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GREETINGS FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | | |
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The late Shari Odenheimer and SeniorLAW Center friends at a past gala
L to R: Shari Odenheimer, Esq.; former Board Members Syreeta Moore, Esq. and Joseph B. Silverstein, Esq.,
current Board Member, Gay Parks Rainville, Esq; and Executive Director, Karen C. Buck, Esq.
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Life is fragile.
I was reminded of this again last month when we lost our treasured leader and friend Shari Odenheimer suddenly and tragically. I met Shari in April 1997, the month I became Executive Director of SeniorLAW Center. She was a board member who was involved in my hiring, who was not only a great leader and champion of our work but became a cherished friend for over 25 years.
What a dynamo, I thought upon meeting her. And soon learned what a brilliant, joyful and dazzling advocate she was. Fearless. Lit up every room she walked into. Raised her voice against injustice near and far, from her treasured Israel to those hungry and suffering and facing injustice in our midst. Shari contributed thousands of hours of her time serving on the SLC Board of Directors, including serving as Board Chair, Officer, and Gala Co-Chair numerous times, as well as representing dozens of our client's pro bono, and encouraging so many others to join us in fighting homelessness, hunger, abuse, poverty and injustice.
We are ever grateful she became part of the SeniorLAW Center family and will always remember her joy, enthusiasm and energy. Shari was one of the first inductees into SeniorLAW Center’s Hall of Fame and had an enormous role in our growth and success over these past decades. We are touched that her family chose SeniorLAW Center to be the beneficiary of memorial contributions.
Beyond brainstorming SeniorLAW Center's future, we celebrated countless journeys and holidays together, including sharing her Christmas Eve and my mom Marguerite's Christmas birthdays jointly together regularly. My family considered her a part of ours. She was one of the first people to meet our son Alexander when he arrived via foster care in 2016. He and we will always cherish our memories of Shari: Dollar Dog Night at the Phillies, Michigan football games (Go Blue), walking through sun dappled vineyards in Tuscany and on the sea to Portofino, trips to DC, meeting with Senators and staff for legal aid funding, countless beach trips and barbecues, including for the SeniorLAW staff and board.
How we will miss her sparkling and infectious smile and laughter and her belief that we can all make the world a better place in ways big and small. We celebrate Shari and all the ways she did so.
Rest in peace, my beautiful friend.
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Karen C. Buck
Executive Director
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REMEMBERING SHARI J. ODENHEIMER, ESQ. | | |
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Shari J. Odenheimer on June 17, 2023. Shari was a devoted supporter, volunteer attorney, and advocate for SeniorLAW Center. Shari was first appointed to our Board by then-Philadelphia Bar Chancellor and our friend Abe Reich of Fox Rothschild. We thank Abe for this match, which was transformative for our organization. Shari held multiple leadership roles at SeniorLAW Center, including Board Chair, Gala Chair, and Resource Development Committee Chair. Shari's passion for our work was unparalleled, and she served as a vibrant ambassador for SeniorLAW Center, never shy to ask others to join our work, as a volunteer, leader or donor.
Shari received her undergraduate education from her beloved University of Michigan and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. (The Michigan fight song was her ring tone.) As a skilled attorney specializing in estate planning, tax law, and trust/estate administration, Shari joined several prestigious firms, including Fox Rothschild, Cozen O’Connor and Blank Rome, before opening her own firm, and generously shared her knowledge and expertise with our staff and represented many clients and joined countless pro bono projects, helping to develop many. We were privileged to have Shari as a member of our SeniorLAW Center community. Her unwavering support for Israel, leadership in The Jewish Federation, love of travel, passion for sports, and innumerable friends near and far were just a few of the things that brought her joy. Shari was instrumental in our organization's growth and success, and we were proud to induct her into our inaugural Hall of Fame class. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Shari, and her dedication and many contributions to SeniorLAW Center and her cherished friendship will be forever valued and deeply missed.
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HIGHLIGHTING OUR ORGANIZATION | | |
SeniorLAW Center in the News: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | |
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SeniorLAW Center was featured in an article published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on July 8, 2023 entitled "How can seniors with cognitive impairment keep their independence?"
In this article, the author, Marilyn Perkins, discusses ways older individuals with cognitive impairments can maintain their independence as they age. New frameworks like Supported Decision-Making empower older people to make important life decisions with the help of a trusted family member or other person in their life. Supported Decision-Making serves as an alternative to the restrictive practice of Guardianship. Read more about Supported Decision-Making and the issues surrounding Guardianship at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
SeniorLAW Center and our partners at Penn Memory Center are proud advocates of alternatives to guardianship, and we’re appreciative of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for highlighting the issues surrounding guardianship.
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Spotlighting Tanya Simmons Reid
New Member of the SeniorLAW Center Board of Directors
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We are proud to announce that Tanya Simmons Reid has been elected to the SeniorLAW Center Board of Directors. Tanya, the President and CEO of Skyrocket Communications, is excited to join the Board to build on her past volunteerism. Tanya’s expertise in marketing, communications and branding, along with her passion for and dedication to mental health, particularly as it affects Black and Hispanic communities, will add invaluably to our work and mission.
Tanya adds: "Ever since my first encounter with SeniorLAW Center as a volunteer, I have been drawn to their vision, mission, and the dedicated team behind their efforts to promote justice."
Welcome, Tanya!
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July is Disability Pride Month, during which we take the opportunity to recognize and honor the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a significant civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and any public or private places open to the general public. The law aims to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities as others and provides civil rights protections similar to those based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees equal access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
We take pride in our work to serve and seek justice for older individuals with disabilities and partner with community organizations such as the Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Disability Rights PA and many others to offer a range of services and advocate for justice and systemic change. Our clients often face physical limitations in their daily lives, and many have experienced catastrophic injuries or illnesses. Our services are designed to help them live safely and independently, with dignity and autonomy, in their communities.
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