Tell us about your nominee. Why should he or she be recognized as a Jewish Community Hero?
Robert is a former Art Director for a very large national adverstising firm in Chicago. In his teens Robert found out that the entirety of his Father's family had been murdered during the Holocaust. Once Robert retired he linked his two passions; artwork, and Holocaust Education by creating life masks of Holocaust survivors and creating related artwork to help tell their stories. Robert has 'cast' (created a life mask for) numerous members of the survivor community both in and outside of Phoenix. Robert has made it his full-time occupation to meet survivors, cast them, and help to tell their story. Robert engages in this important work at his own cost, he neither recieves nor applies for any outside funding. Recently when I met with Robert to speak with him about a related project I offered to help him secure some sponsorship for his pivotal work. When Robert heard that there might be a minimal time commitment to meet with donors, he expressed that both he and the remaining survivors are getting older and that he can not waste any time raising money. Robert's work has been displayed in countless schools and galleries both in our community and around the country. He is a true hero who deserves the recognition befitting of someone who has made their life's work about helping others.
