Lisa Rohde - 2021
Lisa has devoted her life to teaching and working with children who have varying abilities and disabilities. After getting her BS in Special Education from Millersville University, she taught for 30 years with Lancaster Lebanon IU13. The students with whom she worked needed multiple supports-children with active minds and bodies that did not cooperate. Lisa worked with children needing life skill support. She described them as bosses while being taught how to read, write, improve social and life skills! Lisa also worked in Early Intervention, providing services and support for 3-5 year olds at home and community preschools. Here, she helped parents solve problems which impacted family life and had the opportunity to create community support for those in preschool.
Lisa also worked at Aaron's Acres from 1998-2008 as a Site Supervisor. She helped create the
organization's culture-of children having fun in a judgment free environment and focusing on the fun and
not the final product. She helped teach staff that families know their children best and nothing is too
much trouble (for the staff to do during camp).
Lisa is a member of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim and has served on various committees throughout
the years. In addition, she has conducted exit interviews and Conversation with Congregant interviews.
Lisa was also the Secretary of the WSS Board. Presently, Lisa chairs the Bereavement Committee,
volunteers for the Community Meal at Grace Church and is a member of the DEI Committee.
Lisa is a volunteer with the ARC of Lancaster County where she has helped with a variety of projects. She
also provided advocacy services for parents of school aged children. Presently, Lisa is a consultant for
IM4Q which is a state program administered through the ARC. Lisa interviews adults with disabilities
and their families to determine if services received are appropriate.
Lisa is a volunteer with JFS! She is also a volunteer with Angels Among Us -providing a foster home for
dogs until they are adopted.
Lisa thanks her favorite teacher, Eric, for pushing her further than she would have gone on her own.
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It is my honor to introduce Lisa Rohde as the recipient of the Jean Feldstein Volunteer of the Year Award at tonight’s JFS annual meeting. Maimonides spoke of the 8 levels of giving. One of the levels describes what Lisa does and who she is. He stated, “one knows to whom one gives, but the recipient does not know his benefactor”. Throughout the years that I have known her, Lisa has always given and helped so many within our community, but she does so in a way that doesn’t bring attention to herself and she is not looking for that recognition. She does so because that is who she is.
In her career as a special education teacher, she worked with children who had multiple disabilities and their families. This wasn’t a job for Lisa, this was her passion. She gave of herself in whatever way was needed to create a positive, supportive classroom in which all were accepted and embraced for their abilities. Her concern for the families was exceptional; she worked with and cared for the child and the family.
For 10 years, she was the site supervisor at Aaron’s Acres, an organization that provides year -round recreational programs to children and young adults, ages 5-21 with disabilities. Her thinking was constantly, “nothing is too much trouble for the staff to do at camp”, again, whatever was needed to create that all accepting culture for everyone, regardless of disability.
In addition, Lisa has served on several committees at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, with the predominant theme of serving others and caring for others such as the bereavement committee or volunteering at the Grace Lutheran Church through the temple’s tikkun olam committee. At JFS, she volunteers her time, visiting the elderly or helping those who need a ride or need assistance with doing errands, etc.
While Lisa left the field of special education, she became a volunteer with the ARC of Lancaster, an advocacy organization focusing on individuals with disabilities. Lisa also is involved with Angels Among Us, providing a foster home for dogs. Giving to others transcends past people, ---onto dogs!
In all that Lisa does, she does it quietly and respectfully, always honoring whoever she is helping. When Lisa first retired from teaching, I remember talking with her and saying, “just try and take off some time before you commit to volunteering or getting involved with committees”. That went in one ear and out the other. Maybe it lasted for 1-2 days!
There is no question that every day of the week, Lisa is helping someone within the community. Even during COVID, Lisa, was scheduling facetime or zoom calls with the people she was involved with, making sure that they were okay. The list goes on and on.
I personally have been blessed with being friends with her for over 20 years. When I try and describe her, I usually say, “there are a lot of people in the world who are good and care for others and then there is Lisa. She is on a different level. I describe her as angel”.
In honoring Lisa, we must thank Eric who has shared his mom with all of us. Lisa has thanked Eric for pushing her further than she would have gone on her own. The relationship that Lisa and Eric have is a beautiful one that can be a model for all of us—loving each other to the fullest, respecting one another and celebrating one’s abilities while supporting each other through the challenges.
Our community has been blessed with having Lisa among us. Her way of giving back and caring for others is a constant in her life; it is who Lisa is and what she believes. The interesting thing about Lisa is that she in no way has a good understanding of what she does for others. In all of our conversations over the years, she has downplayed her activities, always focusing on others –never on herself. She is a gift to all of us. Thank you, Lisa, for being who you are; you are that angel, you are that mensch.
I have the honor of presenting Lisa with the Jean Feldstein Volunteer of the Year award. (Read the award itself). May you continue to be who you are, and may your life continue to be blessed as you bless all of our lives. -
Thank you, Risa, for your more than kind words. Thank you, Rabbi Paskoff and Rabbi Szuster for your presence. Thanks to all of you on zoom for sharing this special evening with me and to those making zoom happen. I’m overwhelmed!
I am in awe to be selected as recipient of the Jean Feldstein Volunteer of the Year Award given by JFS.
I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Jean, but I asked her close friend, Rhea Starr, to tell me about her. Rhea used the words warm, welcoming, caring, accepting, and involved. I am so honored and hope to live my life as she did.
Whatever I have achieved is a reflection of my closest friends and family. I see their goodness, kindness, and actions and think, “I can do that.”
This year you chose a worker bee as opposed to a community leader. This speaks volumes about you. I am humbled thinking of those who have received this award before me.
Thank you to the JFS Board for this incredible honor. I know this event would not have taken place without your dedication, time, and effort.