Thank you to...Harold Willner, Shomrei Torah's December Volunteer of the Month!  Harold was born and raised in The Bronx, and crossed the Hudson when he met and married his wife Carol (originally from Bergenfield). Happily married for 45 years, they started off married life in New Milford, NJ, before continuing on to Wayne in 1972, where they raised two children, Michelle and Jeffrey. Michelle and her husband Brian have two daughters and Jeffrey and his wife Tracy have twin girls, all of whom have given him the greatest pleasure. Thrilled to have four granddaughters, he has a plaque in his home office that has the most appropriate statement - "My Favorite People Call Me Grandpa." Harold credits his family for being a positive influence and they are the center of his life.

When first married, Harold and Carol worshiped at the synagogue where Carol had her Bat Mitzvah and with the same Rabbi who had married them. After moving to Wayne, Harold and Carol looked specifically for a conservative synagogue, since that was both Harold and Carol's religious background. They immediately felt comfortable at Shomrei Torah and have been members for about 32 years.

In his early years at Shomrei, Harold was very active in the Men's Club and soon became VP of Programming. Working together with other Men's Club members, Harold was responsible for forming a committee and coordinating social events as well as helping at the Purim Carnival. He has also served as a Trustee at various times. Currently, Harold is a member of the Ritual Committee and Co-Chair of Adult Education and has participated in the first of three Strategic Planning Sessions.

Harold credits both his wife, Carol, and his mother for leading him into the world of volunteerism. Both Carol and his mother had been involved in the ORT organization and very early on Carol had been active at Shomrei Torah. The death of Harold's mother had a very profound impact on him and he has become a morning Minyan "regular."
Harold strongly feels that it is important for us to know our heritage as Jews: where we came from, how we progressed and the obstacles we as a people had to overcome. He urges vigilance to ensure that we can eliminate those obstacles that still confront us, both here and in Israel.

Before he retired, he spent 41 years in the Management Information System profession, where he held various management positions, reporting to corporate executives and Board Members. He was responsible for assessing business process and new technologies at the conceptual level and presenting solutions to corporate executives. Harold directed the development and implementation of multi-million dollar projects, which included some of the most advanced concepts at that time.

Avid travelers, Harold and Carol have traveled both within the U.S. as well as abroad. They love visiting new places and having new experiences, and a trip to Israel is on their agenda.

Thank you, Harold, for being an involved member of our Shomrei Torah family and we are certainly blessed to have you and your family in our lives!