For this month’s Board member spotlight, we sat down with Ivan Greenstein, Treasurer of the Wilf Campus for Senior Living Board of Trustees.
Ivan Greenstein has been involved with The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living for many years — having seen much of its growth first-hand. It all began over 20 years ago when he attended a charity casino night in New York and left with a renewed sense of self. Inspired by the generosity of those around him, Ivan decided to get further involved at the Central New Jersey Jewish Home for the Aged along with his wife, Susan. The Jewish Home was the beginning of what is now the Wilf Campus. The couple began volunteering there at Bubbie’s Bistro and the gift shop every Sunday. While there, they saw the need to improve the lives of the surrounding Jewish senior community.
Ivan was there to see the eventual leasing of The Jewish Home to The Regency Heritage and Rehabilitation Center, and the naming of the campus (which also included Wilentz Senior Residence) as The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living. Ivan was later invited to join the Wilf Campus Board as Treasurer. During his time with the campus, he has both witnessed and contributed to the construction efforts of Stein Assisted Living, the addition of Stein Hospice and the recent addition of the Education and Resource Center.
Ivan’s mother in-law was in fact the third resident to live at Stein Assisted Living — where he says her quality of life was improved greatly, “My mother in-law lived at Stein from age 85 to 92. I can honestly say that she lived longer than we expected because of the care she received there. I’d like to especially thank Anna Simmons [Director of Stein Assisted Living] for that.”
The dedication that Ivan has to our campus and its residents is present in each interaction to be had with him. He has planned many fundraisers for the campus, ranging from theater trips to NYC to the 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance. Over the years, Ivan’s commitment to the Wilf Campus has been highlighted in a number of ways. In 2005, he received The Seymour St. Lifer Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding vision, commitment, leadership and hard work. He and his wife Susan were also honored during the Wilf Campus’ 40th Anniversary celebration.
When asked about his future vision for the campus, Ivan had this to say: “Overall, I’d like to increase our footprint in the work that we do for the Jewish elderly. We must answer to the community. When it comes to taking care of our seniors, I look at it this way — who will, if we don’t?” Ivan Greenstein is a true example of the values of our campus — someone who we appreciate and are grateful to have on board.