Celebrate These Women

Women of Impact is a celebration honoring five remarkable women from our community who embody the core values that define the JCC.  We proudly celebrate these extraordinary women for their kindness, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the JCC and the people it serves.

Honoring: Margaret Hannon, Linda Jerrow, Addie Kluger, Natanya Levitz,  & Didi Shapiro

Sunday, October 25
10:00 AM

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Margaret Hannan

Margaret has devoted her professional and community involvement to patient safety, inclusion, and supporting individuals with special needs and their families.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University and a Master of Science in Health Services Management from Eastern University. Her early clinical career focused on intensive care and emergency nursing before she transitioned into pharmaceutical drug development. In that role, Margaret applied her scientific curiosity and commitment to patient safety across therapeutic areas including rare diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. After careers with Sanofi-Aventis and Johnson & Johnson, she is now permanently retired.

Margaret has also held leadership roles with the Villanova University Nursing Alumni Association, including serving as President, and was a member of the College of Nursing’s Consulting Board.

Her greatest community passion is supporting individuals with special needs. She has been involved with Special Olympics New Jersey, particularly in Somerset County, and volunteers through the Somerville Elks and its Special Kids Charitable Trust.

Most meaningful to Margaret is the JCC’s J-Cares program. As the parent of an adult daughter with special needs, she deeply values the program’s creativity, compassion, and commitment to building a supportive community. The JCC has become an essential part of life for Margaret and her daughter, Katie, providing a place of unconditional acceptance, friendship, and kindness.

Margaret is most proud of adopting Katie and of the kind, empathetic young woman she has become. Through her involvement, Margaret hopes to connect with other parents and guardians, share information, offer understanding, and find moments of laughter along the way.

Outside of her community involvement, Margaret describes herself with a favorite phrase: “What you see is what you get.”

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Linda Jerrow

Linda has devoted many years to strengthening the Jewish community through leadership, service, and a deep commitment to its future. Her involvement began as a young wife and mother with the National Council of Jewish Women’s Somerville Section, where she found opportunities to learn, lead, and make a meaningful contribution.

Her community journey continued at Temple Sholom, where she became actively involved in synagogue life and organizational leadership. Working alongside many dedicated volunteers, Linda also helped oversee an expansion of the synagogue’s building.

That experience led her to Jewish Family Service, where she played an important role in helping guide the organization into its current location.

Today, Linda is an active member of the JCC community and serves on its Board. She was initially drawn to the JCC by her desire to help secure its future and continues to participate in many programs and activities throughout the organization.  She is also a crucial member of the JCC's Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball Committee, where her dedication, leadership, and enthusiasm help make the annual event a success year after year.

Beyond her leadership roles, Linda fully embraces all that the JCC has to offer. Most mornings, she can be found swimming at the JCC, a reflection of her belief that it is more than a community center—it is a place to build friendships, stay active, and foster a strong sense of community.

Linda hopes that her years of service have inspired others to become involved and give back. Every role she has taken on has been guided by love, dedication, and a genuine desire to strengthen the community for generations to come.

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Addie Kluger

Addie has been a dedicated leader and community builder in Somerset County for more than four decades. She and her husband, Larry, moved to Bridgewater in 1981 when he began his medical practice. As they raised their three children, Addie quickly became involved in the local community, forming lasting connections through Temple Sholom, Somerset Medical Center, the JCC Swim Club, and the Warren Township schools.

Throughout the years, Addie held numerous leadership positions with Temple Sholom, the Jewish Federation, and the hospital community. At Temple Sholom, she supported fundraising efforts for the building expansion and helped lead programs including Ship-a-Box, membership initiatives, special events, and adult education.

After launching an interior design business in the late 1990s, Addie brought her expertise to the design and planning committee for the new JCC. What began as an opportunity to help create a welcoming community space became one of her greatest passions. Addie served on the JCC Board for 17 years, including a two-year term as Board President, and was among the original “dreamers and doers” who believed that if they built a gathering place for the entire community, people would come.

Addie is most proud of helping to create opportunities for people to find services, companionship, and meaningful connections close to home. She hopes her involvement encouraged others to contribute their time and talents and to remain actively engaged in strengthening the community.

Today, Addie’s life revolves around her family, including her four grandchildren, and the wonderful friends she has made along the way. She treasures her relationships, is happiest surrounded by her “peeps,” and remains deeply thankful for the life and community she has helped build.

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Natanya Levitz

Natanya has been a proud member of our JCC community for over 18 years and a dedicated board member for over a decade. Her affiliation with the J began when her daughters attended Camp Ruach, and her love for the center has only grown since. The JCC has been a true support system for Natanya and her family over the years, even employing her oldest daughter as a Mentor in the JCares program for two summers. As a Special Education professional, the work the JCC does with individuals with special needs has always held a special place in her heart, making her deeply passionate about supporting the J.

Beyond the JCC, Natanya serves as a volunteer Grief Facilitator at Good Grief in Morristown, where she works with children coping with the loss of a parent—a deeply rewarding role. After volunteering for many years at her daughters' schools, she joined the faculty at Ridge High School as a Job Coach in the special education department's Post-Grad Vocational training program. This position allows her to combine her professional training, her community involvement, and her “mommying” experience to help students prepare for their futures.

Additionally, Natanya devotes her time to speaking on behalf of Early Detection Screening for Colon Cancer through the American Cancer Society and the Atlantic Health System. Sharing her personal cancer journey to save lives is a cause she is incredibly passionate about and most proud of.

While Natanya is deeply grateful to support organizations like the JCC, Good Grief, and the ACS, her greatest joy lies with her family. Natanya is the very proud wife to Jason, and the even prouder mother to Jessica, a rising senior at Syracuse University; Hannah, a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland; and Rebecca, a rising junior at Ridge High School. Working, volunteering, and mothering keep Natanya’s days full, but when she does have a moment to herself, Natanya loves working out in her basement gym, traveling, and getting lost in her favorite audiobooks.

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Didi Shapiro

Didi has built her professional and community involvement around strengthening relationships, solving problems collaboratively, and creating opportunities for others to thrive.

After earning a degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, Didi began her career as a recruiter before moving into corporate Human Resources. She spent many years with WNYC Radio and Television, specializing in employee relations and union contract negotiations. She later joined her family’s New Jersey business, overseeing human resources, finance, insurance, and labor relations. Today, she helps manage her family’s commercial real estate holdings.

The JCC has been part of Didi’s life since childhood. She spent many summers there swimming on the swim team, participating in social activities, working at the snack bar, and forming lifelong friendships. It was also where she met her husband, Marc. When they later raised their two children in Bridgewater, the JCC naturally became an important part of their family’s life.

Didi’s family also has a meaningful connection to the development and leadership of today’s JCC. Her cousin, Kenny Bernstein, played an instrumental role in its fundraising and building efforts, while her cousin, David Bernstein, currently serves as President of the JCC Board. Their relative Joseph Beutel also made a generous gift in honor of his parents, Shimon and Sara Birnbaum.

As a former member of the JCC Board, Didi is passionate about securing the organization’s future and supporting programs that serve children, individuals with special needs, seniors, and families. She is especially inspired by the JCC Teen Board and its role in developing future community leaders.

Didi hopes her involvement demonstrates that everyone has something meaningful to contribute. Outside of work and community service, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, staying active, and exploring new places.

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All proceeds benefit the JCC Sustainability Fund, which ensures no one is ever turned away due to financial need. This vital fund supports scholarships, summer camp, early childhood education, and special needs programs for children and adults.

The JCC always says “yes” to someone who needs our help, regardless of their background or ability to pay.