JFSLA Newsletter - August 2021

CONNECTED: Jerry Levine & Maxine Heller

Maxine Heller recently passed away. This story was written a few weeks prior. We hope it shows the joy and love that she shared with those around her. May her memory be as a blessing.

The JFS CONNECT Program is a unique companionship and transportation program that matches volunteers with seniors and adults with disabilities who live in West Hollywood. Volunteers take participants on essential errands, such as visits to the grocery store, bank, pharmacy, or hairdresser and on quality-of-life outings such as museums and concerts or simply sitting and visiting over a cup of tea. This assistance allows these individuals to continue to live independently in the homes and community they love. “You have to be motivated by something deep in order to ‘CONNECT’”, says Jerry Levine, CONNECT Program Volunteer.

Jerry was introduced to JFS through his wife, current JFS Board Chair, Nina Tassler, many years ago, but it was only six years ago that Jerry decided to become an active volunteer with our organization.

When introduced to CONNECT program coordinator, Terry Shajirat, Jerry asked, “What can I do?”. Terry told him about the program, and he thought it sounded interesting, as well as something that would be fulfilling. Soon after, he and Terry were sitting in the living room of Maxine Heller, the woman who would become his “buddy”.

“My relationship with Maxine is a friendship and a connection that is more on a social level. Our relationship evolved based on the relationship that Maxine wanted to have. I took my cues based off what Maxine wanted to do,” Jerry said. “That included a movie, lunch, and talking.”

But they have done much more than movies, lunch, and talking. In fact, Jerry, who has over 35 years of experience as an actor, director, and producer, has taken Maxine to movie premieres, to sets on which he’s directed, and welcomed her into his life. Both parties recognize that their relationship has evolved beyond what the CONNECT program is and they couldn’t be happier about it. Maxine and Jerry have developed a true friendship.

“Jerry Levine and Maxine Heller are sterling examples of a CONNECT team,” Terry Shajirat said.

When asked what motivates him to stay involved, Jerry stopped to consider his rich friendship and said, “A good lunch and good conversation with someone like Maxine Heller; what could be better than that?

Maxine is a very brilliant, sophisticated person, who has many years of maturity to share with people. If you think I am there just to provide a connection, that is not the case. She’s an incredible listener. She entered my life at a time that was significant, personally. We’ll have lunches for three hours and I’ll realize I did most of the talking.”

Just last week, after being contacted about this story, Jerry decided it was good time to meet Maxine for lunch again.

During that lunch, Maxine got to meet one of Jerry’s daughters for the very first time. She would be the first member of his family, besides his wife Nina, that Maxine would meet. Jerry, who has met many of Maxine’s family members, was very excited for Maxine to meet his daughter. After the lunch, Jerry emailed us a picture of him and Maxine, taken by his daughter, and stressed how much they enjoyed their time together.

For Jerry, becoming a volunteer with the program was not just about giving back.

“The Tikkun Olam aspect of giving is there for everybody, but for me it was personal, something I wanted to understand more of, on a personal level,” Jerry said. “You want to volunteer for personal reasons. You must look inside yourself and ask yourself why you’re doing it. It has to be intimate and personal.”

The JFS CONNECT Program, which currently has 16 volunteers matched, takes special care to match people with complimentary interests and outlooks. Volunteers are screened, trained, and commit to a twice-a-month meeting for approximately two hours. CONNECT typifies a program in which both volunteer and participant declare, “I’m the lucky one in this team!”

JFS CONNECT is always looking for new volunteers. If you or someone you know would like to become a volunteer, visit www.jfsla.org/volunteer or call 323-851-8202.