DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Ida And Irwin Haber
Ages: Ida, 60, and Irwin, 61 Professions: Irwin is CEO and executive vice president of The PDI Group Family: Children: Nathan (Yana), Ryan and Rena Residence: Solon Synagogues: Chabad of Solon and B’nai Jeshurun Congregation In the community: Ida – leadership council at University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center; wellness board at Cleveland Clinic; chair of the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Ohio chapter dinner; Irwin – board of directors and finance committee at University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center; Ohio chapter FIDF chair; national FIDF board of directors; permanent board member of the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School Favorite hobbies: Ida – Dancing, spending time with children and grandchildren, traveling, entertaining family and friends, attempting to play mah-jongg and reading; Irwin – Reading, exercising, golf and spending time with kids, grandkids and wife. First jobs after college: Ida – was a court stenographer in Columbus; Irwin – working at a CPA firm in Columbus. Most gratifying jobs and why: Ida – “To really make other people happy and being with my grandchildren and children.” Irwin – “Building a company and watching people grow in their own ways and excel.” What advice would you give your 14-year-old selves? Ida – “To have more patience with your parents when they get older, stay true to your values and moral compass, give yourself a hug every day, know you’re loved by G-d and everyone else who is in your life, and follow your path of knowledge and dreams.” Irwin – “My advice would be clearly follow your dream and learn to be candid with people.” What did you want to be when you grew up? Ida – teacher, actress or talk show host; Irwin – FBI agent
Sheryl Hirsh
Age: 60 Profession: Assistant director of Siegal Lifelong Learning at Case Western Reserve University Family: Husband: Denny; children: Bret and Danny Residence: Lyndhurst Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel In the community: Member of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s opioid epidemic working group; member of the Heroin and Opioid Action Plan Committee at the U.S. Attorney’s Office; member of the Opiate Task Force at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health; MetroHealth Infant Comforter volunteer at MetroHealth’s neo-natal intensive care unit; and the MetroHealth Maternal Opiate Medical Support Program Favorite vacation: “One of my favorite vacations, and it was more of an educational experience, was my first and only trip to Israel. It grounded me in my Judaism, and it made a huge impact on me. I also love cruising – one of my favorites was traveling with my daughter when she was 16 to the Caribbean. That holds special memories.” What do you do in your spare time? “I sleep when I have free time, but don’t feel there is much of it. Work takes up most of my time, and most people at Siegal would tell you I’m there 24/7. The volunteer work I do takes up plenty of my free time, but I wouldn’t give that up. I love spending time with my husband, family and my dog, Mallow.” First job after college? “I never went to college. I know it’s crazy, but I didn’t like being a student. I was a hairdresser for 10 years before I got into office work in New York.” Favorite TV shows: “NCIS,” “Will and Grace” and “Madam Secretary” Favorite musical artist? Adam Levine (Maroon 5)
102 SOURCE 2018