Message from Lou Moyerman, General Chair
As the games are finished, there are so many people to
thank. I’m sure I am missing some; here is my way of extending my sincere
thanks.
First of all, I MUST thank all of Team USA’s athletes who
competed at this great set of Games. Their sportsmanship was exemplary,
and each athlete gave their maximum effort in matches, competitions, games and
meets. Our head and assistant coaches led the way. The Management, Medical and
Security teams, who kept us together, up and running, and most of all, safe. Kudos
to Jeff Schulman, our Team USA Manager, and the Maccabi USA Professional staff,
led by Jed Margolis, for all of their hard work over the past year. Special thanks to Alvaro Rosenblut and
his staff for putting on a spectacular Games in Santiago. Most of all, I need
to thank my wife Kinfar, for her understanding, guidance and love. Without her
support, I could not have done it.
So what memories will you bring home; Sports, cultural, new
friends, community service, or the medal you and your team won? Whatever you
cherish, it will be with you forever. I would like to share some of my
memories.
- Missing team orientation because of flight
problems. What a bummer.
- A spectacular Opening Ceremony. Having my son
Adam carry in our flag with Lauren and Dallen. Sharing the excitement with my
eldest son, Sam. Such a proud
parent moment for me. Seeing our delegation with their red, white and blue
“pipe hats”, walking in so proud was very special.
- Competing with Adam and Team USA’s Judo team.
Awarding Adam his two hard-earned medals for his excellence competing and
coaching.
- Watching the four Volleyball teams play, which
my son Sam and Ross Rosner worked so hard to organize, and seeing them win
their medals.
- Our three Tzedakah projects. Dr. Marc Backal and
our teams providing free eye exams and glasses at a clinic in San Bernardo, a
very poor neighborhood in Chile. They raised enough funds to purchase the
machines they used so that they could leave them in Chile for future use. The
Rugby team visiting the Troi Hospital, for kids affected by cancer. Our
Tzedakah Food Project, which you all so generously helped fund, where our team
boxed meals for Chilean Jewish families.
- The festivities at the EIM and the mission dinner
on New Years Eve. So many Jews ringing in the New Year together, and the
fireworks were excellent!
- Sharing time with supporters, parents and
relatives of our athletes- Thank you for the support.
- Handing the Team USA Golfers their medals at an
amazing ceremony, where Hatikvah was sung beautifully by Dan Frankel, our Golf head
coach, who has a truly fabulous voice. Not an eye was dry.
- Special memories from the thank you notes
written to me by athletes, coaches and parents.
- Watching Skylar, #9 on the Women’s Volleyball
team, who had to get special permission from the Navy to participate in these
Games. Thank you for coming and most of all thank you for protecting us and
this great country.
- Awarding the Dolph Schayes Memorial Award to
Natasha Dabrowski, Open Tennis, and Joel Kitchen, Open Men’s Volleyball, for
their sportsmanship and athletic excellence at these Games.
Now, our delegation is a new Maccabi family with new friends
from around the world. Cherish your memories – I will definitely forever
cherish mine.
It was an honor and privilege to be the General Chair of
Team USA’s Organizing Committee for this great Maccabi team. Thank you for all
being there with me.
Lou Moyerman, General Chair, USA Pan American Maccabi Games Organizing Committee
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The Dolph Schayes Memorial Award
Congratulations
to Natasha Dabrowski, Open Tennis, and Joel Kitchen, Open Men’s Volleyball, who
are the recipients of Maccabi USA's inaugural Dolph Schayes Memorial Award,
which is given to the athletes that best exemplify the Maccabi spirit through
sportsmanship and athletic excellence.
The
award was established in loving memory of Dolph Schayes, a long-time friend to
Maccabi USA who recently passed away. He served as a gold medal coach for Team
USA at the 1977 Maccabiah Games, and had his son, nephew, and 4 grandchildren have
participated in Israel and elsewhere. Dolph is the greatest Jewish basketball
player ever, EVER. He was named one of the NBA´s top 50 players of all time.
He loved the Maccabiah Games, Maccabi USA and all of our projects as they
touched not just him but his family in a meaningful way. Dolph was a dear
friend to many involved in Maccabi USA. He always took the time to speak
to young and old alike.
Dolph was a true mensch of a guy who had the ability to make everyone around
him feel important. He also gave back to Maccabi USA through an endowment with
his son, Danny, and giving of his time whenever we asked.
This award, which has a stipend for future travel to Israel, was developed to
reflect excellence is sports and leadership, combined with being a mensch.
He would have loved to have met Natasha and Joel, two very deserving
individuals. We had some wonderful nominations yet these two stood out.
(Pictured from L-R: Jeff Schulman, Natasha Dabrowski, Joel Kitchen & Jed Margolis)
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