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Harlan Noddle, second from left, and his wife, Nancy, second from right, made introductory speeches honoring Dr. Harold M. Maurer and his wife, Beverly, at the recognition dinner held on Sept. 14 for Chabad of Nebraska. |
Team Maurer was in the spotlight once again Wednesday night as the Maurers were honored by Chabad of Nebraska for all they have done during their 12 years in Nebraska. The recognition took place at a dinner attended by 300 people at the new Forte Banquet and Convention Center. The event marked the 18th anniversary for Chabad, a community center for religious, social and community programs located at 1866 S. 120th St.
In addition to the Maurers, another Omaha couple with connections to UNMC – Leonard and Shirley Goldstein – also was honored. The Goldsteins were one of the major donors to the Durham Research Center. Their daughter-in-law, Ann, also received a kidney transplant at The Nebraska Medical Center in May 2002. The Goldsteins were recognized for being a driving force in helping Soviet Jews settle in Omaha.
The recognition of the Maurers began with remarks by Joan Darling, a Lincoln mother whose daughter, Allison, was treated nine years ago for rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in children.
Allison’s cancer started as “a cyst that never got better,” Darling said. Once the diagnosis was made, she reviewed an old medical textbook and found that rhabdomyosarcoma was “in effect a death sentence (for Allison).”
She recognized Dr. Maurer, one of the world’s leading experts in rhabdomyosarcoma, “for being the man responsible for making the textbooks outdated.” Dr. Maurer’s research group helped raise the cure rate for the disease from 20 percent to 75 percent. Now, nine years later, Allison Darling is cancer-free and in law school at the University of Minnesota.
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Shirley, left, and Leonard Goldstein, second from left, also were recognized at the Chabad dinner. They are joined by Cheryl Cooper and their daughter-in-law, Ann Goldstein, right. Cooper donated one of her kidneys to Ann Goldstein in May 2003. The surgery was done at The Nebraska Medical Center. |
Citing a number of Dr. Maurer’s accomplishments during his time at UNMC, Noddle remarked, “It takes your breath away – doesn’t it?”
Noddle’s wife, Nancy, introduced Beverly Maurer, highlighting her career as a volunteer, as well as her 17 years as a school principal. She called Beverly “a driving force” behind numerous organizations, including Nebraskans for Research, Joslyn Art Museum, Uta Halee Girls Village, University Hospital Auxiliary and the advisory board for Ronald McDonald House.
She said: “Beverly is a born politician..a master at getting her point across and letting people know about the goals she wants to achieve. Hal and Beverly are truly a team.”
Both the Maurers and Goldsteins received the Chai Leadership Award from Chabad.
Chai means life in Hebrew. Each couple received a gift of art that reflected their contributions to society. In addition, Chabad of Nebraska featured the Maurers on the cover photo of its Hebrew calendar that will be distributed throughout the community.
In his closing remarks, Rabbi Mendel Katzman, director of Chabad House, said both the Maurers and Goldsteins were reluctant to be recognized. “By lifting up others (with their good works),” he said, “it is actually all of us who are being lifted.” He called the two honored couples “four luminaries in the galaxy.that light up the skies of Omaha.”
Rabbi Katzman and his wife, Shani, hold the medical center as a special place in their hearts. The parents of 12 children, the Katzmans went through some anxious times back in 2003 when their youngest child, Zalmen, was born at The Nebraska Medical Center.
Shani had been hospitalized in an effort to extend her pregnancy to term. However, she wound up going into early labor and experienced serious hemorrhaging and other physical complications.
Two UNMC perinatologists, Teresa Berg, M.D., and Carl Smith, M.D., performed emergency surgery. Now, more than two years later, Zalmen is a healthy, normal 2 year old and his mother is fine. Zalmen, his parents and Dr. Smith all came on stage for the award presentation to the Maurers.
This marks the fifth major recognition received by the Maurers within the past couple years. Other awards received by Maurers include:
- March 2003 – Dr. Maurer received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Children’s Oncology Group.
- May 2004 – The Maurers received the 2004 People of Vision Award from Prevent Blindness Nebraska.
- May 2004 – Dr. Maurer received the 2004 Honor Award from the American Diabetes Association.
- January 2005 – Dr. Maurer was named “Midlander of the Year” by The Omaha World-Herald.
Honorary chairpersons for the recognition dinner were Tom and Darlynn Fellman and Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum.