on volunteering. In its short history, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and organization have provided $40 million in charitable giving, including more than $19 million during Derrick’s ten years of leadership.
On a personal level, Derrick is a force in his own right. He serves on 25 boards, including the Arizona Mexico Commission, Great Hearts Academies, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Advisory Council for Pancreatic Cancer, Make-A-Wish America, Positive Coaching Alliance, and the Phoenix Thunderbirds. He is a recipient of the Torch of Liberty Award from the Anti-Defamation League and is a member of Temple Solel.
2017 Heritage Award Recipients
Susan and Mark Sendrow
Nancy and Stu Siefer
Together, these two couples have enriched our Valley with over four decades of volunteerism, civic engagement, and philanthropy.
Susan and Mark Sendrow are retired attorneys from Maryland and New Jersey respectively. They moved to Phoenix in 1978. Susan is a past president of Congregation Beth Israel and former chair of the CBI Camp Daisy and Harry Stein committee. She serves as a volunteer for the Jewish Family and Children’s Services Senior Enrichment Program and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Together with Mark, she is also a member of the Penn & Wharton Club of Arizona. Mark has served on the board of Congregation Beth Israel, is a past president of the CBI Brotherhood, and volunteers as a docent for the Phoenix Art Museum. He is a past president of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and played a major role in the development of our dynamic arts, culture, and education programming. Susan and Mark are currently members of Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale.
Nancy and Stu Siefer are originally from Detroit and moved to Tempe in 1970. Nancy is a retired English professor who has served as a volunteer for the Jewish Organization of Tempe (a pre-cursor to the East Valley JCC), Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Brandeis National Committee, Sun Sounds of Arizona, and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Stu is a retired architect whose firm has designed many award-winning projects in the Valley since 1973. He has volunteered for the Jewish Organization of Tempe as well as The Nash/Jazz in Arizona, and is a past president for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, the Rio Salado Chapter of American Institute of Architects. He is also a past president of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and was instrumental in the restoration of the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center in 2008-9, serving as chair of our Building Committee and volunteer Project Manager. The Siefers are currently members of Temple Emanuel of Tempe.
