Lifelong learning with Susan Goldfarb

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Susan Goldfarb has always had a passion for education. Her whole life is a manual on how to experience new things and keep one’s mind sharp.

Goldfarb, the program director of the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, has been working at the center for 37 years off and on.

Originally starting as a part-time marketing director in 1986, she took over the Longboat Key Education Center full time as executive director in 1997. The center merged with the temple in 2021 and became the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel. During the merger, Goldfarb was named program director of the center.

“Because when you stop learning, you kind of dismiss yourself from the world,” Goldfarb explained. “You’re not in it anymore. Learning things enhances your whole life.”

Originally from Toronto, Goldfarb holds degrees in English literature and music, along with a diploma in theater technology. She also studied abroad, where she followed her curiosity to work as a chef in Paris, live in Israel for six months and chase after her favorite singer, Leonard Cohen, in Greece.

After she finished her studies in the early 1970s, she and her first husband, Richard Goldfarb, moved to Florida for his academic career.

Goldfarb first dipped her toes into working at the Longboat Key Education Center in 1986 as a part-time marketing director. She continued doing marketing at the French Hearth.

Goldfarb was also the first woman server at Cafe L’Europe, where she worked alongside Longboat Key restaurateurs Ray Arpke of Euphemia Haye, Harry Christensen of Harry’s Continental Kitchens, and Michael Garey of the Lazy Lobster, who was her busboy. She said that she still keeps in contact with her former co-workers.

“So a few weeks ago, (Garey) was cleaning up a table. And I say ‘I see you’re still busing tables?’ And we laughed together. I know everybody on this island; I’ve been here for such a long time.”

Later, Goldfarb went back to her marketing roots to work for different companies around the area and even opened her own PR and marketing business, which led her back to doing marketing for the Education Center.

During this time, Education Center founder Laura Towers took a liking to her. Goldfarb explained that she wasn’t enjoying her marketing business. Towers could tell.

“(Towers) said, ‘Do you love it?’ And I said, ‘No, because most of my clients are real estate people, not really into it.’ She said, ‘You need to take over the school.’”

Following Towers’ advice, Goldfarb became executive director of the Education Center in 1997. During her years in the position, she took the center from 30 programs to approximately 150.

“Given my background, my husband’s and just the passion I have for education in general, (that) made me go out there and look for people, to look and see where some of the interesting people were teaching and what they were teaching,” said Goldfarb.

Lecturers at the Education Center have nonstop praise for the work they do with Goldfarb. She takes her connections and eye for passionate educators to bring people to the center who will stimulate the minds of Longboat Key residents.

“Susan has put together some really top-notch retired professors,” said Thomas Carabasi, long-time lecturer at the center and department head of photography and imaging at Ringling College of Arts and Design.

“Even if they’re not retired, she puts together an incredible assortment of really fine courses that are very relevant to current events. It’s a treasure to have in the community.”

Loyal Education Center clients come back every year to see what Goldfarb will set up next.

“When you’re living on an island like Longboat Key and what is a partially senior community, you can be easily detached from the wider world,” said Paul Francis, who has been attending the Education Center for 20 years. “And I think she keeps that connection open.”

Due to the pandemic, the Education Center almost closed. With the help of current Executive Director Isaac Azerad, Temple Beth Israel merged with the Education Center three years ago and helped ensure its sustainability by making Goldfarb and the center a part of the temple. This provided support and space for the programs of the center to continue while still offering opportunities to attend remotely.

“You are there as a snowbird, you just can’t be in the sun all the time,” said Susan Benjamin, a lecturer on musical biographies. “And as much as we love to play tennis and swim, it’s so wonderful to have something that stimulates your mind.”

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