Social Seens... Photography by Gram and Noraa
Florida Holocaust Museum
The Florida Holocaust Museum celebrated its 25th anniversary with “To Life,” a gala attended by more than 700 guests who
gathered to honor the museum’s founder Walter Loebenberg and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the recipient of its annual Loebenberg
Humanitarian Award. The award was presented posthumously to the late President and accepted by Eisenhower’s grandson
David, who was the evening’s keynote speaker. The award recognizes individuals whose vision, foresight and dedication have
assisted the museum in its mission to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.
Margaret Word Burnside thanked
David Eisenhower for his heartfelt
remarks about his grandfather, the late
President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Judith and Barry Alpert, who were among the
original founders of the Holocaust Museum,
watched as their son Jason raised donations
for the museum as the evening’s auctioneer.
MAY/JUNE 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 169
Eric and Lyris Newman of the J.C. Newman
Cigar Company, a platinum sponsor of the
gala, believe in the museum’s mission.
Rachael Worthington, vice chair of
development of the museum’s board of
directors and a gala committee member, and
her husband Don, were sponsors of the gala.
Elisa and Rick Katzeff of Dunedin were
happy to help support the museum’s many
educational and outreach programs.
Walter Loebenberg, who founded the Florida
Holocaust Museum with his late wife Edie, is
proud of their daughter Sandy Mermelstein,
who presented the Humanitarian Award
posthumously to Dwight D. Eisenhower.