Archived Celebrations

The Department of Religion at William Jewell College has announced that Taylor Poslosky, a junior religion major from Overland Park, has been named the first student of the Jewish faith to participate in the College’s Hester Scholars program.

Named in memory of H.I. Hester, longtime head (1926-1961) of the Department of Religion at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., the Hester Scholars program was established more than 25 years ago for students demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence in the study of religion who are also pursuing a career in religious service as a primary vocation.

“We are very pleased to have Taylor as a Hester Scholar,” said Dr. Milton Horne, acting chair of the Department of Religion. “I have had the opportunity to observe her rigorous level of scholarship and to share her fellowship in class. We are very excited about her commitment to study for the rabbinate and about her plans to begin that study with us. She represents a new day for our department’s conception of the breadth of the Hester Scholars program and reinforces the broader scope of the College’s understanding of the liberal arts and its extension into our community.”

Poslosky said that her studies at William Jewell represent the continuation of a lifelong commitment to her faith. “All my life, Judaism has been my center,” Poslosky observed.

“From lighting Shabbat candles to watching my campers lead Saturday morning worship, I have enjoyed every aspect. I feel a sense of purpose knowing that it will one day be my responsibility to lead a community. As I study religion at William Jewell, I realize that the reality of my dream to become a rabbi is beginning.”

To qualify as a Hester Scholar, students must be in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class; demonstrate leadership and involvement in school, community and church; major in the study of religion; and state their commitment to service through ministry, teaching or missions.

William Jewell College is committed to bringing together talented students and gifted faculty mentors within a vibrant community sparked by a rigorous and intentional liberal arts curriculum. A full range of personal and professional development experiences are presented by the selective national liberal arts college’s location within the Kansas City metroplex of more than two million.

Roman and Jodi Steinberg announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Mitchell Brooks Steinberg, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Mitch is the grandson of Allan and Brenda Schifman and the late Orest and Ludmila Steinberg. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Oneg Shabbat following the service.

Margaret and Jerome Nerman were married on Aug. 8, 1941, at Beth Shalom Synagogue by Rabbi Gershon Hadas in his study. Jerry enlisted in the Army in 1942 after Pearl Harbor and served in Europe for three years and was discharged in 1946 as a staff sergeant. They have one son, Lewis Nerman, and a grandson, Greg Nerman.

In 1950, Jerry and Melvin Spitcaufsky went into business selling trucks and started Arrow Truck Sales. Arrow was sold 50 years later as the largest independent pre-owned truck business in North America with 20 locations. Jerry’s son, Lewis, served as president of Arrow Truck sales.

Jerry and Margaret have been avid art collectors and supporters of the arts in Kansas City. Art and Antiques Magazine named them as one of the top 100 collectors in America. Margaret served as a trustee at the Kansas City Art Institute and Jerry served on the collection committee at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. They have supported the Truman Library, Science City, Kansas City Art Institute and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

In 2007, they opened the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on the campus of Johnson County Community College. Jerry has been chairman of Central Bank for more than 25 years. He is still working with his son and grandson in the pre-owned truck business.

Zolie and Doris Gilgus will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 6. They were married at the Gatesworth Hotel in St. Louis, Mo., with Rabbi Jacobs officiating. They have four children, Stephanie and Richard Gatewood, Susan and Tim Peavler, Steve and Jill Gilgus and Sherry and David Worth, and nine grandchildren.

Steve and Debbie Graham, Leawood, announce the engagement of their son, Jonathan David Graham, to Jori Dara Fox, daughter of John and Lisa Fox, Cincinnati, Ohio.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late William and Ilsa West and the late Frank and Marjorie Kiefer Fox. She attended the University of Illinois, earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She is currently employed as a middle school teacher in Skokie, Ill.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Martie and Helen Graham and Elizabeth Glick Sugar and the late Joshua Glick. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He is currently employed in commercial real estate in Chicago.

A Nov. 19 wedding at the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati is planned.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Gershon of Overland Park announce the engagement of their son, Joseph Bradley Gershon, to Allison Gould Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brown of Mission Hills.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bloch and Mrs. Milton Brown of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and the late Mr. Brown. She attended the University of Kansas and was a Jewel Ball debutante in 2003.

