Ellen Geller Kamaras
“Everyday life lights me up. Each morning, I say thank you to Hashem for my beautiful family, my amazing friends, and, of course, being able to do my work with seniors at DSN.” ~~ Sherry ~~
Please meet Sherry Schreiber. Sherry is a warm, passionate, and vibrant woman – a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her current niche and passion center on running the Deal Sephardic Network (DSN) seniors program and bringing joy and laughter to Jersey Shore seniors.
Of Syrian descent, Sherry was born Victoria Sherry and is the oldest daughter of Rae and Moishe Doueck. Sherry is named her after her maternal grandmother, Victoria. Rae added a less formal nickname, Sherry, as a middle name. “Sherry” stuck as the name she’s called by, ever since she was a baby.
Both Rae and Moishe were American born. Sherry has two older brothers, Jacques and Steve, and a younger sister Lisa Hidary. Sherry greatly values her close relationship with her siblings and their families.
“I was definitely not a serious or shy child.” Sherry says she was mischievous and very social. She loved being involved in Beth Teens, a Beth Torah Congregation youth group led by Gitta Sultan, a”h. “I participated in the plays and hesed projects organized by Gitta, a very special woman. After my mother, Gitta deeply influenced the woman I am today.”
Although Sherry liked school, she admits that she wasn’t the easiest student and didn’t always play by the rules. Then she became a teacher and had to enforce the rules herself.
Sherry’s childhood memories were formed in her home near Ocean Parkway and Avenue S in Brooklyn. By the time Sherry graduated eighth grade, she had attended four elementary schools including Ahi Ezer. Her mom had concerns about Sherry’s safety at her first school, so she enrolled Sherry in Ahi Ezer for a few years. Unfortunately, the Ahi Ezer building burned down, and Sherry moved to Boody Junior High School and then completed her grade school education at P.S. 238. Kudos to Sherry who was a resilient child and was able to make friends easily and complete her studies successfully. Two of her close friends today are women she met during fourth grade at Ahi Ezer.
After graduating from Lincoln High School early and with honors, Sherry obtained a teaching degree from Brooklyn College.
Her Essence
Sherry describes herself as funny, energetic, and giving of herself and her time. She loves to cook and feed people. She is also warm, bubbly, and a real people person.
“Everyday life lights me up. Each morning I say thank you to Hashem for my beautiful family, my amazing friends, and, of course, being able to do my work at DSN.”
Her current job running the DSN seniors program with Stephanie Massry fulfills her greatly. “Stephanie and I work so well together. I love the way the seniors are excited to be at DSN. I love how their family members tell us how happy they are. They are all my family.”
Sherry’s mother is her key role model. “My mom, Rae Doueck, a”h, taught me never to be afraid to work hard, and to always put your complete self into everything you do. I learned hesed from my father, Moishe Doueck, a”h, who was always visiting someone, doing bikur holim. I think of him when I volunteer my time.”
Then Came Marriage
After graduating college, Sherry became a public school teacher and took a part-time job at Crazy Eddie, a long-gone electronics chain. She worked there during its heyday, in charge of cash collections and preparing sandwiches for employees at several of the stores.
Crazy Eddie was where Sherry met her naseeb, Howie Schreiber, a”h, the love of her life. Nine years older than Sherry, Howie was known as an outstanding salesman and for his fabulous smile. “He was loved by all.” Sadly, Howie passed away a year ago after a two-year illness stemming from complications from back surgery
Sherry and Howie shared the same upbeat and positive outlook. Howie was Ashkenazi, his parents were divorced, and he had few family members living in New York. He loved the Sephardic customs and adopted them fully. He was also friendly with many of his Sephardic colleagues.
Howie was with Crazy Eddie during the good years and left before the company’s problems surfaced.
The couple got married at Shaarei Zion Synagogue and lived in Brooklyn for a year and a half. They bought a house in Oakhurst in 1977. Sherry gave up her job, and they started their family. They were blessed with three daughters, three wonderful sons-in-law, and eleven grandchildren. Sherry’s children live in the Deal community. In memory of their father, the family donated three coffee carts to the West Deal Shul. Friends and family who go there can say, “We had coffee with Howie.”
After leaving Crazy Eddie, Howie worked in children’s wear for a couple of years and became Shomer Shabbat during that time. Sherry was excited to keep Shabbat.
It was around that time that Howie met Charlie Saka, a”h, a brilliant entrepreneur and magnanimous philanthropist at the West Deal Shul. When Charlie talked to Howie, he smiled at him and said, “I want you to work for me.” That began Howie’s 30 plus year career at Sakar International as Charlie’s first salesman and right-hand man.
Balancing Career and Home Life
When Sherry had two young children at home, she took over a Mommy and Me group from her sister and turned it into a summer preschool program called “Sherry Schreiber Playgroup.” For 27 years, she had over 20 children in her house and backyard from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Perks for the kids included a hot and healthy lunch and lots of love and fun. There was even a wait list to get into the playgroup. Sherry frequently bumps into adults who had been her students who still remember her.
Keeping several balls in the air, Sherry had a job as a receptionist in a Brooklyn hair salon in the afternoon after playgroup. She drew upon her mother’s example of not fearing hard work and achieved balance for her family.
Around seven years ago, Sherry received a call from DSN, asking if she would teach a weekly cooking class to seniors. Within a few months, she became the co-director of the seniors program along with Stephannie Massry.
Passions
Personally, Sherry is impassioned and immensely proud of her children and grandchildren.
Professionally, she thrives on watching the DSN seniors laugh and enjoy their lunch, chair exercise, and other activities. Hearing positive feedback from the families and caregivers gives Sherry an energy boost. During the pandemic, Sherry and Stephanie set up a Zoom program for seniors using donated iPad’s. They even got Yaakov Shwekey to sing for the seniors on Zoom.
One of Sherry’s biggest challenges is when one of the seniors passes away. “They become my family, and their loss really hurts.”
To enhance and maximize the seniors’ experience at DSN, Sherry uses her creativity to find fun giveaways as gifts for Bingo and other games.
Community volunteer work has always been a key component of Sherry’s life. She volunteers for the Morris Franco Cancer Center. She appreciates the amazing group of volunteers who help her at DSN.
“Our community is awesome and unique. They are there for everyone, in bad times and good times.”
Her key to success? “Always try to be happy and keep doing what I love.”
For relaxation and fun, Sherry plays Mahjong with friends and enjoys connecting with them for dinner.
Tips for Students
Try to follow your dreams. If you do what you love, it will never be work. As for family caregivers, enjoy your loved one while you can.
You can connect with Sherry at vs94@aol.com and follow DSN on Instagram.
Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com.