Board Member Spotlight: Lew Abel

“The Committee Guy”: Lew Abel

Since 1998, Lew Abel has proudly served on the Federation Housing Board. Lew is actively involved in several Board Committees, namely the Personnel, Investment and Finance Committees and has served as Chairman of both the Personnel and Finance Committees. Lew, a CPA, received his B.S. in Accounting from Temple University. His professional experience includes positions as Chief Financial Officer of Jewish Funds for Justice, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Executive Vice-President of Sameric Corporation along with memberships in numerous professional organizations. Lew was also a past-recipient of B’nai Brith’s Man of the Year Award.

Lew is known for his dependability and quick willingness to make himself available to his fellow Board and Committee members as well as to Federation Housing’s corporate staff. During his tenure on Federation Housing’s Board and through his service on the Personnel Committee, Lew has been an advocate to Federation Housing’s employees. Lew has been instrumental in introducing benefits and policies that positively impact Federation Housing’s employees. His kind and caring nature coupled with his good sense of humor contribute greatly to the Federation Housing community. “

Lew and his wife Elaine are the proud parents of three children Ronald, David and Julie and are kvelling” in their new role as great-grandparents. The Abels currently reside in Elkins Park and are active members of Keneseth Israel Synagogue.

We are proud to recognize Lew’s tireless dedication to and on-going support of Federation Housing’s Board, staff and residents. Kathy Wiercinski, Federal Housing’s Director of Finance who has worked closely with Lew throughout his years on the Board, sums up Lew most aptly when she says, “Lew is an all-around good guy”.

Board Member Spotlight - Bernie Roth

“Meet a Mensch”

Bernard Roth has proudly served on the Federation Housing board for over 30 years and is one of many long-standing board members serving much of his years on our Building Maintenance/Facilities Committee. “Bernie” as he is known among his friends and colleagues has worn many volunteer hats throughout his life serving in various board leadership capacities including Golden Slipper, Uptown Home, Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC), Har Zion Temple, Akiba Hebrew Academy, Jewish National Fund among others.

Bernie, an electrical engineer, was a graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University), and proudly served his country, as an officer in Korea. Bernie married his sweetheart and best friend, Tema, in 1953 and together they had two children, Karen and Harry. Bernie took over the family business on the death of his father in 1962, and successfully operated The Barney Roth Company, one of the most well-known and widely respected lighting companies in the region. Bernie decided to close his business and announced his retirement in 2013 so he could spend more time with his growing family.

Bernie is known as a “gentlemen’s gentlemen” by those who have had the pleasure of crossing his path. Bernie is always quick to share a joke, reminisce about days gone by and most importantly to share a proud moment or accomplishment of one of his family.

Federation Housing’s Officers & Directors, staff and residents agency wide wish to acknowledge Mr. Roth for his many years of commitment, dedication and continued support of Federation Housing’s mission of creating caring communities for independent seniors.

Bernie remains active with our board and is thrilled to have had his daughter Karen Cohen join the ranks of Federation Housing as a second generation member!