The second night of Passover marked the ninth anniversary of the passing of our unforgettable friend and leader of the Coney Island community, Mr. Stanley I. Schumsky, of blessed memory.
After most other Jewish families (except senior citizens) moved away from Coney Island in the 1970s, Mr. Schumsky and his dear family had the courage and fortitude to remain, despite the great hardship and immense personal danger involved. For many years longer that it otherwise would have survived, Mr. Schumsky served as President of the Young Israel of Coney Island synagogue (located on Surf Avenue near West 28th Street) and kept it open and functioning (until 1987, when it was no longer feasible to gather a minyan of men for services. The building was finally demolished in 1997.).
Mr. Schumsky served as First Vice President of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) in the 1970s (when Rabbi Pikus served as Executive Director) and fought valiantly to save the remnants of the once proud and flourishing Jewish community of Coney Island. After it was clear that all efforts failed, and the JCCGCI Board was disbanded, and merged with the Brighton Beach Jewish Community Council (to form the Shorefront Jewish Community Council) in 1981, Mr. Schumsky continued to serve the community as a Board member of Shorefront Jewish Community Council.
Thereafter, in 1981, Mr. Schumsky was elected (in a public election) to the newly formed “Area Policy Board” (APB) and served as its President through the 1990s (when the APB was renamed “Neighborhood Advisory Board” – NAB). In this leadership role, Mr. Schumsky consistently lead the APB and then NAB to designate approximately 70% of its anti-poverty funding (administered by the NYC Community Development Agency – CDA, later renamed NYC Department of Youth and Community Development – DYCD) for senior citizen supportive services. Most or all of that funding enabled JCCGCI to be “recreated” and initiate its older adult homecare and transportation and related programs and services in July of 1981. Hence, the fact that thousands of frail, low-income elderly have been served and their health and welfare preserved by JCCGCI over the past 41+ years is attributable in great measure to the leadership of Mr. Stanley I. Schumsky.
Much more needs to be written about Mr. Schumsky, his sterling life of personal integrity, indefatigable championship of truth and Jewish rights in Coney Island, the Land of Israel and around the world, along with his accomplishments for the communal and individual needs of so many.
May we continue to be inspired by his legacy and may his memory be a blessing.