The future groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gershon and Harriet Siess and the late Mr. Alvin Siess. He attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is currently employed at Arrow Fabricare Services, Kansas City, Mo.

An Oct. 1 wedding on Aspen Mountain is planned.

Russ and Sarah Mondry of Leawood announce the birth July 20 of a son, Louis Mark Mondry. They are also the parents of Max, Jacob, Ben, Sally and Mia. Grandparents are Don and Harriet Boresow of Overland Park, Florence Mondry of New York and Sam Mondry of Costa Rica. Great-grandmother is Lola Mondry of Miami Beach, Fla.

Robert Reicher Rosenthal, St. Joseph, Mo., was born on July 25, 1936, and will soon celebrate his 75th birthday with a family dinner in Kansas City. His family includes his wife, Cathie Rosenthal; daughters, Maggie Ross and Dana (Brian) Campbell; and grandchildren, Brad Staples, Zachary Ross, Joshua Campbell and Samantha Campbell. His daughter Dana says her father’s 75 years have been filled with “close family, good friends, cars, hats, traditions, cars, grandchildren, cats and cars.”

Jeremy Borowick is the recipient of one of 52 $10,000 merit-based scholarships sponsored by the Public Accounting Oversight Board. The PCAOB was established by Congress primarily to oversee the audits of public companies to ensure accurate, independent audit reports. The scholarship fund encourages outstanding students to pursue a career in auditing.

Additionally, this year Borowick was awarded the Financial Executive International Academic Award by the Kansas City Chapter for Scholastic Attainments, interest in activities and promise of future success in the field of accounting/finance, and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants LEAP Scholarship for outstanding achievement in academics and leadership.

Borowick is a graduate student at the University of Missouri and will be graduating in May 2012 with his master’s degree in accountancy. He is an accounting teaching assistant for the academic school year 2011-2012 and is the son of Jerry and Karen Borowick.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon partner Harvey Kaplan has been named for the fourth consecutive year as “Who’s Who Legal’s” Global Product Liability Lawyer of the Year.

In announcing this award in the 2011 edition of “Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers,” Editor-in-Chief Callum Campbell said, “Winning the Who’s Who Legal Product Liability Lawyer of the Year Award for a fourth time is an outstanding achievement. Harvey Kaplan received universally positive feedback from our sources across the globe, and we are delighted to once again declare him the leading lawyer in the world for product liability defense.”

Kaplan, who serves as chair of SHB’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation Division, represents many multinational companies in significant litigation. Kaplan’s clients include some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as companies in other industries.

“Who’s Who Legal” is among a group of prestigious national and international publications that have consistently recognized Kaplan as among the very best in his field.

In the 2011 edition of “Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” Kaplan was listed in Band One as one of only seven leading individuals in its Nationwide Product Liability and Mass Torts section; and he was also included among the “Chambers” publication’s elite group of pharmaceutical product liability litigation “Stars.” Chambers called Kaplan “a highly knowledgeable and effective product liability defense lawyer.”

In its recent guide, “The Legal 500 US” (2011) ranked Kaplan among the very best in the nation, saying he is “a prominent veteran” who is “praised highly for his outstanding trial and litigation skills.”

In 2011, Kaplan was again included in “Lawdragon 500: Leading Lawyers in America.” This guide, the only publication to exclusively recognize the top 500 lawyers in the United States, pointed out that “the accolades keep coming for Kaplan, who remains the nation’s top defense-side choice for bet-the-company litigation related to pharmaceutical and medical devices.”

Legal Media Group, publisher of the “Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers,” named Kaplan one of its National Litigation Stars, as well as its World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyer of the Year in 2010.

In recent months, “Law360” recognized Kaplan as one of the nation’s “Most Admired Product Liability Attorneys,” singling him out for his “vital role in securing defense verdicts for some of the leading players in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry during the past 40 years.” (September 2010) “Kaplan has proven his ability to win favorable results for his clients in complex cases,” “Law360” continued.

These recognitions are capped with additional honors in the 2011 editions of “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,” both of which have for many years recognized Kaplan for his advocacy skills.